Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

The brief

Briggs & Forrester Engineering Services provided the design, supply and installation of mechanical, electrical and public health services in a new building used for the processing & safe disposal of hazard waste. The building consists of two main halls (test & handling) with four levels of support offices.

Services provided include sanitary ware, above ground foul & surface water drainage, domestic water services including external MCWS, natural gas including external mains, compressed air, space heating via gas radiant panels to halls, VRF to offices, air conditioning, ventilation and BMS controls (Trend), HV/LV services, generator, UPS, internal lighting & power, external lighting, fire/PA/security alarms, CCTV, data, voice, klaxon alarms installation, DDA & lightning protection systems.

Added Value

Maximising useable floor area was critical to the end users hence all distribution was carried out at high level, up to 22m in places. The main roof, due to its span, had little loading capacity therefore Gripple were invited to work with the design team to provide a solution for the support all services at roof level. The Gripple Cantenary system was then delivered in kit form with specific drawings & instructions for each scenario, together with comprehensive on-site training.

At lower levels perimeter services were supported on pre-fabricated cantilever brackets designed to take the extensive load of the numerous armoured cables & associated containment, together with compressed air & process water pipework, these were designed, supplied & installed by Billson Steel Fabricators & included pre-drilled holes for the fixing of the described services.

Natural ventilation of the main halls was provided via cladding replacement louvres, with integral motorised dampers. Each louvre had to be individually measure prior to manufacture by Gilberts due to the inconsistent tolerance’s in the steel frame. The dampers were pre-fixed to the rea of the louvres, with the entire panel be fixed by the cladding contractor as they carried out their works.