Adroit Construction News
 

Beddington, Croham and Rowdown Cable Cooling Stations Order

Adroit Construction have been successful in receiving an order from the Electricity Alliance East on behalf of National Grid for the upgrade works to three cable cooling stations at the Beddington, Croham and Rowdown Substations in South London

The stations were originally constructed in the 1970s and the equipment is now in need of significant refurbishment and replacement in a scheme worth in excess of £1.6m to Adroit Construction.

The mechanical and electrical plant serves to provide closed water cooled circuits running alongside the National Grid underground 400kV high voltage cables. This enables the network to carry an extended current rating. The cooling will allow up to 1500kW of heat to be dissipated providing a temperature difference of 13°C.

The existing air-cooled heat exchangers will undergo a complete refurbishment with the remaining equipment being completely replaced and upgraded with modern and reliable hardware. The water expansion systems will be changed to a spill-back type c/w automatic water make-up and deaeration. The building structures will be modified to accept the new installation which will also include new motor control panels and cooling circuit pumps. The building services to each location will also being upgraded.

The target for completion is to provide network flexibility in time for the 2012 Olympics as will extend the lifetime of the facility by a further 25 years.

Enterprise Substation Schemes

Adroit Construction are pleased to announce that they have recently been awarded 3 Substation Contracts by Enterprise namely Bishops Castle, High Offley and Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Bishops Castle Substation, Shropshire

Adroit Construction Services will begin work on a £90,000 scheme for Enterprise at Bishops Castle Substation, Shropshire. The main objective of the scheme is to build a new 11kV switch room for a new 9 panel FKI switchboard. The building will be constructed in accordance with the Central Networks Specification. The main scope of works is as follows:

• Construction of the switch room foundations including all excavations, Type 1 Sub-Base, Concrete, Formwork and Reinforcement.
• Construction of the switch room walls. The works will include the laying of engineering bricks, facing bricks and 140mm thick concrete blocks. The walls will be constructed complete with cavity installation.
• Construction of the switch room roof. The works will include the installation of a precast hollow core concrete slab and sheathing felt roof membrane.
• Painting of the switch room ceilings and walls.
• Screeding to the switch room floor.
• Supply and installation of steel access doors.

High Offley Substation, Shropshire

Since 4th April 2011, Adroit Construction Services have been employed by Enterprise to carry out various modifications and improvements at High Offley Substation in Staffordshire. The £50,000 scheme is well underway and Adroit are well on course to meet the 5 - week programme period.

The main elements of works that are being executed by Adroit are:

• Construction of a temporary concrete base to accommodate an 11Kv NER.
• Various modifications and improvements to an existing 11Kv Switch house.
• Alterations to an existing Transformer bund.
• Hand railing and platforms to existing steps and bunded areas.
• 150mm ducting to a modified Transformer bund.

Newcastle-under-Lyme Substation, Staffordshire

Adroit Construction Services will begin work on a £230,000 scheme for Enterprise at Newcastle-under-Lyme Substation, Staffordshire. The contract involves the construction of concrete bases in preparation for the installation of various sub-station structures and equipment.

The summary of the works to be undertaken is as follows:

• Construction of 2 new transformer bunds and plinths including concrete, Type 1 sub – base, formwork, reinforcement and drainage.
• Construction of 4 new Disconnector/earth switch plinths including concrete, Type 1 sub-base, formwork, reinforcement and ducting.
• Construction of a new circuit breaker plinth including concrete, Type 1 sub-base, reinforcement and formwork.
• Construction of a 14 new single post insulator plinths including concrete, Type 1 sub-base, reinforcement and formwork.
• Construction of a foundation to a new gantry including concrete, formwork, reinforcement and the grouting of base plates.
• Construction of a new 3ph post insulator plinth including concrete, formwork, Type 1 sub-base and reinforcement.
• Construction of a new 1ph CT plinth including concrete, formwork, Type 1 sub-base and reinforcement.
• Construction of a new 1ph CVT plinth including concrete, formwork, Type 1 sub-base and reinforcement.
• Installation of mini piles and bored piles to the substation equipment foundations.
• Construction of a foundation to a new Container house including concrete, formwork, reinforcement and the casting in of holding down bolts.

The 3 schemes listed above are being managed by Barry Marshall, who is the Business Co-ordinator for the Infrastructure and Power sector of Adroit Construction.

Dyfi Furnace Hydro-Electric Project

Bromsgrove based Adroit Construction have been successful in winning a project to install a hydro-electric plant into a designated ancient monument for CADW, the Welsh heritage organisation.

