HP Contracts
18 Monks Brook Park
School Close
Eastleigh
Hampshire
SO53 4RA
At 6:01am on Sunday 11th December 2006, Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire was shaken by a vast explosion from the Buncefield Oil Terminal. The explosion was audible from over 100 miles away and caused the largest fire in the history of peacetime Europe. The fire blazed for several days, and consumed over 100 million litres of fuel. 1000 firefighters were required to tackle the inferno, but astonishingly there were no fatalities from either the explosion or the fire.
HP Contracts had virtually completed the refurbishment of an office block situated just 150 yards from the Buncefield Oil Terminal on Saturday 10th December, with minor works to be completed on the ground and third floors on Monday 12th December. The blast devastated the refurbished building before the project could be completed.
“When I turned on the TV on the morning of the 11th and I saw the fire, I could have cried,” said Managing Director of HP Contracts, Stuart Deas, “I had no thoughts of the extra work the business would have. All I could think was that months and months of hard work had been destroyed.”
Two site foremen were sleeping on the site in a caravan when the explosion occurred. Fortunately for the occupants of the caravan, a skip was situated just 35 yards from the caravan. This fortuitously positioned skip saved the lives of the foremen. When Buncefield exploded the force of the blast propelled the skip 20 yards towards the caravan, but managed to shield the caravan from the strength of the explosion.
Due to HP Contract’s experience within the building industry, and the relationship that had been “built up” between themselves and the owners of the building, HP Contracts were awarded a contract in the region of
£7 million to make safe and refurbish the office block damaged by the explosion. HP Contracts expertise and efficiency in handling this situation was further recognised when they were also awarded an additional £1.3 million contract to relocate their client who was situated in a neighbouring office block.
HP Contracts are a single source company for all refurbishment and office design needs from modest upgrades to massive improvements. From consultation, through design and planning, to undertaking the works to the complete satisfaction of the client, HP Contracts are committed to the customer from the first meeting to the satisfactory completion of the project.
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