BACKGROUND
The Weald Community School and Sixth Form College is a large and popular coeducational establishment situated in Billingshurst, West Sussex. The school caters for around 1,700 pupils in total, including over 300 in its sixth form.
In June 2021, the school was in need of a specialist contractor to upgrade its ageing and failing windows with a more modern and energy efficient alternative. Following the successful completion of a roof refurbishment project at the school the previous year, Inspire Contract Services were duly contacted and asked to provide a solution.
The project was concentrated on a number of classroom blocks at the school and initially involved the safe removal and disposal of the existing Crittal windows. These were then replaced with a energy-efficient, soundproof, durable and low maintenance glazing solution which also provided enhanced security.
Works were undertaken on a Design and Build basis under a JCT Intermediate Building Contract and required Inspire to engage a design team.
Installation was carefully planned to be carried out during the school summer recess period. This ensured that all works could be carried out safely and effectively with minimum disruption to the daily teaching activities.
THE WORKS
The works were divided into managed phases that could be safely carried out while the school was closed for the summer holiday. This ensured that the classrooms could be cleared to enable the refurbishment activity to take place.
The detailed works on this project comprised of the following key elements:
- Erection of scaffolding works to classroom block and site set up
- Removal and disposal of existing Crittal windows
- Supply and installation of new powder coated aluminium direct fixing, thermally broken internally beaded windows complete with all couplings, mullions, transoms, trickle vents, restrictors, external cills, trims, fixings, composite cladding infill panels
- All units and fittings were of commercial quality
- Making good required including internal and external trimming
- Internal cills were replaced with new decorated timber cills
- Supply and installation of new Etex Cedral Lap Wood finish 10mm board
THE RESULT
A successful outcome on this project was achieved thanks to total project management by Inspire’s experienced site project team. Daily liaison and effective communication was required each working day with the Business Manager and Site Premises Team to ensure ease of running both the schools and the project.
Efficient planning on site was also essential and, whilst works were being carried out internally, scaffold erection progressed externally in the same sequence plan.
During the lead-in period, a detailed programme of works was prepared and agreed with the client and this was used throughout the project to ensure that the school’s daily operation was maintained. Comprehensive Health & Safety documentation including the Construction Phase Plan was also issued to the client during the site mobilisation period to ensure all safety measures were in place. All Inspire operatives and specialist subcontractors were required to be Enhanced DBS Certified and a full list of these was handed over to the school prior to our commencement on site.
Inspire maintained a full site set up during throughout the project comprising a self-contained site welfare, offices and storage. This was relocated as and when the programme dictated to minimise impact on the school’s daily function.
Works were completed within the contact programme and all areas handed back over to the client and school within the agreed timescale. The project received the Building Control approval notice upon completion.
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