Projects

Long Track Record Featuring Dozens of Difficult Projects

Containment Design, Inc. of Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania, has crafted design submittals for thousands of different structures. What is undoubtedly one of the most difficult projects we have completed to date is the design we prepared for the 3,800-foot long main suspension span of the Mackinac Straights Bridge in northern Michigan. Contracted by The Joint Venture of Allstate Painting Contractors & American Painting Company, CDI developed suspended platform system designs that included the installation of 27 4,000-foot long cables.

These cables were rigged continuously between the main suspension towers more than 200 feet above the water. Since the main span trusses could not support the lateral loads imposed by the longitudinal cables, the only feasible solution was to rig cables beneath the entire length of the span and anchor them to the steel faceplates and structural framework of the towers. From what we know, such a complex design for temporary painter’s platforms had previously never been proposed and successfully accomplished.

The Experts in Containment Systems for Elevated Water Tanks

For elevated water storage tanks, more and more painting contractors are coming to CDI to design their cable-hoisted tarpaulin enclosure systems. We have developed numerous designs for both stationary and hoist-type containment enclosures, such as the TEPE containment system. Since elevated storage tanks were not designed to withstand the substantial lateral wind loading imposed on a total tank enclosure, the painter must implement a retractable containment system that can be raised and lowered as necessary.

Our containment hoisting systems use a series of outriggers welded to the upper perimeter of the tank shell or “knuckle” to support the tarpaulin enclosure. Numerous stationary and hoisting cables extend radially outward from the center top of the tank. A cable–winching system is located at the base of the tank riser to accomplish the raising and lowering operations.