Maidenhead Train Station Project

Tasked with delivering a fire-resistant parapet wall at Maidenhead Train Station, SM Engineering South West Ltd in Dawlish partnered with Morgan Sindall Infrastructure to meet rigorous safety standards in a high-traffic public space. Our team's expert execution overcame tight access constraints and complex installation requirements—all while maintaining flawless safety performance.

Project details:

CLIENT:

MORGAN SINDALL, NETWORK RAIL, GWR, TFL

SECTOR:

RAIL

PROJECT:

FIRE-RATED PARAPET WALL INSTALLATION

About the project:

The Client:

This project was a collaborative effort involving multiple organisations, including Great Western Railway (GWR), Network Rail, Transport for London, and Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, which led the initiative.
Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, a leading UK construction and civil engineering company, is renowned for delivering high-profile projects across sectors such as rail, highways and flood defences.
SM Engineering South West Ltd has worked with Morgan Sindall for several years, successfully completing multiple large-scale projects together. In 2023, SM Engineering was recognised as Innovator of the Year. Building on that success, the company achieved “Preferred Supplier” status in 2024.

Requirement:

Following the excavation and concrete pouring of a new stairway at Maidenhead Train Station, SM Engineering was commissioned to procure and install a system of vitreous enamel panels. This also included the fabrication and installation of the supporting frame, which together formed the new parapet wall.
A key requirement from the client was that the entire structure must provide a minimum of one hour of fire resistance. After consultation, it was agreed that SM Engineering would mount fire-resistant boards behind the enamel panels and seal all joints with fireproof sealant. This approach ensured the enamel panel parapet wall functioned as an effective fire stop, providing vital protection to individuals on both sides of the structure.

The Job:

Work began on July 29, 2024, with the installation of the steel frame system. Due to restricted site access—only available via the main concourse—SM Engineering employed a set of custom-built skates to carefully manoeuvre the large steel components into position. All movements through public areas were closely supervised by qualified banksmen to ensure safety.
Once the steel frame was in place, it was securely fixed to the concrete pad using chemical anchors, which were torqued to the specified values to handle directional loads from platform users.
Following the frame installation, interior panels were mounted using a scaffold tower operated by PASMA-trained engineers. The same process was then repeated for the exterior panels. After panel installation, all gaps were sealed using fireproof sealant to ensure the wall functioned as a complete fire stop.
SM Engineering is proud to report that the project was completed on time, within budget, and without any incidents or near misses—an outcome that was both welcomed and commended by the client.