Case Studies

Brunning & Price Pubs and Restaurants
www.brunningandprice.co.uk

Barlows UK has been associated with the Brunning and Price group for over 20 years.
As the pub chain developed it required a company which could provide a 24/7 response to its ever expanding restaurant group. On the acquisition and refurbishment of new properties, we were actively involved in designing and installing all aspects of the electrical, mechanical and security systems. Installations at the Fox in Newport, the Hand and Trumpet in Crewe, Sutton Hall in Macclesfield and the Combermere Arms in Whitchurch have all been completed in the last few years.
When the Brunning and Price chain was acquired by the Restaurant Group in 2007, we were given the opportunity to increase our support to the new group. In September 2009 we completed the refurbishment of the Bolney Stage in Sussex, carried out in conjunction with IB Construction, with another contract following in October 2009 at the White Hart, Surrey.

New £64 Million Wisemore Campus, Walsall college
www.ibconstruction.co.uk

We are proud to be associated with the new £64 Million Walsall college, having installed 100 interactive white boards, projectors and complete audio/media installations
Walsall is currently facing an exciting time of regeneration and rejuvenation with a range of ambitious projects being progressed. Walsall College's brand new Wisemore Campus is at the heart of the initiative and has even been described as the dynamo behind this much needed transformation of the borough, as without vital skills and knowledge, investment will not feed into the Black Country.
The world class campus, which boasts more than 100 teaching rooms and a variety of academies created in partnership with industry leaders, provides an exceptional learning environment.
The new campus contains a series of highly equipped and specialised Academies, including, Apple and Microsoft suites, the Roland DG Signmaking Academy, the Roland Music Academy and an Enterprise Academy.
Principal and Chief Executive Amarjit Basi said, 'Wisemore is a spectacular building, the first of the transformational regeneration projects underway in Walsall that will provide a seedbed for skills and enterprise.'

Pennystreet Bridge (Thwaites)

Lancaster is to receive a huge £2 million investment in the form of a brand new bar, hotel and dining experience in the heart of the city centre.

Click here for further details. Pennystreet Bridge (Thwaites)

Benham Court in Northampton

Consisting of 16no flats, 1no Guest Room, Expansive Lounge, Entrance Lobby and all usual Communal amenities, including Laundry, Hairdresser's and W/C . Benham Ct. was a typical late 1970's construction for an Elderly Residential occupation.

Each flat had a Kitchen, Bathroom and equal size Living Room and Bedroom, and a small Entrance Hall. Benham Ct was to be converted from Elderly occupation into a Mental Health Rehabilitation property for Muir Group Housing Asscociation.

The contract was completed on time and ran in connection with Penninton Choices as acting consultants.

Our role was for Refurbishment of all rooms and Communal areas from what was basic accommodation into a more respectful and a more updated feel throughout the building, due to the nature and future use of the building our approach was to being tenant conscious and friendly and a serious attitude to the health and safety aspect to the building works were required, a process to which we are able to carry out within our company.

Refurbishment consisted of a full update of all services to the each property, including making all necessary alterations and replacements to Plumbing, Sanitary, and updating of the Heating systems with a more modern, TRV controlled radiator system. Removing all unnecessary excess pipe work for a cleaner more professional finish.

Along with these was a full and thorough update of the Electrical wiring system and a modern Smoke and Fire Alarm. Also all fixtures and fittings to a modern standard, along with a "State of the Art" Video-Phone entry system.

All rooms where stripped back to original walls and made good to all surfaces, newer more traditional cills where made to all windows, full removal of all Tiles to the Kitchens and Bathrooms, and renewed with a higher graded tile for a more professional finish. The bathrooms where the biggest transformations, as seen by the before and after photo's a dramatic change was made, from a cramped, dowdy room, and turned this into a "Stylish, Modern, Spacious" room, fitted with state of the art Shower, Cubicle, W/C and WHB. Continuing with the same high grade Tiles used in the Kitchen, right down to fixtures and fittings a high standard of quality and work was used. Along with this, was a full Decoration to each flat, new Carpeting and underlay, a new Altro 20 Safety floor to both Kitchen and Bathroom and Furnished simply to finish.

