Pipe Center’s Modular Engineering has won the contract to design and build a complete modular mechanical and electrical services solution for a new low-carbon school in Cornwall.
The offsite assembled modular design covers pipe work for all heating, chilled water, domestic water and electrical containment systems required for the 2400 sq m Carclaze School now nearing completion at St Austell, Cornwall.
The new school will bring together the 420 pupils from the existing Carclaze infant and junior schools within a state-of-the-art building, with open plan learning and sustainability as key design factors.
Building services consultant EIC South West specified the modular approach from Modular Engineering due to its significant cost, time and quality advantages. Main contractor on the project is Kier Western.
Chris Trew of EIC said: “We are convinced of the benefits of modular offsite assembly. We have employed Modular Engineering on a number of projects to date, and it is proven to dramatically reduce the time required for installation on site, while ensuring an exceptional quality result. It is a transformational approach.”
He added: “The multi-service modules are built offsite in clean factory conditions, and pre-tested. This means that, once delivered to site, completed modules can be very efficiently connected up to create a fully tested system.”
Some 62 percent of the energy requirements of the school will be met from renewable sources, reducing energy bills and cutting carbon emissions.
The green services at the school include a low temperature hot water biomass boiler, serving an internal distribution system. There is also a passive ventilation system with ground air ducting to provide natural ventilation to areas of the building with limited external surfaces.
Further energy savings are delivered through the use of a solar thermal system and daylight switching for lighting controls. A rainwater harvesting system is also included.
Bob Hughes, who heads Pipe Center’s Modular Engineering facility, said: “Carclaze School provides another excellent example of how a modular offsite approach to building services can transform the speed and quality of the end result.
“Once clients see the compelling advantages of offsite modular engineering, they are convinced and there is no going back. With ever-shortening lead times on projects and pressure to increase quality, we believe that all commercial building services projects will one day be delivered in this way.”