Edinburgh Napier University

Overview

Edinburgh Napier University was founded in 1964, and at the present educates over 19,500 students across its three campuses; Craiglockheart, Merchiston and Sighthill. In 2011, Bainfield Accommodation, Calton Hill House was constructed as purpose-built student accommodation building in the city centre, consisting of studio apartment rooms.  

Brief –

Due to concerns raised by Edinburgh Napier University, Global were appointed by the university to carry out a preliminary passive fire survey to assess the fire compartmentation of the primary means of escape and to identify any subsequent remedial works required.  

During the survey, checks were carried out on other areas of the building, in addition to the primary means of escape. It was noted by Global, that the 4-inch Soil Vent Pipes (SVP) at the back of the bathroom pods were not fire stopped at the point that they passed through the floor into the next compartment. This was a concern as the pipes ran the entire height of the building allowing a fire to travel up the building unchecked.  

The completed surveys substantiated the concerns raised by the client. Global then opened up a carefully selected sample section of the building to quantify the level of works required.  Global also found Rainwater Pipes (RWP) hidden within the walls, again these ran the entire height of the building and had not been fire stopped.  

Off the back of this information Global worked with Napier to establish a clear scope of works. This mainly consisted of works to the primary means of escape along with works to remediate the SVP and RWP to a compliant standard.  

Teamwork

From the start, our Global Technical Services team (GTS) carried out a detailed observational report in order to identify any areas which required remediation or enhancement and outlined the locations of potential breaches at the site.

The GTS team also created a full set of technical compartmentation drawings. With this information, our Operations team were then able to carry out sectional surveys in key locations of the building. This information then allowed us to quantify the works along with building a scope of works document.

Our team removed the ceilings in the stair cores and lift lobbies so they could remediate any breaches that were found at the compartmentation lines. All works carried out would be in conjunction with the manufacturers tested details.

In the event a manufacturers detail could not be found, then we would seek a non-standard detail from the manufacturer or an engineering judgment, using our in-house fire engineers.

There was one element of these works that no detail could be achieved. This was due to the way the building was constructed. A fire compound that was used in some of the cupboards and was integrated into the structural elements of the building could not be removed. However, Global were able to carry out a “betterment” for this element and supply the client with the necessary legal guidance to allow them to demonstrate why these works were carried out.

This means, should the client ever need to, they would be able to demonstrate what the issue was, what was done, and the formal guidance they followed to make that decision.

Global also carried out all the reinstating of the ceilings, isolation of M&E services and decoration. This meant the client only had to appoint a single contractor for the whole project.

Once all the works were completed to a section, Global would then hand this over to the Client and move over to the next section. To facilitate this, Global created a programme of works that allowed the building to remain functional during the whole duration of the project, with minimal disruption to the residents.

Results –

• A complete digital log of all works carried out including location and details used.
• Full set of compartmentation drawings
• Full set of O+M’s including details of all the products used and the relevant test data and certification for them.
• Full set of “as built” drawings of the works carried out.
• 3rd party accreditation for all of the works done

Andrew Cooper, Managing Director at Global HSE Group commented,

“This project showcased the depth and expertise of the Global team. From initial survey through to full delivery, we demonstrated our technical expertise in passive fire protection by identifying and resolving complex compartmentation issues with precision and compliance.

The ability to accelerate the programme by four months and deliver all works to third-party accredited standards is a testament to our commitment to excellence, collaboration, and client-focused solutions. Carrying out these works on a live student environment brings its own challenges, but the team were able to overcome these and deliver a safer environment with minimal disruption.”

We were able to deliver a compliant project with a full and extensive report of the works in which Global carried out, and this was completed in a shorter time than originally requested by the client.

Our team’s commitment to excelling in customer service was demonstrated during this project, as they were required to work on a live site. We created an extensive schedule for the movement of students around the building to allow for a planned project with minimal disruption and, as a result, the team completed the project without any issues, health and safety breaches or complaints.

Summary

At Global, our team collaborated to overcome any obstacles faced on the project. Originally, the project duration was estimated at taking 12 months to be completed, however, the team at Global were able to reduce this down to 8 months at the planning stage. Through strong customer service, the team also recovered a 3-week client delay with no additional costs added. 

Our team excelled in providing a report for the property to document the breaches found within the compartmentation of the property, which consequently compromised the passive fire protection. Utilising the skills and experience of the team, the issues were remedied to ensure the building was brought up to compliance to meet regulations.