Apex Wiring Solutions has won a contract to supply modular wiring systems for two new schools under construction in Kingston-Upon-Hull, Humberside.
The contract will see them design, manufacture and supply the modular wiring system, featuring pre-wired distribution boards, fully pluggable lighting and small power throughout, for the Northern Academy and Andrew Marvell Business and Enterprise College (AMBEC).
Both are part of the Hull Building Schools for the Future programme, a £465 million Public Private partnership being delivered by Morgan Sindall which aims to provide new educational facilities as part of a city wide social and economic regeneration initiative.
Latest software
The modular wiring fit out will be undertaken by an Apex approved contractor, who will have the thousands of modular wiring components including more than 30 prewired distribution boards and over 25,000 metres of lighting and power prewired cables to install prior to September 2013 when the schools are due to open.
Apex has used the latest software to design a bespoke system which will cut onsite electrical installation times and waste, providing a quality and highly flexible pre-assembled power distribution and lighting system on time and within budget as part of the overall multi-million pound build programme.
Dave Lewis, Managing Director, said: “The use of prefabricated connectors and preassembled cables delivers significant improvements over hard wired systems, reducing onsite installation times by up to 70%. The time saving and environmental benefits of modular wiring systems are becoming increasingly recognised in the UK, enabling electrical contractors to complete even the most complex installations quicker and more efficiently than ever before.”
Build solutions
Overseeing the mechanical and electrical engineering work is Shepherd Engineering Services (SES). National Pre-construction Director Jim Marner says that as part of SES’s pre-construction strategy, he is insisting on selecting optimal build solutions at the front end of all projects.
“The strategy is making an evolutionary change to what the construction industry accepts as the norm. We are intent on improving efficiencies, driving out waste and most importantly adding long term value to our clients.
“Our strategy for this and all other projects is to utilise products and systems delivered to site already pre-assembled and tested because of the improved quality control and reduced installation times provided. Modular wiring is a superb build methodology that we will continue to design and install into our projects.
“The off-site manufactured wiring solution allows us to carry out smart engineering and co-ordination at the front end avoiding the problems often associated with installing a traditional hard wired system on a construction site.
“The end user on both the Northern Academy and AMBEC are the priority and SES, together with Apex, will give certainty to our installation periods and most importantly leave behind a legacy of a quality installation that can be easily maintained throughout its whole life cycle.”