Cymmer Primary school
Project Information
Location: Rhondda Cynon Taf
Contractor: Allied Mechanical Engineering ltd
Project Completion: November 2018
Geberit Know-How
Problem: Major improvements needed to the junior section of Cymmer Primary School
Solution: Remodeling and refurbishment
Project Overview
Major improvements were made to the junior section of Cymmer Primary School in 2018, as part of a joint investment by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools Programme. The workswere carried out to improve provisions for pupils, and, in turn, improve educational outcomes.
The £1.9 million investment saw extensive remodeling and refurbishment work to the existing late Victorian-era building, 1960s building and multi-use games area.
Taking six months to complete, the internal work included the installation of 3,500m of Carbon Steel piping, electrical and mechanical works, and a change of layout forming some new rooms, toilets and a multi-purpose hall.
Why Geberit
Why choose Geberit Mapress?
Due to the heritage of the building, the refurbishment needed a lightweight piping solution that also complied with industry regulations. The system alsohad needed to be quick to install with first-class safety measures in place. As a result, Allied Mechanical Engineering specified Geberit Mapress CarbonSteel, Stainless Steel and Copper to fulfil the requirements of the brief.
A key reason for the specification of Geberit Mapress was to comply with national school fire safety regulations. Mapress was installed since it required no hot-works, forming part of the school’s measures to ensure all necessary procedures were in place to reduce the likelihood of fire.
Another key factor in choosing Mapress was its speed of installation.Thanks to the pressing technology, installations can be carried out reliablyand quickly without complex welding and soldering. Importantly, this sped up the internal works process for the school and contributed to the pace of the refurbishment.
More specifically, the Carbon Steel piping was chosen for its increased safety provision, lightweight structure and extensive corrosion resistance properties.
The resistance to corrosion prevents leakage, significantly reducing the chance of damage to the aging existing building. Also, the carbon steels corrosion levels can be monitored with an inhibitor installed in the plant rooms.Crucially, understanding corrosion levels of pipework helps to safeguard the building, reducing the likelihood of internal structural issues.
Delivering the Solution
Speaking about the installation, Nick Barnes, Director at Allied Mechanical Engineering ltd, said: “Not only was Geberit Mapress reliable, quick and safe to install, but it also complemented the building’s structure.
Parts of the school were built in the Victorian era, hence a more sensitive approach to the pipework installation was required. In particular, due to Carbon Steel’s high tensile strength, it’s difficult for it to bend and break, meaning we installed the material at relatively thin levels and provided the required lightweight solution.