Built around 1755, Dyfi Furnace is probably the best-preserved example of an 18th century charcoal-burning blast furnace in Britain - and is one of rural Wales's hidden industrial gems.

The furnace was built by Vernon, Kendall & Co. The Kendall's, who were in sole ownership by 1774, were a family of ironmasters from the West Midlands who had extensive interests in the Lake District and Scotland as well as furnaces and forges in Cheshire and Staffordshire - signifying that the furnace was part of an industrial empire on a British scale.

The location also signifies that the industrial revolution did not only leave its mark on the urbanised areas, but also on areas such as the rural hinterland of northern Ceredigion.

A comprehensive programme of conservation began in 1977 and in 1987 the scheme received a 'Rural Wales Award' from the Council for the protection of Rural Wales.

For this latest round of conservation the monument was closed to the public from 7 January 2008 until the end of February 2008.

Conservation work at Dyfi Furnace near Machynlleth was completed in June 2008 and the historic site was once again opened to the public.

The main feature of the monument is the water wheel - whilst the existing wheel is a later one, it is in the same position as the original blast furnace wheel.



Adroit Construction services have received the contract to install a hydro-electric generation system utilising the water wheel to drive the required electrical generating equipment.

The wheel itself requires some renovation to replace the bearings and maintain it in a working state, the addition of a hydro-generator will mean the site is generating electricity to support the local supply.

The construction work has to sympathetically fit around the Ancient Monument in such a manner to maintain the integrity of the historic structure itself as well as increasing the appeal of the site as a visitor attraction.

Additionally, the river flow must be maintained as the adjacent waterfall is a local feature and will take priority over electricity generation in times of low flow.

Adroit are undertaking works to check river flow data and will install monitoring to ensure compliance with Environmental Agency requirements for abstraction of water from the adjacent river. The generator will be driven by a belt pulley system through a gearbox to a three-phase generator and is expected to produce some 16kW of power when river conditions permit.

Adroit have previously designed & constructed hydro-generation works on large sites at Lake Vyrnwy and Lake Berwyn, and have a portfolio of works encompassing local authority work, significant involvement with Severn Trent Water, Welsh Water & more recently London underground.

Chelmsley Wood 33kV/11kV Substation Upgrade

After several months of negotiations Adroit Construction are pleased to announce that they have been successful in securing the contract for the Design and Construction of all Building and Civil Engineering works at Chelmsley Wood Substation from Balfour Beatty Engineering Services Ltd.

In early 2010 it was decided to refurbish and upgrade the existing 33/11kV Chelmsley Wood Substation comprising generally of 2 No. new 30 MVA 132/11kV transformers c/w 132kV and 11kV GIS switchgear.

The existing Chelmsley Wood site is overlooked by houses and a residential tower block on one side and an adjacent shopping complex across a dual carriageway on the other and the existing substation building was badly damaged internally by an arson attack in 2009.

At present the substation consists of a single storey building with a 6.000 m high annexe housing the existing transformers as can be seen from the photographs below.

Early last year Balfour Beatty Engineering Services Limited (BBESL) were awarded the contract by Central Networks to carry out the upgrade works as well as to bring in a new electrical supply from the nearby Hams Hall power station.

After several months of negotiations including joint optioneering and design feasibility works between BBESL and Adroit the most cost effective solution was agreed and presented to Central Networks who gave their approval to commence the project.

The works consists of demolition of the existing annexe building; construction of a new steel portal frame GIS building; construction of 2 No. transformer bunds and several auxiliary bases; cable trenches and ducts; new access road; drainage; perimeter fencing and extensive refurbishment of the existing 11kV switch room building.

Adroit Construction have already completed the design process of this £790k contract with commencement of the site activities in early March 2011 and a programmed completion of the civil construction works in autumn. The work is been overseen by Barry Marshall, Business Co-ordinator for the Power and Substation sector of Adroit Construction.

Willenhall 132kV Substation

We are pleased to announce that Adroit Construction Services has recently been awarded a Design and Build Contract by Balfour Beatty at Willenhall Substation. The existing Willenhall Sub Station is an extensive site, housing 132kV, 33kV and 11kV equipment. The 132kV plant is split onto two levels, referred to as the upper and lower sites. The upper site consists of a 132kV compound with the lower site being home to a 132kV control room, compressor room, mess room, store room and workshop. The upper site and lower site are double bus bar substations supported on concrete or steel gantry structures. Central Networks have recently decided that the upper site, built in the 1930's, has come to the end of its useful life, whereas the lower site, built in the 1960's, has a remaining 15 years useful life following recent remedial works to the bus bars and structures.



