Disabled ramp - work starts today

Earlier today I authorised work to start on a disabled ramp on the right door (looking from the front) of the Calley Memorial Hall.  I have consulted with the club (our land lords) and they are OK with what is proposed.  A 1.2 metre wide exit ramp will drop from a rectangular platform projecting from the doorway.  Metal rails will run around the platform and ramp.  The surface will be roughened concrete to provide grip.  Design is intended to provide ample room for double buggies, electric vehicles and wheelchairs. To reduce costs the platform and ramp will have exposed concrete sides, rather than brickwork.

Our intention is to have the disabled access complete and available for use prior to the 27/11 function.

The ramp will have a small impact on the capacity of the fire door, but given we have significant over capacity for the main exit, this isn't a practical issue.  The ramp will meet all regulations and protection will be provided for the damp proof course.

Having this work taking place, means that the right hand fire exit will be out of use for circa the next week.
 
A first today:  A home education group has used the hall.  This is another customer who had no where to meet prior to the hall being brought back into use.

Hard labour

The skip was picked up this morning.  Full of earth plus my old faithful wheelbarrow, its back broken by the strain.

Shuttering is now in position for a slab pour tomorrow.  We have the free loan of a concrete mixer and the materials have been ordered to arrive tomorrow morning.  When you dont order or lay concrete, arriving at the right amounts can be fraught (thanks to Baggy for use of his worry beads).

The stage has been cleared of kit, with the bulk of the equipment placed in racks in the loft.  This was no mean feat.  I admit that this did include a trip to the local 'civic amenity site' (the rubbish tip).

Thanks to Mowgli for his help (part repaid by taking him out to lunch).

Tomorrow will be a heavy day and given one cubic metre of concrete is 2.2 tonnes, we will have our work cut out moving 325kg of cement and three bags of balast (we need 1850kg, but I had to order more than we need), we can expect the day to be hard one.

19:40 Update:  Just been and bought another wheelbarrow.  My last one died as Mowgli dumped earth in the skip.  I feel justified getting a new one, as the old one was much loved.  RIP Ronny the wheelbarrow.