PCH puts Hyplank on the shelf


The North West Shelf, that is. PCH Access of Western Australia services a diverse and international range of clients in the area of scaffolding hire and sales and the provision of specialist personnel for offshore projects. Recognised as an industry leader, PCH has had huge success on construction projects such as power stations, major mining plants, onshore and offshore oil and gas facilities and on maintenance activities in all of these areas.

One current project is an exclusive five year scaffold contract for onshore/offshore maintenance of the Transfield Worley/Woodside gas project on the North West Shelf. These facilities are located in the Burrup Peninsula, Karratha, Western Australia. PCH use futurebuild’s Hyplank exclusively on site. Scaffolding is utilised for construction, general day-to-day maintenance activities and for full-scale periodic shutdowns for both the onshore and offshore facilities. Currently a major expansion project is underway on the LNG Plant, where PCH have set up a scaffolding supply yard, operating under their accredited Quality Management System.

Paul Gregory from PCH talks about Hyplank: “It’s the only practical board for these offshore jobs because it is less likely to split, doesn’t warp, is slightly lighter and is safer because it doesn’t splinter. Because Karri splits at the ends we’re usually cutting them down. With Hyplank there’s a better finish on the board - they’re quite precise in their dimensions so you end up with a more functional board.” Boards of irregular dimensions are a potential safety risk.

Paul continues, “The other fairly large issue is the environment. Anything you can do to minimise the impact on the environment is a good thing.” Hyplank is manufactured from 100% renewable plantation pine. “And then there’s the diminishing number of Karri boards.” There is increasing political pressure to protect the Western Australia Karri forests from logging. We asked Paul what PCH used before Hyplank came along. “Pretty much Karri hardwood.” Why the change? “We changed because of demand. The client is educated about the benefits of Hyplank and they request it.” Woodside is renowned for leadership in the use of quality controlled products. “We go through a tender process with all of our jobs which cover price, safety and quality. And the Hyplank fits the bill.”

Paul talked about Hyplank’s cost: “Hyplank is more expensive than Karri plank to purchase. But you have to take into account its effective life span and the fact that the client is aware that the board is superior.”

So how much Hyplank are we talking here? “On the Burrup Peninsula we estimate up to approximately 3,000 tonnes of general scaffolding. We get it there on three or four semi-trailers per week over 14 or 16 months. We currently stock around 200 – 250,000 lineal metres of Hyplank. Up to 150,000 metres will end up on the LNG Train Expansion Project.” And what about maintenance? Paul had an answer on that one too. “We also have the BP Refinery in Kwinana. Hyplank has been on site there for five years. Regular change out and maintainance procedures have maximised the effective life span. Handling is pretty straight-forward, we pack the boards for ventilation in the winter months to prolong their lifespan.” Hyplank when exposed to prolonged high moisture content is susceptible to decay. Regular inspection of the planks detects wear or rot that could be a safety concern.