The recent works at the site have left only 3 circuits connected to the upper site.

With this in mind, Central Networks put forward a project proposal to decommission and demolish the upper site.

The main objectives of the project are:

• Divert the three remaining circuits on the upper site to the lower site and clear the upper site for the redevelopment of the 132kV site in 15 years time.
• Install a new GT1 30MVA 132/11kV transformer.
• Decommission all 33kV plant.

The works will be carried out over 2011 and 2012. The transfer of circuits and demolition works will take place in 2011 with the installation of the new transformer taking place in 2012.

Balfour Beatty Engineering Services have been appointed by Central Networks to deliver the project and Balfour Beatty have in turn appointed Adroit Construction Services to execute the Civil engineering element of the scheme.

The Contract between Balfour Beatty and Adroit Construction has been let on a Design and Build basis.

The scope of works to be carried out by Adroit Construction involves the Design and Build of concrete bases to a range of structures, at various circuit references. The main activities to be executed by Adroit are as follows:

• Circuit Reference Walsall – Construction of concrete bases for 7 number Insulator Post Structures.
• Circuit Reference Wolverhampton 1 – Construction of concrete bases for 6 number Cable Sealing Ends, 1 number Circuit Breaker, 1 number Marshalling Kiosk and 3 number Disconnector Mech. Boxes. There is also a requirement for drilling 4 number fixing holes in existing bases for chemical anchors.
• Circuit Reference Wolverhampton 2 – Construction of concrete bases for 6 number Cable Sealing Ends and 1 number disconnector Mech. Box.
• Circuit Reference GT1 Top Site – Construction of concrete bases for 1 number Disconnector Structure, 1 number Disconnector Mech. Box and 1 number NER Tank. The works at the GT1 Top Site also involve the construction of a new Auxiliary Transformer Bund, the modification of an existing Transformer Bund and the replacement of stone within an existing Transformer Bund. In addition, there is a requirement for a water test on a Transformer Bund.

Adroit Construction have already begun work on the design element of the scheme and will commence construction on site early 2011. The £185k scheme will be overseen by Barry Marshall, Business Co-ordinator for the Power and Substation sector of Adroit Construction

Black & Veatch Thames Water AMP5

Adroit Construction Services are pleased to announce that they have recently been successful in securing three contracts for Black & Veatch Ltd. All of the schemes are part of the Black & Veatch Thames Water AMP5 programme of works and provide challenges in order to meet tight contract completion deadlines such as delays in land purchase, environmental constraints and delays to commissioning of upfront temporary process units. The three schemes have allowed a positive working relationship to be developed between the two companies and has led to discussions taking place with the aim of tailoring the Adroit Health, Safety, Environmental and Quality systems and documentation in order to meet the requirements of both Black & Veatch and Thames Water.

A brief description of the schemes is detailed below.
Gatehampton Borehole
Location: Goring on Thames (Near Reading)
Contract Value: £ 185k
Description of Works:

• Construction of below ground borehole headworks and valve chambers
• New borehole site compound including access road, fencing & landscaping
• Installation of `free issue` borehole pump, rising main & headworks
• New pumping main to connect to existing pipework including valves, flow meter and washout
• New electrical/sampling kiosk
• Ducts & draw pits
• System integration into existing control system
• Commissioning

Syreford WTW

Location: Syreford (Near Cheltenham)
Contract Value: £ 280k
Description of Works:

• Construction of new RC contact tank, valve chamber & balance tank structure
• Installation of polypropylene baffle curtains within contact tank
• Installation of pipework and valves within contact tank valve chamber
• Installation of all interconnecting pipework and valves
• Modification to existing borehole pump and booster pump pipework
• New contact tank sample point c/w sample pumps
• Relocation of existing sampling facilities
• New drainage and washout facilities
• Ducts & draw pits
• Access pathways
• Instrumentation, cabling & system integration
• External lighting
• New fencing
• Chlorination
• Landscaping

Andoversford STW

Location: Andoversford (Near Cheltenham)
Contract Value: £ 170k
Description of Works:

• Provision of a new base for elevated inlet works and skip area
• Provision of 2 No. SAF units bases
• Demolition of 2 No. existing percolating filters
• Removal of the existing macerator and replace with hydrobrake for flow control to works.
• Humus tank distribution chamber
• Excavation and installation of GRP humus tank
• Provision of a new MCC base & MCC kiosk
• Provision of a standby generator & bulk fuel tank bases
• Interconnecting pipework
• Access roads and pathways
• Ducts & draw pits

All of the schemes will be overseen by John Freeman, Business Co-ordinator for the water and wastewater sectors of Adroit Construction

Infrastructure

Adroit Construction's Infrastructure Sector was awarded a contract by Jacobs Engineering to carry out Maintenance to 4 Bridges on behalf of Telford & Wrekin Council.

