De Kroon, Netherlands

With spectacular views over The Hague and the North Sea beyond, the 41 storey De Kroon forms a centrepiece in the extensive Hague New Centre redevelopment project.

Designed by leading architect Christian Rapp, the built up city centre site created a number of logistical challenges for the construction team and with the safety of both workers and pedestrians near the site a priority, a range of safety solutions from market leader Combisafe were specified.

‘The Safety Net Fan proved to be the best solution because it was so easily adaptable with the self climbing formwork system and offered protection against falling objects to the workers below’

Henk Lensink, Site Director, BAM Ballast

Built as a joint venture between contractors BAM and Ballast Nedam, it was essential this residential tower had cutting edge safety solutions that would effectively negate the risk to anyone working at height and to protect the workforce and pedestrians at ground level.

Offering protection for both the workforce and pedestrians from falling objects and debris, Combisafe specified 20 units of the Safety Net Fan.  The versatility of the Safety Net Fan allows for easy repositioning and attachment and is ideal for high rise protection. With a projection of 3 metres, the Safety Net Fan is tested to comply with EN1263 and will absorb falls from up to 6 metres. The mesh density of the fall arrest net is 60 x 60mm and is delivered laced together with an extra fine 20 x 20mm debris net as standard. The combined net is able to catch and contain considerably smaller particles of debris and therefore offers complete protection for people at ground level.

Installed at the same level of the self-climbing formwork scaffold, it was critical that when the formwork tunnelling was moved up a level, the Safety Net Fans were in place to protect workers below against falling objects.

For edge protection Combisafe supplied over 300 units of its lightweight and versatile Steel Mesh Barrier. Available in two standard sizes 2.6 metres and 1.3 metres, the Steel Mesh Barrier is essentially guardrail, toeboard and netting rolled into one and has the added benefit of being able to span trades, accommodating their different edge protection needs at different phases of the construction project.  The forerunner in edge protection for over a decade, this temporary fall prevention system was installed on the slab edge of floors using the Combisafe Multi Foot.