Festival of Cabling
Almost any large re-wiring project can present the contractor and installer with a few problems. However, the difficulties are of an entirely different proportion when the multi-service installation is a key part of a total refurbishment of a Grade 1 listed building constructed in the 1950s. Cablofil’s managing director Paul Courson gives an overview of the current project at the Royal Festival Hall and outlines the solution to some of the problems.
As part of the refurbishment of one of London’s most iconic concert halls, cabling and wiring throughout the fifty year-old Royal Festival Hall has been replaced by Romford-based electrical contractor Essex Electrical. Representing a particularly complex and difficult undertaking, the electrical installation has involved working under tight constraints, including the re-use of severely restricted service-voids within the listed building. Replacing the original perforated sheet steel cable tray and cable ladder, Cablofil steel wire tray was specified by M&E consultant Max Fordham to provide containment and protection for multiple electrical services, ranging from sensitive data-communications wiring, to heavy-duty armoured cables for sub-mains power distribution.
Despite a history of alterations and developments, public access and amenities as well as the acoustic properties of the main concert hall within the original building have remained well below modern standards since it first opened in 1951. Consequently work commenced in June 2005 on a £71 million project to refurbish the Royal Festival Hall completely. The project has included the total replacement, reinforcement and up-grading of both the mains and emergency standby power networks, together with all other multiple electrical services within the listed building, as well as the addition of new data-communications networks.
The refurbishment and restoration project has been designed to return the building to its original 1950s condition, but using 21st century products, systems and technology, providing improved acoustics and technical facilities, increased audience comfort and better public access. Upgrades include the renovation of the foyer and public areas together with improved catering and retail facilities and new facilities for conferences and corporate entertainment. Disabled access has also been improved.
A key part of the project, the electrical installation has been designed by M & E consultants the Max Fordham Partnership. Wiring and cabling is installed in four vertical risers and high-level service voids in the corridors. Space within the risers is extremely limited, while the high-level voids are also both restricted in size and include acute bends and direction-changes, leading to difficult working conditions.
Cablofil steel wire tray has successfully provided containment and protection for all electrical services throughout the building, including circuits wired with special fire-resistant FP600 and sensitive high-speed, high-bandwidth data-communications cables, as well as heavy-duty sub-mains power cables including 4-core, 240mm armoured types. Full training in the use of the welded steel wire-mesh tray was provided, enabling SEC to take full advantage of the product’s versatility, speed and ease of installation under difficult conditions and against very tight time constraints.
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