The contract involved highway traffic management, replacement of safety barriers, bridge joint replacement and re-surfacing.

The scheme valued at £298,000 commenced on the 16th August 2010 with a 13 week construction programme.

Infrastructure

Adroit Construction's Infrastructure Sector was awarded an embankment remediation contract by Insurers Cunningham Lindsey/Jacobs Engineering.

The contract involved installing a 31m long concrete bored piled retaining wall, reinforced concrete capping beam, new drainage, embankment re-grade and re-surfacing.

The scheme valued at £126,000 commenced on the 17th May 2010 with completion in August 2010.

"This job will be very interesting as the retaining wall is to be constructed adjacent to a house with limited clearance and the owner of the house resident whilst we carry out the work" Commented Darren Hitchings, Business Coordinator Rail & Infrastructure.

Rail

Adroit Construction's Rail Sector was awarded a bridge refurbishment contract by Birse Rail.

The works involved installation of access scaffolding, removal of existing brickwork cladding, installation of new brick cladding with movement joints, concrete repairs within the abutment voids and installation of precast concrete 'L' shaped units.

The contract, valued at £112,000 commenced on 1st June 2010 and was completed within 8 weeks.

Darren Hitchings, Rail & Infrastructure's Business Co-ordinator commented "This contract will follow on from the recently completed embankment stabilisation contract for Birse Rail and will further demonstrate our capabilities within the rail sector"

RAF Henlow - Refurbishment of Sewage Treatment Works

Adroit Construction's Water and Waste Water Sector was awarded the contract to refurbish the existing sewage treatment works at RAF Henlow. The contract was awarded by Costain Ltd.

RAF Henlow is part of the C2C framework for the MOD. C2C (Coast to Coast Water Limited) is made up utilising Costain project management experience and Seven Trent operational skills.

The contract package consisted of the refurbishment of a sewage treatment works which services the RAF station at Henlow. The works consists of:-

• New Inlet Works including 'free issue' Haigh screen and screenings handling package
• New PST tank
• New PST de-sludging pumps
• New 'free issue' sludge tank
• Conversion of existing PST tanks to storm tanks
• New grass plots pumping station
• New wash water/re-circulation pumping station
• New works return pumping station
• New MCC and associated kiosk
• All necessary pipework valves etc.
• All associated instrumentation and cabling
• Associated remedial works

The contract, valued at over £700,000 commenced in July 2010.

John Freeman, Business Co-ordinator Water and Waste Water commented "this is the first contract we have been awarded from Costain Ltd on the C2C Ministry of Defence (MOD) Project Aquatrine Framework, it is gratifying to be awarded such a prestigious project with a new Client"

Adroit Construction to implement Workspace mini

Workspace will address critical areas of Email Retention, Document Management and CRM

Civil Engineering, Mechanical and Electrical contractors Adroit have placed an order for Workspace mini, the latest knowledge sharing and project collaboration tool from Union Square Software. Adroit, based in Bromsgrove with offices in London, Manchester and Glasgow last year turned over £10m.

Workspace mini has been designed as a comprehensive out of the box construction management software solution which can be implemented in just 8 weeks. Following the implementation Adroit will benefit from standardised processes and knowledge management techniques to enable world class project management.

Email Management is a major concern to Adroit; the ineffective storage and sharing of emails is posing a major QA threat. Site based staff tend to store emails on their laptops and bulk copy onto the project file when they are back in the office. This makes searching impossible as all emails are filed with the same date. This was an issue that was raised time and time again and a solution was required.

Managing Director Geoff Allchurch and PA Emma Conway were impressed with the Workspace offering from the off, "Workspace could solve all of our problems surrounding email and document control and also offer a fully integrated CRM system that can be used for managing commercial campaigns."

Document storage was also an area of concern; currently documents are stored in multiple locations with inconsistent folder structures and file names. Access to documents and project details that you have not authored is a challenge. "Workspace will address these issues by introducing a central place to store all documents and emails enabling self service of information. Workspace will also assist with ISO accreditation by introducing consistency to procedures and ensuring all staff are working in the same way," comments Geoff.

