With the internal shell now complete, and with far fewer trades now on-site until the electrical works begin, we’ve been able to get various supplementary works underway across a number of key areas.
The last few weeks have proved to be an excellent springboard for getting things like access control integration started, with the first doors at NLE now online and interacting with our core systems at NLC.
Weekly overview
While final plans and schedules for the LV and HV electrical works continue, we’ve been able to press ahead on-site with a range of supplementary projects which have helped to drive forward general progress.
We’ve spent time on the main access control elements, which will secure the client entry points to the facility. This includes the frame installation of our turnstile, the integration of the main reception door onto the access control system, and the deployment of our lovely new Boon Edam speed gates.
The first of our three speedgate terminals fixed down to the floor in our entrance foyer, seen against the grey feature wall which runs the length of this areaA view of all three speedgate terminals now in place, which make up one large double-leaf access lane, and one smaller single-leaf pedestrian access laneHere we see the interconnecting conduit now installed, with flood cabling in place between all three terminals for power, data and fire integrationA look at the custom DIN rail installed at the base of each terminal, to handle incoming and outgoing connections for all cable servicesWe’re fully integrating these speedgates with our Paxton door entry system, and as such, the two lanes each have a Net2 Plus control board internally mountedA look at the progressing installation from the top of the access rampThis view shows the conduit as it pitches up the feature wall for overhead access to service routes above the ceiling lineHere we see the front door access control systems being installed, which will also house control points for the main compound turnstileThis 600kg maglock matches those used at NLC, and is the result of a fully custom installation with parts fabricated in-house to achieve the correct mounting positionHere we see the inside of the front door, as the access hardware begins to reach final state, pending the door exit mushroom buttonThe outside of the main entrance, with the newly mounted entry panel on the left to match those found at NLC, along with various pieces of custom door security furnitureA closer look at the matching door entry panel, which will also feature on the main turnstile as to replicate NLC’s secure entry setup – the colour match is quite impressive, and purely coincidental!The door entry control panel boxes seen with their installation nearing completionA look at the completed door entry control enclosures and associated power distribution, which now neatly hide many hours of termination workA quick look at some of the now fully-completed door systems, this one showing the entrance to one of our LV power rooms, and the ground floor lift entrance – this is being custom painted to match all other doors soonA view down the length of the ground floor corridor, with the entrance to Data Hall 4 in the foreground, leading on to the entrance to Data Hall 3 – the fully-integrated Paxton readers are visible here, as part of the handle assemblyWith hard hat tours starting in early 2021, we’ve been getting the tour PPE kit on-site ready for use by our visitorsWe’ve again gone with high-quality Dickies vests, which we’ve used for our engineering hi-vis vests for some time now, along with custom branded black hard hats
Alongside access control works, we’ve also now flood cabled the first data hall with its final lighting cables, which means we can begin to light the data halls with their overhead LED panels for the first time.
We’ve also had trades back on-site over the past few weeks to bring all doors to full completion, which includes the checking of tile stability around the frames, and adjusting all doors for their opening angles and closing speeds. Given the number of door systems installed, this is quite the undertaking.
Though not something pictured, our lift is now operational, and can move between floors. We’re now just waiting on some final integration work to be undertaken, which will bring that particular element of the project to a close.
The custom frame system we’ve had designed for our cooling plant and cold corridors arrived during this time, which we hope to begin installing in the next couple of weeks, on the lead up to Christmas.
What’s next?
Details are now finalised on much of the HV and LV front, meaning we’re close to having that stage of the project begin.
In the lead up to this, we’ll be continuing with lighting, access control, and the chequer plating of all client areas.
Another major job that will be undertaken both now and throughout the electrical installation works will be the integration of our new CREC system. This will include getting the coolers plumbed, powered and interconnected for their control systems, along with the installation of our custom-fabricated containment frame, which will blank off any cooler bays which are presently unoccupied, as well as providing a mounting location for the extraction louvres.
