Stewarts Coaches
Project location: Reading
Project Background Brief:
PPG Projects were contracted by a development company to strip out and refurbish a bus & coach depot after a fire devasted the bus garage and associated office areas. Stewarts Coaches are a National Express operator who operate 24 hours a day and the depot had to continue operating throughout the Project works.
The initial works were for the mechanical and electrical strip out of all fire damaged materials and replacement which included water supplies, exhaust extraction system, heating, gas services, ductwork, power supplies, lighting & emergency lighting, fire detection and alarm system, CCTV and intruder detection and alarm systems.
PPG Projects were working alongside a specialist building infrastructure company, who were responsible for repairing and renovating the bus depot’s fire-damaged building.
Particular Challenges:
All works had to be time managed due to the ongoing bus & coach operations and the company’s office functions. This involved varying shift patterns, additional site safety representation and segregated ‘work-safe’ areas to separate Stewarts Coaches employees and the refurbishment teams.
Another challenge involved working with fire-damaged materials which posed an occupational health hazard to our teams, this involved ensuring that additional personal protective equipment was issued and used in specific environments. Specialist cleaning of the entire ductwork and air conditioning systems within the garages ensured their continued use once all works were complete.
Specific mechanical and electrical tasks were coordinated throughout the Project works with phased work areas to ensure we worked alongside and with other contracted disciplines.
The location within the 11,000-pupil University complex meant that the project timescales had to be condensed to fit around the University’s normal operations with no disruption to their timetable or activities, especially as upon completion of our works the University had employed a Netting Contractor to install a new Netting system. This was achieved through extended working hours and with ethical approval of the Public Authority, using additional local electricians to supplement the PPG Projects Installation Team.
Special Project Features:
As these works incorporated design & build elements, we were able to involve the Client in all aspects of the refurbishment. This helped ensure that the Client’s input into their future requirements were considered and put into effect. Working alongside our design team, we were able to offer an installation that the Client wanted but by enhancing their design we were able to install a future-proof installation to take the facilities into the next decade and beyond.
From design to installation, the LED lighting had to be resilient to operate 24/7, while returning an annual cost saving to the Client. By utilising a no-glare, high-impact rated LED luminaire with area switching, the Client also has increased light output illuminating the depot.
Additional works were commissioned by the Client throughout the refurbishment as the Client saw the benefit of a once-only installation by PPG Projects installing additional access control, CCTV, an advanced PA system and additional small power accessories in the undamaged areas of the garage to ensure current compliance to electrical regulations.