Adroit decided to implement the out of the box mini solution which requires less customisation and consultation time. Geoff comments, "Whilst all the Managers were confident in the system, cost was an area of concern. By implementing Workspace mini we can implement a solution to address the most pertinent business issues first and at half the cost of the full system. The flexibility of the Workspace solution means that as demand increases and we want to develop the system further we have the option to upgrade to the full Workspace ix platform to include additional functionality such as timesheets, training and skills management."

Emma was impressed with Union Square throughout the sales process: “We have spent a long time deliberating over the Workspace purchase and Union Square have gone out of their way to make sure that we fully understand the product and the implications of the change that we are embarking on. We are looking forward to getting started on the project and continuing with a successful working relationship.”

Infrastructure

Adroit Construction's Infrastructure Sector was awarded a Bridge Joint replacement scheme by Jacobs Engineering.

The contract, carried out on behalf of Telford & Wrekin Council, involves replacing bridge joints to 4 road bridges and will involve daytime and night time working.

The scheme valued at £108,000 commenced on the 25th January 2010 and was completed within 3 weeks.

Rail

Adroit Construction's Rail Sector was awarded an embankment stabilisation contract by Birse Rail.

The works located at Danzey Green, Warwickshire, involved excavation of the existing embankment material, replacement with compacted granular fill and placement of Macmat R. The main embankment work will be carried within a fenced Green Zone with the upper slope works being carried out during night time possession.

The contract, valued at £115,000 commenced early February 2010 and was completed within 5 weeks.

Darren Hitchings, Business Co-ordinator Rail & Infrastructure commented "We are very pleased to be involved in an embankment stabilisation scheme and working with Birse Rail again"

Glasgow Office

Adroit Construction Services is pleased to announce the opening of our new Regional Centre in Glasgow, Scotland. We see Glasgow as the centre of Adroit Construction's operations in this area.

A number of our current Clients are interested in our commitment to undertake construction works in this area and we have also identified new opportunities. We are keen to develop our expanding client base in and around the area to continually build on our current success.

The comfortable working area from Glasgow is suggested to be the Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dumfries regions but contracts in the Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Stirling regions can also be easily supported.

The new office signifies development of our strategy towards opening regional centres throughout the UK to provide a commitment to our clients in regions other than the Midlands operating area.

Kings Cross Ventilation

Adroit Construction's Rail Sector was awarded its second contract by Mansell Special Projects.

Adroit will carry out the Mechanical & Electrical elements of the enabling works to the Kings Cross Underground ventilation shaft.

The contract involves the supply and installation of temporary lighting, power, fire alarm system and air conditioners.

The contract valued at £129,267 commenced at the end of November 2009.

Victoria Line Mid Tunnel Ventilation

Adroit Construction's Rail Sector was awarded its first contract by Mansell Special Projects. Adroit will carry out the Mechanical & Electrical works at 3 sites on the Victoria Line Mid Tunnel Ventilation Scheme as part of the London Underground Cooling the Tube Programme (CTP). Part of the contract includes installing the new 2.7m diameter ventilation fans. Initial works commenced at the end of September with the main M&E installation starting mid January, with completion by June 2010.

Contract Value £495,000.

"This is a fantastic achievement for Adroit's Rail Sector. Not only securing work for a new Client but carrying out work in London" commented Darren Hitchings, Business Co-ordinator Rail & Infrastructure.

Laverton Bridge Deck Replacement

Adroit Construction's Rail Sector was awarded the contract to replace a bridge deck for the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway at Laverton, Worcestershire.

The contract involves existing brick abutment level reduction, installing new pre-cast concrete cill beams, deck beams and parapet beams, installing a new steel lattice parapet handrail and carrying out brickwork repairs to the wing walls, work will be carried out under a full road closure. The contract, valued at £240,000, commenced mid October and be completed in December.

Darren Hitchings, Business Co-ordinator Rail & Infrastructure commented "We are very pleased to be involved with this scheme and to be working for GWSR for a second time"

Slough Offices

Adroit Construction Services is pleased to announce the opening of our new Regional Centre in Slough, Buckinghamshire.

The office opened on 1st June 2009 and is ideally located to support the London and Thames Valley business sectors.

We see the London area as a very valuable market for a company such as Adroit and we are keen to develop our expanding client base in and around the area to continually build on our current success.

The new office signifies development of our strategy towards opening regional centres throughout the UK to provide a commitment to our clients in regions other than the Midlands operating area.

Watch this space for future Adroit offices opening throughout the UK.