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standards. With a bespoke solution, you have to build those requirements into the design. However, a reputable manufacturer will have the experience, knowledge and track record to advise and ensure key points are included. Here are some vital points to consider: IP (Ingress Protection) Rating – a
fundamental requirement. Take roadside cabinets, especially those located right beside motorways. In stormy, windswept conditions, large passing vehicles, especially multi-wheel trucks, throw up sheets of standing water, which could drench a nearby enclosure. This means gaps between doors and openings have to be robustly and reliably sealed; air circulation louvres have to be properly angled, so water does not penetrate; and cables routed into the cabinet via suitable waterproof sleeves or grommets (also keeping out vermin and invertebrates). Environmental control – equipment to
be protected will have specified working limits on how much airborne moisture will be tolerated, or upper and lower ambient temperatures in which the kit will perform efficiently. Conditions may be critical for some kinds of sensitive monitoring, control and communications equipment. With hotter and more humid summers no longer exceptional, will enclosed equipment suffer? Will more louvres suffice, or does air conditioning have to be considered? If the latter, will a power source be necessary and does the enclosure have to be hermetically sealed? And of course, costs must be optimised. Corrosion – both internal and external.
Will there be environmental extremes? I can think of an exposed seafront where an enclosure was located, fine on good summer days, but in winter storms, salt- laden spray went everywhere. Bases can rot out, internals can suffer. Construction materials and finish – all
the above depends on what material is best for the enclosure’s application and location, together with the most appropriate surface coating. Will it be sufficient to powder-coat a sheet metal enclosure? Alternatively, is the right answer a corrosion-resistant material like stainless steel, or a zinc-coated mild steel? Should the whole or only exterior parts be constructed from corrosion-resistant panels? This matters to protect long term investment and life-cycle costing. Internal cable routing – in some
industries this is a big issue, for example, public utility fibre optic broadband networks. As Fibre-To-The Home or Premises (FTTH/P) proliferates, a street enclosure, distributing out to hundreds of nearby properties, may have to accommodate similar numbers of fibre optic cables. Cable management takes on
locking system to prevent break-ins and theft (of expensive kit), or foiling disruption by terrorists. Human factors (ergonomics) –for
example, designing door and related openings to make access for internal equipment maintenance easy and quick. Take a tip from makers of top quality gas boilers. As part of planned preventative maintenance (PPM) schedules, they position components or assemblies that have to be routinely tested or replaced close to hand, not buried away at the back of a cabinet. Partial dismantling to reach what has to be worked on takes time. Productivity is key here to efficient and profitable servicing. Installation – how will the enclosure
be transported? What features will require protection in transit? How will the enclosure be delivered and installed – hoisted as a complete unit from a lorry, or a kit of parts built up on site? Fit-out – the above matters because
Picture courtesy of Brompton Bike Hire
Bespoke enclosure manufactured by ICEE for Brompton Bike Hire
a new meaning. Fibre optic cable doesn’t bend as tightly as traditional copper, so within an enclosure allowances have to be made for routing with bigger radii. Noise pollution – will the equipment
being put into the enclosure generate noise leading to complaint? This is especially important where a cabinet is sited in a quiet rural or dense urban community. For example, noise from cooling fans and air conditioning may be obtrusive. Find out the values and specify whether noise suppression has to be incorporated. Up to 50dB is generally tolerable in residential areas. Aesthetics and planning – if a large
enclosure is to be located in an outside public space, remember the government wants to better control street furniture. Local authorities may require an enclosure to blend into conservation areas, especially in sensitive rural locations. This matters if an enclosure embodies a strong branding feature. Damage resistance – whether an
Author: Chris Arnold, ICEE Managed Services
enclosure is located externally or within a building – for example, a supermarket or an internal car park – think about potential risk of damage caused by vehicles or trolleys. Careful design means only one panel in susceptible areas may require repair or replacement, rather than several. Vandalism and security – consider
all possible risks, everything from the selection of a surface coating to make spray-painted graffiti removal easier, to the choice of material, construction and
enclosure manufacturers may offer to fit equipment and cabling into the structure as part of a complete, end-to-end service. A finished, factory-built enclosure including internal equipment – a vending machine for example – may weigh hundreds of kilos. It may have to be built in the factory, not delivered to site as a kit. Packing, lifting, transport and delivery, plus installation and maintenance requires comprehensively thinking through the life-cycle process. In short, consider the big picture so
everything is allowed for in the final design specification. Often, consulting with an experienced manufacturer speeds decisions.
DON’T COMPROMISE Summing up, thanks to advanced methods, a bespoke enclosure may now be as competitive as a standard product or, in some cases, the only real option. What’s more, you can have what you want and not compromise. Bespoke can provide a distinct competitive edge and market differentiation, or freedom to overcome functional constraints and incorporate competitive advantages. But it’s not just the physical features of
the enclosure you should be considering. When shortlisting and selecting, it’s also the strength and track record of the contractor. Additionally, where an end- to-end solution is offered – including project management, installation, ongoing maintenance and life-cycle management – it may be more cost- effective to buy the complete package.
ICEE Managed Services T: 02392 230 604 E:
sales@icee.co.uk www.icee.co.uk
DESIGN SOLUTIONS | OCTOBER 2019 7
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