Haki reaches the roof with lightweight beams

A Haki temporary roofing system is being used by main contractor C Miskin and Sons as part of phase three and four of the City of Westminster's Porchester Estate refurbishment project.

The company, which is responsible for external and internal repairs to the Victorian premises built in the late 1850s, was particularly attracted by the system's ease of erection and the level of light let in through the Hakitec sheeting.

The system, supplied by Bishops Stortford Scaffolding, has been available in the UK since the mid-'80s. To date, it is enabling work to progress on the building's roof and chimneys.

Advantages over conventional tube and fitting are claimed to be faster installation times. On average, scaffolders using the Haki system can complete the job in quarter of the time. In addition, the Haki components are generally lighter than their more traditional counterparts. Traditional scaffolding systems, used to create monopitch roofs, comprise heavy steel trusses and corrugated steel sheets.

The Haki system's longest aluminium lattice beam (8.1m) weighs only 31kg, while its largest purlin frame (3m) less than half that. Lightweight fixing beams and fixing plates comprise the final elements of the framework to which the Hakitec sheeting is attached.

The range of component sizes and their interchangeable design ensures the Haki system can be configured to meet most structures.

Once in position, the shelter can be opened up to allow access for craneage materials.

In other applications entire sections can be mounted on specially designed nylon wheels, enabling the section to be mobile and rolled along as work progresses.

Specialist training is provided at Haki's training centre in Tamworth for scaffolders encountering the system for the first time.

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