Scott & Ewing Ltd has delivered two new-build school projects fit for future generations of pupils.
The Omagh-based plumbing and heating company worked alongside main contractor Woodvale Construction (its associate company) to complete the projects, providing the full mechanical installation at St Patrick PS in Belfast’s New Lodge area, and Holy Evangelists’ PS, Dunmurry.
The firm was tasked with fitting natural gas-fired condensing boilers, underfloor heating, BMS controls, mechanical ventilation and PIR sensors, air handling units, and rainwater collection systems.
Apart from the impact of Covid-19, Scott & Ewing Ltd was faced with a number of other complex challenges on both projects.
St Patrick’s PS in particular presented difficulties, given that the site was in a residential area. The new purpose-built premises – which replaces the school’s former split-site operation – comprises 21 classrooms, two multi-purpose halls, a separate dining room, a school meals kitchen and stores. The new build was constructed in two halves due to site restrictions, meaning pipework had to be undertaken from either side of the building and jointed in the middle.
Also, the agreed planning ridge height limited the floor-to-ceiling height to the building, compressing the M&E services. This required a high-level M&E coordination to install.
“This project was a complex mechanical delivery, due to the building being constructed in two separate sections,” explained Derek Ellis, Mechanical Site Supervisor for St Patrick’s PS.
“The supply of materials through the extremely confined services space, with limited access, was challenging at times, requiring careful coordination by the mechanical services team.”
Unlike St Patrick’s, which involved creating a new building to replace the school’s two separate sites, the work at Holy Evangelists’ PS was carried out a live school environment. This, coupled with moving from an oil to gas heating set-up, meant work at the Dunmurry site presented its own unique set of challenges and required significant M&E coordination.
Kenny Gregg, Mechanical Site Supervisor for Holy Evangelists’ PS, said: “The former school was cold, damp and had been flooded numerous times – seeing the pupils in the well heated and ventilated fit for purpose school has been an absolute pleasure.”
For the heat generation at St Patrick’s, Scott & Ewing Ltd utilised three Imax Extra 2 Nr 280kW natural gas fired condensing boilers, while three Atag XL140 140KW natural gas fired condensing boilers were used at Holy Evangelists’ PS. In both cases, these boilers are connected in a cascade arrangement and are fully modulating.
They serve to heat the domestic hot water through an indirect calorifier and an underfloor heating circuit. The underfloor heating circuit is pumped from the boiler room to serve localised manifolds distributed throughout the school, each having a dedicated BMS control panel. BMS controls and functions are accessible to the appropriate school staff through a front-end panel, on which time and temperature settings can be reset to suit school schedules.
Domestic hot and cold water throughout the two sites is fed directly from the NIW mains system. Water to WC’s is fed from reclaimed rainwater gathered in an external underground rainwater harvesting tank and pumped to a grey water tank in the boiler room. This water is subsequently pumped from the holding tank to all WC outlets in the main school.
The first phase of the £8m St Patrick’s PS scheme was handed over in May 2021, providing a 21-classroom school and associated services; phase two – MUGA pitch and car parking – is due to finish early this year.
The two-phase, £7.6m Holy Evangelists’ PS was completed in 2021. Phase one included a 21-classroom main building and associated services, while phase two encompassed a new nursey building, MUGA pitch renovation, demolition of former building, car parking and vehicular access road.
Scott and Ewing Ltd worked with Semple & McKillop Ltd mechanical consultants on the Holy Evangelists’ PS project. Dan Gilchrist, Director at Semple & McKillop Ltd, said: “We have worked with Scott & Ewing Ltd on a number of Design & Build schemes. Our teams work well together, delivering sustainable mechanical packages on each and every project.”
Established in 1969 by Desmond Scott and the late Philip Ewing, the firm has a broad portfolio of projects developed over the last 50 years in the following sectors, including education, health and restoration. A number flagship projects include Altnaglavin Hospital and the Dairy Technology Centre Lacpatrick Dairy, Artigarvan.
Sub-contractors
Kingspan: Rainwater harvesting system
Alternative Heat: Underfloor heating system
Whitehouse Engineering: Duct work and ventilation
Contact Scott & Ewing Ltd to discover how the team can deliver your mechanical service package.
T: +44 (0)28 8224 2622
E: Info@s-e-group.co.uk
