Pictures of work in progress ( BTO Punggol Sapphire )

[tom]

Everywhere in Punggol North, East and Central, hundreths of overhead tower cranes are swinging endlessly lifting building materials for installation.

Residents may be wandering how those heavy cranes are supported and secured.

For general knowledge, the main vertical steel frame are bolted into an independent reinforce concrete foundation. This foundation sits on top of a piling system. The top end carries the swinging boom. The vertical steel frame are than secured to steel joist ( I beam ) in turn bolted to r.c. columns at  the 6th and 12 floor levels.

[kevin]

Guys how long do you think the government will hand us the key? mid 2012?
Please share, thank you

[tom]

Bird's eye view of Punggol Sapphire Development. Most of the blocks look almost complete.

Initially at the lower floors, lifting of prefab. units for installation took a shorter time. As the building progresses, lifting process will be slow down because of height. Co-ordination between overhead crane driver and the signal man on ground may also cause some delay and time lost.

So as the building gain height, completion time per floor will be slower.

HDB and the building contractor sign an agreement to complete a project at a stipulated period. The agreed / sign estimated completion schedule is set at 4th quarter 2011. It has to be done because penalty clause is costly for project delay.

[tom]

Picture showing progress of Sapphire along Punggol Walk.