Contract News

QUARTZELEC DELIVERS ON LANDMARK DEVELOPMENT

Contracting Service provider, Quartzelec, has continued to deliver on prestigious M&E/construction schemes during these challenging ‘COVID-19’ times. The £6m+ development in Chapel Street/Dearmans Place in Manchester being the most recently completed and where Quartzelec had been on-site from the beginning, supporting this significant re-generation scheme.

Four residential blocks collectively provide 995 one, two and three-bedroom apartments and use a new open plan concept layout to maximise useable living space by removing the hallway traditionally found in apartments, giving them a distinct Manhattan style feel. The blocks, up to 22 storeys high, include new shared gardens, public areas and parking.

Quartzelec undertook the full M&E services to all the landlord areas servicing the residential apartments as well as key communal areas, working alongside main contractor, Sir Robert McAlpine.

The works across the development included the fit out of four new substations that now provide power to the development, along with two mechanical plant rooms housing the site boosted cold water supply and the wet riser pump room.

A total of 300 parking spaces across four levels serve the development and incorporate secure access control with 60 CCTV installed cameras across the site. Over 5000 low energy microwave-controlled LED lighting units – to maintain the required lighting levels and to provide the benefit of reduced energy consumption – have also been installed over 68 residential corridors as part of the electrical and mechanical services to all areas of the development.

Full domestic sprinkler protection has also been installed within the apartments and escape routes along with dry and wet risers to the four blocks, providing enhanced levels of fire safety protection. The corridors have further protection by way of a comprehensive smoke clearance system within each block, controlled by local activation of a smoke detection system. Quartzelec, quartzelec.com

VINCI WINS GRAND PARIS EXPRESS CONTRACT

A joint venture made up of Vinci Construction and Vinci Energies subsidiaries has been awarded the contract by Société du Grand Paris for the general contracting work to develop 17 service structures located on the south-east stretch of Line 15 of the Grand Paris Express transport network.

These technical structures will help ensure the safety and security of passengers and maintain the future Grand Paris Express line.

The work, scheduled to take 59 months, began in January 2021. Worth a total of €65m, the contract primarily involves realising the structural work, metalwork, locksmithery, electrical systems, plumbing and heating, ventilation and air conditioning of the structures.

At its peak, the project will involve over 200 people. The Vinci Group is also involved in other works packages of the Grand Paris Express, combining the expertise of and synergies between its subsidiaries for underground works, urban development, railway works, information technology, data and electrical engineering. Vinci Group, vinci.com

THE MET COMPLETES TEST RECEIVING OF NEW ALARM SIGNALS

ECHO (Electronic Call Handling Operations), the not-forprofit security industry backed alarms handling operator, has announced the Metropolitan Police Service successfully completed its first end-to-end test receiving alarm signals via the new ECHO hub. The test signals, originating from Banham Security’s Alarm Receiving Centre, were successfully transmitted into The Met’s own Control Room.

This success follows on the heels of the test by Essex Police, who in November 2020 were the first police force in the UK to have successfully received and verified confirmed signals in this way.

ECHO is going live early in the year, offering a full service to any UK police force ready and able to be ECHO-connected. It is expected Essex Police and the Met will be fully prepared to handle all their police response alarm signals via ECHO by the spring of 2021.

David Mair, Manager – Security Systems Unit, Metropolitan Police Service says, “We have been developing our capability to receive automated verified alarm signals from ARCs for some time. This proof of concept means all alarms with Met police response could be ECHO-connected and in line for faster police response before the end of 2021.”

The NPCC estimates ECHO-connected police forces will save between one to four minutes in responding to intruder and hold up alarm activations. In its experience ‘every second counts’ in protecting people and property, and time saved by the police being ECHO-connected could be crucial in arriving at alarmed premises, providing a faster response to confirmed alarm activations from approved alarm installations. ECHO, echo.uk.net

MARY ROSE WOULD BE ALL AT SEA WITHOUT MONITORING TECHNOLOGY

Hanwell Solutions has helped preserve one of the most famous tourist attractions in the UK by developing a temperature and humidity monitoring solution to ensure the correct environmental conditions are constantly maintained for the site.

Mary Rose, the 16th Century warship sunk in the Solent in 1545, is now a museum after a 34-year conservation project during which Hanwell’s technology and environmental monitoring sensors played a key role, continuously checking and recording temperature and humidity of the ship during the drying out process to minimise distortion and the cracking of wood due to environmental fluctuations.

Eleanor Schofield, the Mary Rose Trust’s Head of Conservation and Collections Care, explains, “The Hanwell monitoring system was easy to set up to give us all the data we need. We link it to alarms, which are set so that if one sensor reports an environmental factor has become out of tolerance we can react quickly. The system enables us to get the problem sorted quickly, as well as helping us with routine maintenance.”

Because of the unique nature of the Mary Rose, Hanwell had to design a customised solution for the conservation team. The system has been a key indicator in monitoring the drying of the timbers – if something had gone wrong it would have affected the whole ship.

Over 30 sensors from the Hanwell Pro range are on the hull of the ship, continuously mapping the condition of the wood. The Hanwell system not only monitors the ship’s hull, but the vital data is also fed to the BMS system via MODBUS, data from the wireless sensors also control the separate air handling units for the collection of artefacts through a Hanwell custom built MS1000 control panel. Between the two control systems the critical environmental conditions are maintained between 18-20°C and 50-58% RH.

HISTORIC POST OFFICE REDEVELOPMENT STARTS ON SITE

The transformation of Bury St Edmunds’ former post office has now begun as part of a council’s investment in the future of its high street.

The £8.4 million redevelopment project at 17-18 Cornhill will completely demolish the rear of the building to make way for 12 flats and two commercial units, while the Victorian frontage will be retained.

