Smoke Control - General - Cardiff, Creating Better Smoke Management Systems
Date: 27 Oct 2006
Smoke Control Services has teamed up with Taylor Woodrow Construction in an industry first to undertake a lean construction exercise into the way its natural ventilation-based smoke management system is installed in residential apartment blocks.
In a unique collaboration, working with both the construction company and Cardiff City Council Building Control, Smoke Control Services will install its UniVent system in all seven residential apartment blocks of the Bryant Homes' Victoria Wharf development in Cardiff Bay. A comprehensive and critical analysis of the installation process will then be undertaken.
Kevin Hibbs, Regional Design Manager for Taylor Woodrow Construction, said:
"This is the first, possibly the only, Type Approved naturally ventilated smoke management system in the UK. It has been developed by working collaboratively and is due in part to the excellent relationship we have with the Council's Senior Building Control Officer, Graham Bond, and his team, who we have worked very closely with on the whole development."
The system has been already been installed in the first three completed blocks of Phase I of the development. Now, with the guidance of specialist process management company Strategem, Smoke Control Services is working through the installation of the system into the two blocks of Phase 2 of the development.
The lean construction exercise, which is part-funded by a Welsh Assembly Government Construction Wales grant, is due to finish in August, at which point the final two blocks of Phase 3 will be fitted out, using all the improvements identified in the Phase 2 work, and appraising it against the original installation in Phase 1.
"This is an exciting and unique situation which Taylor Woodrow has been quick to identify and which could bring real long-term benefits to their developments," said Smoke Control Services Managing Director Allan Meek. "We have never been in an environment in which we can do this kind of testing and developing and where there are very few basic variables in the shape, size and layout of the blocks in the different phases.
"It means we can effectively practice on site in a live situation and put the improvements we make along the way into effect in the final phase. The result of the process is that we will come out of it with a proven lean construction method and Taylor Woodrow will reap a variety of benefits - less cost, less time on site, and the reduction of interface with other trades, which means fewer management issues."
Taylor Woodrow's Victoria Wharf, Cardiff, development where Smoke Control is creating a better natural ventilation smoke management system.
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