Original Steeldeck®
The original Steeldeck® platform was invented by Philip Parsons in 1985 and launched by PL Parsons and Company, a firm of theatrical scenery makers, in 1986.
The excellent corner post detail providing 3-point fixing to eliminate movement and provide ease of fabrication, was contributed by Ewart Richardson whose work in developing production was invaluable in those early years.
The design remained unchanged until the mid-90’s when Michael Passmore reconfigured the frame to what is now termed the Arena pattern and adjusted the steel specifications to achieve a load capacity of 7.5kN/m2 using just four legs. Conducting a study, at that time, the Arup engineer commented “A lot of our concrete floors aren’t as strong as that…”
The Forkdeck
Philip Parsons recently introduced a modification to the design (now registered) to accommodate use by a fork lift truck – currently termed the Forkdeck.
Similarly, Giles Favell has designed an enhancement for use in enclosed spaces (eg orchestra pits). His unique system overcomes the problem of platforms jamming in place over a period of time.