Property, construction and infrastructure consultancy Perfect Circle was appointed by West Suffolk Council to provide quantity surveying, project management, and structural, civil, mechanical and electrical engineering and architectural advisory services for the scheme.

The build will better links between the historic town centre – around Cornhill and Buttermarket – and the contemporary Arc Shopping Centre by widening the adjoining walkway by more than 50% to encourage an increase in footfall between the two sites and improving visitor experience.

West Suffolk Council secured £2.75m in government investment, which provides cost certainty for the redevelopment. Managing a strict budget has been a key part of Perfect Circle’s role.

Paul Darlow, regional lead for the East of England at Perfect Circle, said: “One of the main challenges we have experienced with this project so far was creating a design that met the client’s brief, was visually cohesive with the rest of the town centre, and kept within the budget of the scheme.

“However, we have worked closely with the client’s architectural consultants to create a design that not only meets these requirements, but also perpetuates a new legacy that will stay with Bury St Edmunds for years to come.” Perfect Circle, perfectcircle.co.uk

Hamilton Litestat’s Hartland CFX wiring accessories have been chosen to equip Hotel Indigo Bath, a Grade One listed hotel featuring 166 bedrooms in the historic and vibrant Somerset city.

Mixing contemporary and traditional design with no two rooms the same, Hotel Indigo Bath sought a range of decorative wiring accessories that offered modern conveniences and services to guests, but would be sympathetic to the building’s period features and complement the five different bedroom design themes.

Hamilton’s popular Hartland CFX plate was selected in antique brass with black inserts. Robust enough to meet the high wear and tear demands of the hotel industry, the design delivers a sophisticated look, while the antique brass finish gives the design a classic flair.

At the main entrance to each guest room, a Grid Fix 4-Gang plate controls the master light switch, bathroom light and features two LEDIT-B100 rotary dimmers for softer lighting options. Beside each bed, dual switched sockets are equipped with two 2.4A USB-A Ultra charging outlets to provide easy and accessible charging functionality for smart devices. Positioned alongside is a 2-Gang 2-Way Rocker Switch plate to control the bedside lighting.

In the same design and finish, power is distributed throughout the rooms with 1-Gang and 2-Gang Switched Sockets. In the larger suites, these are supported by a 4-Gang Aperture Sheer Floor Plate housing dual USB-A charging outlets and an unswitched socket to provide further charging capability. Hamilton Litestat, hamilton-litestat.com

CHA RECEIVES COMMUNITY BENEFIT FROM CONTRACTOR

Clydebank Housing Association (CHA) recently received two power washers from Magnus Electrical Services as a community benefit which formed part of a contract between the two organisations.

CHA said that, after a successful procurement process, Magnus Electrical Services secured the contract to carry out its electrical testing programme throughout its stock over the next five years.

CHA is committed to maximising community benefits from all its procurement activities. Through CHA’s community benefit programme, contractors and suppliers support the association’s economic, social and environmental objectives to help make a difference to the local communities.

Jack Devlin, Acting Housing Services Manager at CHA, says, “When thinking of an appropriate community benefit, we wanted something that would be beneficial to all our tenants throughout our stock. Given the success of recent power washing work carried out in some areas, we felt giving our estate caretakers more tools to assist in the upkeep of our common areas would be in keeping with what we want to achieve through community benefit clauses.”

The power washers will be used between March and September in external common areas throughout CHA stock, for example, slabs, bin stores and close entrances.

Colin Murray, Managing Director of Magnus Electrical Services, says, “Many thanks for the opportunity for Magnus Electrical Services to provide the power washers as our contribution to Clydebank Housing Association’s community benefits. We hope Clydebank finds them very useful.” Magnus Electrical Services, magnus-electrical.co.uk

HAMILTON CLEANS UP AT HOTEL INDIGO BATH BILFINGER SECURES MAJOR CONTRACT WITH ESSAR OIL UK

Bilfinger UK has been chosen as the Maintenance & Projects Partner for a major four-year plus two-year contract by Essar Oil UK to carry out a range of services across facilities on its Stanlow site. The services will include mechanical, electrical and instrumentation, access, insulation, painting, and asbestos management and removal. The six-year contract will be delivered under Bilfinger’s Engineering & Maintenance service line.

Bilfinger UK has successfully provided multi-discipline project and turnaround services to Essar Oil UK for many years, and this strategic decision to also award the Maintenance & Projects contract to Bilfinger UK is a testament to the exceptional work and safety performance delivered by the site team, and represents the next step in the strong relationship between Bilfinger UK and Essar Oil UK at the Stanlow Refinery.

Jon Barden, Chief Operating Officer at Stanlow Oil Refinery, says: “I welcome Bilfinger UK as our lead partner for the delivery of mechanical, scaffolding, insulation, painting and electrical and instrumentation services at the Stanlow and Tranmere locations. We look forward to developing a successful long-term relationship where both parties work collaboratively to deliver improvements in our collective safety and business performances to benefit our respective employees and owners.”

Bilfinger UK employs 4,000 employees in the UK, and approximately 200 employees will be dedicated to maintenance and projects services for Essar Oil UK. Bilfinger’s services for process industry customers include design and build, automated control and electrical systems, installation and commissioning as well as operations and maintenance.

Essar Oil UK is sited on a 770 hectare industrialised area of Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, Stanlow and benefits from its close proximity to major North-West metropolises, a robust configuration and reliable, well-maintained assets. The refinery plays a strategic role in the UK economy, supplying 16% of all road transport fuels. It is also a major regional employer with over 900 staff, an additional 800 on site contractors and a further 5,000 people employed indirectly through the extended supply chain. Bilfinger UK, uk.bilfinger.com