Munro’s Mechanical and Electrical installation at this North London Primary School, saw the Munro team working within a modular build solution for the first time.
Working with modular building experts Extraspace Solutions, the construction of the classrooms’ shell was prefabricated and once the classrooms were in situ, the M&E and everything else was installed in a traditional manner to bring the building to life.
This construction process was selected for speed as the school, run by Bellevue Place Education Trust (BPET), had been in temporary locations since opening in 2014 and a permanent home which could support the needs of the curriculum was now essential. As the partner M&E contractor for the project, it was our responsibility to install the building services, whilst working to an extremely tight timeframe of just 14 weeks for this EFA funded project.
In 2015 the plans were approved to demolish the former Ashmount School site and build the 14 classrooms, hall, kitchens and receptions with ample outdoor space in local surroundings for the 2 form entry school.
Munro’s mechanical engineering solution consisted of underfloor heating, served by gas fired boilers with zoned controls, a hot water supply heater which is pre-heated by a gas absorption heater and provides hot water to toilets and classroom sinks, a cold water booster set and tank, local toilet extractor fans, heat recovery units in classrooms to provide fresh air which is supplemented with cooling coils for summer use only which run on trickle and boosted by Co2 sensors, a split air conditioning system, natural ventilation fresh air louvres interlocked with extract fan in main sports hall activated on Co2 and temperature and BMS control installation.
Electrically, the installation consisted of a lightning protection system which covers the entire building, a fire alarm system fitted to level 4 standard, disabled refuge alarm system, assistance call alarm in the disabled toilets, a class change bell system throughout the building and playground areas with programmable electronic controller in reception, data/voice systems, intruder alarm system to a grade 3 standard, access control to ground and 1st floor doors, lighting and emergency lighting controlled via a CP electronics lighting control system, with classrooms programmed to obtain a BREEAM credit via daylight linked dimming and whiteboard controlled zones. The external lighting is further controlled via photocell and timeclock.
The students have now moved into their new home and are looking forward to starting their first full academic year in the building come September. To learn more about how the school has been received so far, including its first ever Ofsted report, read our article Shaping Education’s Future here.