All communal areas where also updated via Joinery, Building Trades, Plumbing, and Electrical Trades and all finished with required Safety Flooring and new plush carpeting throughout, with added features for Mobility fitted throughout, including Chair Lift. Along with a more modern user friendly Communal Lounge and Entrance Lobby, Decorated and furnished with taste and accessibility in mind.

De Vere Carden Park Hotel

Barlows have provided a electrical installation and repair service for over 25 years. Over the last few years nearly £10 million has been invested in the Hotel, with extensive refurbishment of its rooms, restaurants and golf clubhouse.

The luxury hotel is set in 1000 acres of estate offering an extensive choice of high quality accommodation with full leisure facilities, including swimming, spar, business conference facilities, numerous outdoor activities and 2 championship golf courses.

Barlows assist the highly dedicated management team in providing a luxurious guest experience . Our most resent involvement has been in the refurbishment of the hair salon.

Manfred Street, Liverpool

Schneider Electric's ability to provide integrated solutions and respond to the bespoke needs of a prestigious building project meant the company's range of electrical distribution products have been used extensively throughout a new site.

Europa is a private development of student accommodation in Liverpool comprising 592 rooms spread over seven blocks. The residence is arranged in clusters combining six fully self-contained student rooms with a shared kitchen. Contracts manager, John Allman, from mechanical and electrical contractors Barlows (UK) Ltd, explains: "We were responsible for the full design of the electrical installation and had to work within certain constraints. A key factor was that the distribution boards we used had to be pre-painted to match the internal colour scheme as it was a specific condition of the contract."

The supply of the electrical distribution equipment was put out to competitive tender, with Schneider Electric submitting a bid for its Square D range of KQ distribution boards. John Allman says: "When the bids came in it was obviously a two-horse race. Price was a key factor and having previously worked with Schneider Electric's Square D products, we have always found them excellent on both price and ease of installation. At this stage however, the colour requirement could have proved a stumbling block for less flexible manufacturers but Schneider Electric was able to arrange for production of the specified RAL colour at its Swindon manufacturing site and it was this capability that ensured they secured the contract."

Another factor than governed the design of the electrical installation was the scale and layout of the construction, which required the use of Schneider Electric's I-Line MCCB panelboards to supply power to the site with busbar riser kits and metering on the risers to comply with Part L2 regulations. In addition Quikline consumer units were used throughout the apartments to conform to the 17th Edition wiring regulations.

Again Schneider Electric products provided the most cost effective and efficient solution with its Canalis busbar riser kits. To comply with the metering requirements of Part L of the building regulations and provide the capacity to monitor the consumption, individual metering was installed to each accommodation cluster. The pre-metered, pre-wired Canalis system with tap-off riser boxes offered considerable time and cost savings as John Allman explains: "Individually wiring meters on a project this size is extremely labour intensive and therefore costly. The ease of installation of the Canalis system made a significant contribution to our ability to ensure that the programme was completed on schedule."

Canalis is a comprehensive system of busbar trunking for lighting and power distribution and provides a simple, flexible and efficient alternative to traditional cabling in any building or structure. As an integral part of the Schneider Electric offer it guarantees and enhances the safety of people and equipment, provides ease of installation, is upgradeable and flexible.

Schneider Electric worked closely with distributor Edmundson Electrical of Wolverhampton to ensure a smooth supply of the products for the duration of this 14-month project. With the full order being placed at the outset, supply was arranged on a call-off basis, which John Allman says also proved an advantage: "The supply arrangements were another important factor in the success of this project. If we had had to hold large quantities of high-value product we could have had security issues. By being able to call-off product as and when it was needed, with a guarantee of reliable delivery, we were able to avoid having to carry large stocks but still be assured of an uninterrupted workflow."

