Safe and stylish superbike team hospitality suite
When current leading British superbike (BSB) team, Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM) designed its prestigious hospitality suite for the 2014 season, it required a selection of electrical products to complement the state-of-the-art design inside and out. The unit needed to power full air-conditioning, and satellite television for three screens.
The PBM team is fronted by three-times BSB champions Shane “Shakey” Byrne and the 2013 British Supersport Champion Stuart Easton.
Jack Chatwood, PBM’s qualified electrician, wears a number of hats including those of the team’s health and safety advisor and its tyre technician. Therefore, when specifying various electrical solutions for a suite that would host a number of esteemed personnel, he needed a company that designed products that are not only stylish but also robust and safe. It was also clear that PBM would need a power distribution board along with a selection of wiring accessories to suit the décor and sleek design.
Hager UK, a leading electrical distribution manufacturer in the UK, was consulted in mid-2013 to discuss the appropriate products for the job.
The hospitality unit is based on a 40 ft. by 8 ft. triple axel trailer and is fully self-contained. It is used as a focal point away from the garage for the team, and to entertain invited guests and sponsors. It looks like a normal hard-sided trailer while on the road but, once fully deployed on-site, the front part of the unit has a fully-equipped kitchen area with a extendable side pods Trebling the available space
The unit needs to power full air-conditioning, satellite television for three screens, and has tables and seating for 38 people and a two-person sofa. A staircase and safety rails can also be deployed to give access to a viewing area on the roof. Once the two fully-glazed side pods and rear pod are deployed, the main area triples in size to about 25 square feet.
The suite has dual 32A three phase supplies and when it was manufactured PBM installed a three phase Hager UK distribution board. The distribution board was installed along with decorative Sollysta wiring accessories, which were chosen for their sleek appearance but also for strength to withstand people stepping on them as they are built into the floor.
Hager UK designs its wiring accessories on the premise that first impressions count and it advocates that the general standard of aesthetics should be upgraded across the industry. Not only does the range perform well, but safety is top of the agenda for Hager UK products. The switches isolate the electrical supply to meet the latest standards and all socket outlets feature a child-resistant shutter system which will prevent access to live parts unless all three pins of a standard British 13 amp plug are in position.
The range has all the crucial installation features including the patented neutral loop terminal which allows electricians to connect domestic lighting circuits at the wall instead of in the ceiling recess, enabling connections to be more accessible and at a more convenient working height. It also has shallow depth, cable lead-ins, captive and backed off terminal screws, wire-end stops and in-line terminals.
A selection of Hager UK products were chosen to be installed in the PBM hospitality suite, because of quality, ease of installation and depth of accessories.
www.hager.co.uk