Home  A giant is being revived |
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A giant is being revived |
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CPS® for Ostankino
Tower, Moscow
A giant is being revived
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From 1967 to 1976, the
537-m high Moscow television tower was the tallest building in the
world. It was then supplanted from this top position by the CN Tower in
Toronto, which is 16 metres higher. Nevertheless, the Ostankino Tower,
as it is officially known, remained a prestigious object for the USSR
of which every Moscovite was proud - until the 27th of August 2000. A
fire broke out and put an end to the operation of this attraction that
had given approximately 200,000 visitors each year an unforgettable
view of the Russian capital from a viewing platform at a height of 337
metres.
A fire at a height of
450 metres was almost the end for the second tallest building of the
world.
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It took 24 hours to extinguish the fire.
Three firemen and one elevator attendant were killed when one of the
elevators crashed down. In spite of all attempts to extinguish it, the
fire ate downwards for many hours; it was finally stopped at a height
of 60 metres. Bent metal staircases and steel structures in the narrow
passageways had hindered the advance of the fire fighting teams.
More than half of the 149 steel cables that
held the tower together were destroyed. The cause of the fire is
suspected to be a short-circuit in one of the amplifiers which
transmits the signals of eleven TV stations, twelve radio stations and
17 satellite transmitters.
However, a demolition of the 33-year-old landmark was out of the
question for the Moscow authorities. After an extensive inspection of
the damaged structure, a decision was taken in August 2000 to restore
the Ostankino Tower. After the fire disaster, it was logical that the
safety aspects of the "new" old tower were placed in the foreground.
Safety in the
focus
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Therefore, Thyssen
Aufzugswerke, who were contracted to construct the new lifts, are
relying on four high-performance, contactless power systems of the
CPS® series from VAHLE to solve the power supply problem. These
allow the four lift cabins to be reliably transported to a height of
almost 350 metres. Data transfer with the cabins is provided by a VAHLE
Powercom® unit that operates via the primary conductor of the
CPS®.
It was planned to
re-open the tower to the public at the start of the warm season in May
or June. Although the work is going well, the operators expect a delay
of approximately half a year. The experts now assume that late autumn
is a realistic target date. It is certain that visitors will again be
able to enjoy the fantastic view over the huge metropolis. |
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Anyone working on the tower must
not suffer from vertigo.
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