Brighton Council Depot, East Sussex
Brighton Council Depot: Electrical Works for New Commercial Wash Area
Bradbury Electrical was appointed to assist Brighton & Hove City Council with a vital refurbishment project at the Brighton Council Depot. The work focused on installing new electrical infrastructure to support a new commercial wash area for the depot's fleet of lorries, as well as installation external lighting for the staff during the winter months. This project aimed to improve the facility’s operational efficiency while supporting the essential public services provided by the council.
The project required a combination of electrical upgrades, including new distribution systems, emergency lighting, and the safe installation of enclosures for electrical systems. The work also had to be carried out with minimal disruption to the depot’s daily operations, which involved coordination and flexibility due to the ongoing activity within the site.
Bradbury Electrical’s Role in the Brighton Council Depot Project
Bradbury Electrical’s scope of work for the depot included a wide range of electrical installations and upgrades to accommodate the new wash area and improve the overall safety and efficiency of the site. Key elements of the project included:
1. GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) Enclosure Installation:
Purpose: The GRP enclosure was required to house the electrical equipment safely, protecting it from environmental factors and ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations.
Implementation: Bradbury Electrical installed a new GRP enclosure designed to house electrical components, including circuit breakers, isolators, and other equipment. The enclosure was chosen for its durability and resistance to the harsh conditions typically found in industrial and outdoor environments, such as dust, moisture, and physical impact. The GRP material ensured that the equipment inside was well-protected and could be accessed easily for maintenance when needed.
2. New Distribution Board:
Purpose: The new commercial wash area and associated equipment required a dedicated power supply. A new distribution board was essential to manage power distribution and ensure that the electrical system could handle the load requirements of the new wash facilities.
Implementation: Bradbury Electrical installed a new distribution board to provide a safe, organized method of distributing electrical power throughout the new wash area and surrounding facilities. The board was designed to handle the specific power demands of the equipment used in the wash area, including high-power washers, water pumps, and other heavy-duty machines. The distribution board was also designed to be scalable for potential future electrical upgrades.
3. Rerouting Existing Submains:
Purpose: The existing submains feeding power to various parts of the depot needed to be rerouted to accommodate the new infrastructure and ensure that all electrical systems were interconnected efficiently and safely.
Implementation: Bradbury Electrical carefully rerouted the existing submains to integrate the new wash area with the rest of the depot's power supply. This process involved relocating cables, reorganizing electrical circuits, and ensuring that the power distribution remained balanced across the depot. Careful attention was paid to ensure that the rerouted submains did not affect the performance of other critical systems already in place.
4. Temporary Hoarding Lights:
Purpose: To ensure that the site remained adequately lit and safe for workers during the construction phase, temporary lighting was required to illuminate the work areas and ensure visibility, especially during the evening and winter months.
Implementation: Bradbury Electrical set up temporary hoarding lights around the perimeter of the worksite and in areas where construction was taking place. These lights were designed to be robust and weatherproof, providing bright, reliable lighting for the workers and contractors on site. The installation of the temporary lighting ensured that work could continue safely even after daylight hours, and it provided security for the site, reducing the risk of accidents and improving visibility.
5. New Lighting and Emergency Lighting:
Purpose: The installation of new lighting was crucial for ensuring that the depot and the new wash area were well-lit, improving both safety and operational efficiency. The addition of emergency lighting was equally important, particularly for the winter months, to ensure safe evacuation routes in case of power failure or emergency.
Implementation: Bradbury Electrical installed new lighting across the depot, with a focus on areas like the new commercial wash area, access routes, and storage zones. The lighting was designed to meet the specific needs of the depot, providing adequate illumination for work areas and ensuring that the facility could operate efficiently.
For emergency lighting, Bradbury Electrical ensured that key areas of the depot, such as exits, stairways, and the wash area, were equipped with emergency lighting systems. These systems are essential for maintaining visibility during power outages or emergencies, guiding staff safely to exits and reducing the risk of accidents. The emergency lights were installed in compliance with relevant safety regulations, ensuring that they were strategically placed to cover all critical areas of the facility.
6. Winter Readiness:
Purpose: As the project was completed during the winter months, there was a particular focus on ensuring that all electrical systems were prepared to function optimally in cold and potentially wet conditions.
Implementation: Bradbury Electrical ensured that the lighting systems and power supply systems were designed to be energy-efficient and reliable throughout the winter. This included selecting weather-resistant and durable materials for outdoor lighting and ensuring that the new distribution boards and wiring were insulated and protected from the elements. The team also worked to ensure that all electrical installations complied with winter-specific safety standards, reducing the risk of power failures during inclement weather.
Challenges Faced and Solutions Implemented
Minimising Disruption to Depot Operations:
The depot remained operational throughout the refurbishment, meaning that Bradbury Electrical had to work around the ongoing activities of council staff, including the movement of heavy machinery and lorries.
Solution: Bradbury Electrical coordinated closely with the depot management to schedule work during non-peak hours and avoid interfering with essential operations. The team used temporary lighting and set up barriers to create safe working zones, allowing the project to proceed without affecting daily activities.
Working in Harsh Weather Conditions:
As the project took place during the winter, the electrical installation work was affected by the cold, rain, and other weather conditions, which posed a risk to both safety and the integrity of the equipment.
Solution: The team took additional safety precautions, using weather-resistant materials for outdoor installations and ensuring that all electrical connections were adequately sealed to prevent water ingress. They also implemented strict safety protocols to protect workers from the elements while ensuring that all systems were fully functional in adverse weather conditions.
Tight Deadlines and Limited Access:
The depot had limited access points and space for staging equipment, and there was a pressing need to complete the work on time to avoid delays in the operational readiness of the depot’s new wash area.
Solution: Bradbury Electrical managed the logistics of the project efficiently, using temporary power supplies where necessary and working in phases to ensure minimal disruption. The team also worked closely with the client to ensure that all installations were completed on time, even under challenging site conditions.
Outcome
Bradbury Electrical successfully completed the electrical upgrade at the Brighton Council Depot, providing a modern, efficient, and safe electrical infrastructure for the new commercial wash area. The project improved the depot's operational efficiency by ensuring that the fleet of lorries could be washed and maintained properly, which is critical for the ongoing public services the council provides.
Key achievements included
Safe and reliable electrical distribution to the new wash area, ensuring that the equipment could operate without power interruptions.
Emergency lighting and winter lighting systems to maintain safety during the darker, colder months.
Flexible working hours to minimize disruption and ensure that the depot’s daily operations continued without major interference.
High-quality installations that adhered to safety and environmental standards, ensuring the long-term reliability and performance of the electrical systems.
Bradbury Electrical’s successful execution of this project demonstrated the company’s ability to deliver high-quality electrical services even under challenging conditions, ultimately contributing to the ongoing effectiveness of the Brighton & Hove City Council Depot.
ELECTRICAL PACKAGE: £80k
Strip Out
GRP Enclosure
Temp DB
Reroute Existing Submains
Mods To Circuits
Temp Hording Lights
Reinstall Lamp Posts