Louise Tate, sales engineer from Schneider Electric comments: "The project is an example of how our extensive offering means we can provide contractors with integrated solutions that complement each other, for a seamless installation. With a project of this scale, Barlows was able to ensure it completed on time and to budget through the use of our Canalis systems and easy-to-install distribution and panel boards. In addition, the contractor was reassured that the products offer a safe and reliable installation, which was vital in premises being used by students."

For more information on Schneider Electric"s Canalis system and electrical distribution products, visit www.schneider-electric.co.uk

Henshaw House

Barlows (UK) Ltd has been working with Darnell Consultants for unity partnerships and Oldham metropolitan bourogh council to refurbish the offices at unity partnerships. From the design and installation Barlows (UK) Ltd has untaken this project to its highest standard expected by its clients. Due to the use of IT equipment in these offices the electrical installation has been designed for the use of IT equipment. Great care was taken in the design of these circuits to minimize inconvenience. Due to our flexibility and our excellent working relationship with Darnell Consultants, unity Partnerships have been able to continue using the office space while the works has been undertaken.

Safestore

Barlows (UK) Ltd are delighted to announce the recent completion of Safestore, Crystal Palace which opened to the public on Friday 9th July 2010.

Barlows have now carried out the mechanical and electrical installations to over a dozen new stores whilst also carrying out various M&E works to many of the existing stores in Safestores portfolio.

"We have been associated with Safestore for six years now and have carried out works throughout the country on projects such as new builds and expansion fit outs. Our commitment to deliver contracts within a very tight working programme is something we pride ourselves on" commented contracts manager John Allman.

Safestore are the UK's largest self storage company with over 90 stores nationwide.

John added "We are delighted to be part of Safestores future expansion plans and further to the completion of the Crystal Palace store, we are already on site at another three"

At the opening of the Crystal Palace store, Safestores construction and facilities manager Andy Robinson commented "Barlows have yet again delivered a first class installation in record time under difficult circumstances. Huge thanks to John Allman and his team of engineers, an excellent achievement".

Clintons

Barlows (UK) Ltd have been successful in completing the Electrical Installation at a new Clintons Cards store at the Leeds White Rose shopping centre. Our dedicated and skilled team of electricians carried out the full electrical installation to the client's specific specification, including full containment installation of basket tray cable management system and LSF cable above suspended ceiling installation. Energy efficient lighting has been installed to meet the client's commitment to the environment.

Our scope of works also included installation of data cabling in office and front counter and fire alarm installation to BS5839.

Barburrito's

Barlows (UK) Ltd again has shown its ambition to be a forward thinking and pro active electrical contractor in the retail and shop fitting market. We have completed the new Barburrito's Mexican fast food outlets in Manchester Deansgate and The Light shopping centre, Leeds. We were responsable for the electrical installation, fire alarm, and emergency lighting and data installations to be designed and installed to the client's model.

Lesters

Our team of skilled electricians completed the installation of Lester's Nursery World's new store in Manchester; the 4 week installation consisted of full cable tray and cable containment in the retail unit and in the back of house warehouse, electrical installation, fire alarm, emergency lighting systems and intruder alarm installation.

The Boathouse Inn, Saltaire

Barlows (UK) Ltd completed the full electrical, plumbing and heating and intruder alarm installations at The Boathouse Inn in Saltaire, West Yorkshire following its destruction by fire. Our experience in new and refurbishment of public houses assisted us in providing the high quality finish requested by the project manager.

Manchester Care and Repair

Working closely, we are an approved electrical contractor for Manchester Care and Repair to give its clients piece of mind that they are employing approved and registered contractors in their home taking away a stress from the client that they may have otherwise. Weather it is just to carry out a simple electrical repair such as a light or socket not working or part of a larger program of works involving rewiring, we have been able to undertake the works in a professional manner. For Manchester Care and Repair we have been providing them with advice and guidance on the electrical wiring regulations and there requirement on duty of care to their clients, where we have organised the relocation of the electrical supply authority equipment and consumer unit for a resident who was no longer able to go down into their basement to put credit onto their electric meter.

Contact: Richard Morris 0161 6289111