Dedicated smoke control solution for Urban Sciences Building from SE Controls.
Newcastle University’s multi-award winning Urban Sciences Building (USB) is testament to a combination of advanced engineering, innovative design and energy efficient construction, which are being used for the benefit of the building’s occupants, as much as they are for the environment.
This clear focus on creating a high performance building had an impact on every aspect of the USB’s design, material selection, construction methods and building services, as well as its combined smoke control and environmental ventilation system, which was engineered by SE Controls to meet the unique requirements of the project.
Designed by architects, Hawkins Brown, the 12,800m2 USB is the first structure to be completed on the 24 acre Newcastle Helix development and is home to the university’s world leading School of Computing, as well as providing extensive teaching and research facilities focused on digitally enabled urban sustainability.
Sustainable design
The building incorporates a diverse range of innovative technologies, sustainable design features and fresh thinking, which includes a PV-T array, rainwater harvesting and a 560m2 wild flower green roof, as well as a bio-dome, which uses waste CO2 heat and water from the building to grow food for the university’s restaurant. Also, 4,000 digital sensors and embedded computing technology make it one of the UK’s most monitored high performance buildings.
As energy efficiency and sustainability are key aspects of the building design, these principles were also carried through to the glazed façades, curtain walling, environmental ventilation and smoke control systems.
Cladding and glazing systems specialist, Dane Architectural Systems, were involved from the early stages of the project and used Schueco FW 60 + SG, with AWS 114 ventilators including TipTronic concealed actuators.
To ensure they could meet the demanding design intent of the system, which required these vents to be linked to the BMS for managed day-to-day ventilation, Dane Architectural turned to SE Controls a specialist contractor capable of providing a fully compliant solution.
As the Automatic Opening Vents (AOV) have specific zone requirements and operate in banks of 3 for normal ventilation needs, SE Controls designed the operation of the smoke control system to maintain the functionality and flexibility of the TipTronic control, while integrating with the system and providing effective smoke ventilation to the building in the event of a fire.
Collaborative approach
To achieve this, SE Controls worked in close collaboration with Dane Architectural and developed the new OS2 TipTronic SHEVTEC Controller, which is dedicated to Shueco’s TipTronic actuator system, enabling it to provide effective smoke and heat exhaust ventilation (SHEV) to the building.
Following the production of a detailed design, which included integration matrices, schematic drawings, operational documentation and installation details, SE Controls installed more than 40 of the new OS2 TipTronic controllers at the USB.
Andrea Hayward, SE Controls Senior Key Account Manager on the project, explained: “The Urban Sciences Building is a technological and sustainability ‘tour de force’ which reflects the advanced research activities undertaken at the university and we are delighted to have our own innovative technology incorporated within its design.”
Much of the development work undertaken by SE Controls on the USB’s dedicated solution was driven by the company’s strict adherence to the various legislation and codes of practice that are necessary within the highly regulated smoke control and fire safety environment.
Building performance and regulations
Will Perkins, SE Controls Group Managing Director explained: “Smoke ventilation systems such as those used at USB are becoming increasingly complex and perform multiple functions including integral delivery of a building’s environmental performance, which in this case is provided in part through the building’s automated façade for environmental ventilation.”
He added: “However, this added complexity must never compromise safety. This must be ensured by using only competent and accredited installers with detailed specialist knowledge within the field. Another key reason for using specialists is that the matrix of regulations that govern the performance and safety standards, particularly of smoke control systems, is diverse, detailed and by necessity, very strict. So much so, that we regularly run workshops and CPD programmes purely on the inter-relationship of the regulatory framework and how, without specialist knowledge, errors can occur right from the outset of a building’s design, which can get carried through to final construction, at which point remedial action is invariably very costly and disruptive.”
Key among the product standards are The Construction Product Regulations (CPR), which covers compliance through CE marking, in particular the BS EN12101 suit of standards and BS7346-8 Code of practice for planning, design, installation, commissioning and maintenance. Within BS EN12101, there are a number of individual parts that focus on specific products including BS EN12101-2 for natural smoke vents and BS EN12101-10 power supplies for smoke control systems. However, a level of diligence is required relating to the components and testing.
For example, actuators and window systems must be tested together as a single product and not as individual components to ensure compliance. Designers should reference the need to evidence Declarations of Performance (DOPs) at tender stage to ensure that what will be installed satisfies these strict safety requirements.
Compliance
“The EN12101 series is the European standard that covers components of smoke control systems and compliance is mandatory under Construction Product Regulations, importantly to attestation level 1, which requires third party accreditation through a qualified Notified Body,” continued Will Perkins.
“Having been directly and personally involved for over 25 years in various working groups and committees that have developed both European and British standards, it is essential that products placed on the market are compliant. In my role as convenor of Working Group 7, which deals with power supplies (EN12101-10) and control equipment (prEN12101-9), it is clear that other companies and individuals also share this commitment and belief across the industry.”
SE Controls is also a leading and long standing member of the Smoke Control Association and has been instrumental in the drafting of guidance which underpins the need to use competent designers, installers and products in order to ensure safe and well designed systems are delivered. The SCA has also introduced a competent installer scheme, which is now a pre-requisite of membership of the SCA.
Will Perkins added: “James Brokenshire’s report, prepared following Dame Judith Hackitt’s’ review of building regulations and fire safety, refers to a ‘golden thread’ which runs through all projects and with almost 40 years of delivering smoke and environmental ventilation systems, as well as façade automation solutions to some of the largest and most prestigious projects across the globe, we fully support this move.
“Importantly doing things right doesn’t and shouldn’t come at a cost premium. If competent companies with proven track records of delivery are engaged early in the process to understand the design intent – and are allowed to help steer the project team through the regulatory and performance maze, then the client will ultimately end up with what they wanted.
“Furthermore the building will be documented, compliant and have planned preventative maintenance in place with dedicated specialists looking after the relevant specialist equipment, whether it be smoke control, lighting systems, fire alarms, sustainable energy production or any of the other aspect of the safety and environmental umbrella. There is no room for ‘cutting corners’ after completion in areas such as maintenance and ignorance can lead to catastrophic and potentially life threatening outcomes. BS 7346 Part 8 provides a good reference of how to go about this effectively and in a planned manner.
“Newcastle University’s USB is a perfect example of Brokenshire’s ‘golden thread’ with its vision and innovative design being delivered by specialists to an exceptionally high standard,” he concluded.
View February 2019 MBS Magazine here - https://cloud.3dissue.com/176015/176416/205864/MBS0219/index.html