Sponsored by News
OFFICE UPGRADE BUILDS ON
CMD’S POWERFUL LEGACY ‘Futureproofing’ is a term often used by consultants to reference a focus on ensuring that buildings can continue to adapt as technology and occupier requirements change, with as little disruption and expense as possible. In these volatile times, never has the concept been more relevant.
Following the pandemic, there is much discussion about the future of office environments and what it will look like. With more people working from home than ever before, companies adopting hybrid models of office and home working, and technology affecting both the way we work and the jobs we are doing, predicting what will happen next is, perhaps, the greatest challenge of all.
Powertrack power distribution systems are the ideal response to this need for future flexibility. By enabling the electrical installation to be reconfigured quickly and easily with minimal disruption, they allow seating arrangements to change, new and additional sockets to be provided, and can even enable a change of use for the property. By adding, removing or repositioning tap-offs, offices and their occupiers become scalable spaces, tailored to changing needs and evolving technologies.
But future flexibility in the power distribution system is only possible if the selected system has the design values and durability to provide an extended service life. A robust and compliant powertrack system is
26 | TOMORROW’S FM
needed that can be adapted years and even decades into the future.
A recent project delivered by London-based electrical contractor, Bancroft Ltd, using products from CMD, highlights the importance of selecting high quality power distribution products from a trusted manufacturer. It also highlights the need to choose supply chain partners that can work proactively as an integral part of the delivery team.
Adapting the legacy system
Located in the heart of the City, the project involved the refurbishment of a prestigious London office building for one of the world’s leading professional services firms. The client is based in offices spanning a total of 15 storeys across two towers and the initial plans for the refurbishment had focused on reconfiguration of the desk layouts to meet their revised requirements, along with upgrades to the interior fit out and finishes.
The client’s intention had been to retain the underfloor power distribution networks and focus the refurbishment on cosmetic upgrades to the office interiors, with Bancroft tasked with a light-touch electrical upgrade to include new lighting, kitchen areas and tea points, along with reconfiguration of power sockets for the new layouts.
Ryan Collis, Project Director at Bancroft, explained: “The previous electrical fit out of the building had been specified and installed with flexibility and futureproofing in mind,
with a powertrack power distribution network, which offered scalability and adaptability. The legacy system was CMD’s AlphaTrak powertrack, which had been installed 20 years earlier, and, when we tested it, the CMD power distribution system was still fully functional and compliant after two decades’ of use.
“However, due to the publication of changes to wiring regulations since the previous installation, the existing tap-off leads could not be re-used as originally planned, due to a lack of mechanical protection. We turned to CMD to help us find a solution that would enable the AlphaTrak system to remain in place and be re-used, while updating the tap-offs to deliver a compliant installation.”
CMD’s AlphaTrak powertrack system has been discontinued and replaced by the company’s Betatrak powertrack system since the power distribution networks were installed in the two office towers. The Betatrak system from CMD builds on the success of AlphaTrak and provides the same flexibility and functionality. It has been designed to ensure safe on-site installation, with tap- off outlets colour and key coded to avoid errors during assembly. For maximum safety, each operates a shutter on insertion to ensure no accidental contact can be made to an energised powertrack.
To modify the existing CMD AlphaTrak powertrack installation to meet the reconfiguration, safety and compliance requirements of the refurbishment, the expert product
twitter.com/TomorrowsFM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84
