As one of the UK’s most visited heritage attractions, situated at the very heart of the City of Bath World Heritage site, the Roman Baths houses one of the greatest religious spas of the ancient world.
Its principle feature, the Sacred Spring, facilitates the rise of over one million litres of water each day at a temperature of 46°C. Excess water escapes through the spring overflow to the Roman Drain, before finally reaching the River Avon, 400 metres away.
As part of a significant redevelopment project to upgrade the visitor experience by displaying the Roman Drain and its impressive historical engineering, Howe Green’s innovative brushed stainless steel Floor Access Panels were specified to ensure the long term efficiency and effectiveness of the attraction.
Due to the Roman Drain being located below floor level, combined with the water’s high temperature and mineral content, the very nature of the development, which was managed by Scena Projects, presented a range of diverse challenges that required the highest quality building components to successfully overcome.
Manufactured to bespoke specifications in sizes of 5m x 0.5m, the two durable Howe Green Floor Access Panels were installed in parallel with robust sheets of glass, which act as both a walkway and viewpoint for visitors.
The bespoke Floor Access Panels allow steam to continuously escape from the drain, providing sufficient ventilation that eliminates the potential for the glass to become obscured by a build-up of condensation and mineral deposits.
The high quality panels also provide secure and safe access to underground services, with the stainless steel construction resilient enough to withstand heavy footfall, yet light weight to support easy lifting and handling.
Paul Norman of Scena Projects said: “Howe Green produced exactly what we asked for – the stainless steel Floor Access Panels have a high quality finish and are ideal for an application of this nature.”
The streamlined construction of the access panels also ensured flush installation in conjunction with the glass and surrounding hard flooring, ensuring compliance with all relevant health and safety regulations.
Chris George, Business Development Manager at Howe Green, said: “The unique nature of this project required bespoke solutions that could facilitate the demanding requirements of such a unique Heritage Site. We are extremely proud to be part of such an iconic project, which is testament to the wide reaching capabilities of our robust manufacturing offering.”
As a member of the official Made in Britain organisation, Howe Green manufactures its extensive portfolio of floor access solutions at its UK headquarters in Hertfordshire to exact client and project specifications, meeting the functional and aesthetic requirements of any environment.
For further information on Howe Green’s high quality range of floor access solutions, visit www.howegreen.com or call 01920 463230.
