Bierrum facts for kids
Bierrum is a British company that builds and designs big structures like cooling towers and tall chimneys. They have built all the concrete cooling towers at power stations in Britain since 1965. Cooling towers help power stations cool down by releasing heat into the air.
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The Story of Bierrum
Bierrum was started by Hans Bierrum, a civil engineer from Denmark. He was even an Olympic athlete! The company began on September 26, 1927, in London. Their very first job was at the old Shoreham Power Station, where they built their first cooling tower in 1931.
In 1938, Bierrum became a "limited company." This means it became a formal business with rules about its owners and money. Hans Bierrum's son, Roger, later became the chairman of the company in 1974.
During the 1990s and early 2000s, Bierrum worked hard to make construction safer, especially for people working high up. They even invented special equipment, like the "Spider platform," to safely take down tall chimneys.
In 2004, the company changed and became "Bierrum International." Later, in 2014, a company from Spain called Global Dominion Access bought Bierrum. Today, the company is known as Dominion Bierrum.
Where Bierrum is Based
Bierrum has had different offices over the years. In 1957, they built their own office building in Rayners Lane. Their main storage area for equipment was in Smallford, Hertfordshire.
Later, in 1981, Bierrum was based at Barwythe Hall near Dunstable. Today, their main office is in Central Bedfordshire, which is in the middle of England.
Amazing Projects by Bierrum
Bierrum is famous for designing and building cooling towers and chimneys. They work both in the UK and in other countries. When they need to take down a chimney, they use a special method called the Bierrum Rig to remove it piece by piece.
They have also built other important structures:
- They built parts of cement factories, like the Ketton Cement Works in 1961.
- They constructed water towers, such as one in North Walsham in 1954.
- They also built tall chimneys for oil refineries.
Famous Structures They Built
- In 1972, Bierrum started building the huge 850-foot chimney for Grain Power Station. It was finished in 1975 and was the tallest freestanding structure in South East England at the time! It needed a lot of steel and concrete to build.
- They helped build the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth. This tower was built using special methods where concrete is poured as the structure rises.
- In 2016, Bierrum helped remove and rebuild the four famous chimneys of Battersea Power Station. This was a big job to restore an iconic landmark.
See also
- J. L. Eve Construction
- Denmark–United Kingdom relations
- Arup Group
- Institute of Demolition Engineers
