Working Platform Design & Verification Course

June 27 & July 11, 2024 or
October 3 & 17, 2024

Temporary working platforms for cranes and piling rigs are high-risk for those using them as well as those designing them. Many elements must be considered during design and construction phases.

Appropriate load input parameters need to be carefully selected to obtain the correct load cases. And robust and reliable design methods (including geotechnical parameters selection) need to be applied to assess the required thickness and stiffness of the working platform.

This course shares industry best practice methods for design and verification, covering both theory and practical application.

You'll learn about:

  • the Federation of Piling Specialists (FPS) method to assess the critical track pressures applied by piling rigs;
  • two common guidelines for the design of temporary working platforms (BRE470 and TWF2019);
  • the applicability of the different design methods for various ground conditions;
  • the underlying design assumptions about load transfer from piling rigs and cranes;
  • the consideration of static and/or dynamic load factors in the different design approaches are briefly introduced;
  • the effects of ground water on the different design methods;
  • soil suitable site investigation techniques to assess the subgrade conditions and their advantages and limitations

The course also includes real world examples to expose some of the limitations and related risks.

Who should attend?

This course is suitable for experienced temporary works and geotechnical engineers looking for a refresher; or as an introduction to working platform designs and verification for participants with limited or no experience in this area. Roles include:

  • Geotechnical engineers
  • Civil engineers
  • Structural engineers
  • Temporary works designers
  • Site managers
  • Project engineers
  • Project managers
  • Construction managers
  • Professionals from piling and crane companies

Course Instructor

headshot of martin larisch

Martin Larisch is a Chartered Professional Engineer in Australia and New Zealand with more than 25 years of international design and construction experience in the piling and ground engineering sector.

He has worked in various technical and operational leadership roles for some of the largest specialist piling, ground improvement contractors and general contractors in Australia, New Zealand and Germany and has significant experience in the design and verification of temporary working platforms for piling rigs and cranes including the assessment of the bearing pressures for tracked piling rigs and crawler cranes. He was also involved in the implementation of various new technologies and innovations in the areas of hard rock drilling, drilling support fluids, concrete technology, ground improvement and installation effects of piles in cohesive ground conditions.

He was also affiliated with The University of Queensland in Brisbane as an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Geotechnical Engineering Centre from 2014 to 2021.

Martin is a current member of the and Temporary Works Forum in Australia and the DFI/ EFFC Tremie Concrete and Working Platform Task Groups.


Upcoming Dates

June 27 & July 11, 2024

October 3 & 17, 2024

Professional Development Hours (PDHs)

The course is presented in two sessions. Attendees will receive 4 PDH credits at the completion of both sessions of the course.