Spec for concrete base

[chunkolini]

Morning all.
I've been asked to make another large fish in this style about 3.2m long and galved.

Supporting legs will be shorter and there will be four of them.
Two each side
Body will be mesh lined so it can be used as a receptacle for plastic bottles.
There will be a hatch to close it to stop the poop baggers using it for their vile purposes.
I need a spec for a concrete base. I know nothing about this game. I leave this up to the customer. But he's after funds from the council and they need a spec for the job.
My guess is about 6" thick x2mx1m over a bed of gravel.
Fishy secured with thunderbolt or similar. Can you get them with torx or anti tamper heads to avoid him heading off to sea to breed.
Any thoughts?

 

[Kayos]

Sorry for the first reply being a tangent, did you make the one used for plastic bottles in Cleethorpes?

 

[Agroshield]

Can you get them with torx or anti tamper heads to avoid him heading off to sea to breed.

Resin stud and a security nut (like you see on fencing - do it up tight and the hexagon part breaks off, leaving just a cone).

Having the connection to the base underground by even 6" will assist security, especially if you then concrete over it.

Realistically, anyone who wants to remove it will cut the uprights with a grinder. No self respecting scrote has time to undo four bolts.

What surface is surrounding the sculpture? A field? An asphalted carpark? A block paved area?

For the foundation, I would use a 6" post hole auger, go in 3 feet and fill the hole with concrete.

 

[wyn]

I sometimes use countersink head concrete bolts that have a torx drive.
The leave a nice flat finish in a CSK hole.

 

[chunkolini]

I did not make the Cleethorpes version.
Where's it going?
No idea, I don't think they do either. I think tarmac or on grass

 

[Agroshield]

I think tarmac or on grass

Anything they dig out, they have to dispose of. 2m x 1m x 0.15m is a lot of material. Great Escape-style muck-away is frowned upon these days by the environmental people.

 

[addjunkie]

What its going to sit on will make a huge difference to the base and how you fix it down. Id suggest the client needs to specify where and what its to sit on, as it will make quite a difference to your quite if its you fitting it.

On grass Id suggest a posthole auger too, you could them make it with legs long enough to sit in the holes, few bits sticking out, set it how you want it on wood blocks and fill the holes with concrete.
On tarmac you are cutting out and digging suitable holes to back fill with concrete. If it needs to be removable you could use cone bolts pre set in concrete as used to secure steel framed buildings.

You will also need to specify the grade of concrete.

 

[Rudi McAnichal]

It shouldn’t need much concrete to support the weight that sculpture and its contents of plastic bottles, but the customer might want a heavy base to prevent vandals from lifting the whole thing. Also, the base might be susceptible to disturbance if large vehicles (council refuse trucks?) manoeuvre close to the sculpture when it is being emptied.

 

[chunkolini]

vehicles wont be a problem.
Emptying itt will be done by hand. Through a hatch in the bottom
I reckon they will quickly fit the anti access device over the hole on top to keep rubbish.
Siting it is a bit vague they are not sure where it is going yet. So we have a plan for installing it on grass, long rebar stakes pounded in. Brutal but effective; as far as I know it will be in a safe environment for starters.

 

[Pete.]

The council have a whole building controland planning department. Get them to spec the base.

What you dont want it to be responsible in 15 years time for 8 kids to all climb up.one side of it and pull it over coz the base is rotten or the ground has sunk

 

[chunkolini]

I am being clear with the customer that I'm not responsible for installation I have always stated this one
They have people who's job it is to do this and do know what they are doing. I've recommended that he asks them to spec the base structure
Reading back over his mail I think he just needs external dimensions of the base,.
I have suggested fixing shark fishing hooks on extremities and using machete blades as fins to help with H+S

 

[8ob]

I am going to suggest casting a concrete plinth for it to be fixed to, start digging holes and you will be into locating services. Doesn’t need to be any heavier than it takes to hold the thing down in a hooley.

Bob

 

[Gareth J]

A concrete slab might help keep whatever is under it maintained easily. Save a bit of strimming.

If you can do it thinner, it'll save either digging, or having it raised a lot. 4-5" with mesh would be a very sturdy raft considering nothing more than people will be walking on it. A levelled wooden former would save any more ground work than taking the turf off.