Pentre Awel is the first development of its scope and size in Wales and one of the highest-valued schemes Carmarthenshire County Council has undertaken. This £84 million project covers 83 acres and has created an estimated 1,800 jobs.
The scheme provides excellent medical research and health care, encouraging individuals to lead active lifestyles. Pentre Awel also includes integrated care and physical rehabilitation facilities and hopes to boost the local economy by £467 million over the next 15 years.
As the chosen passive fire protection system manufacturer, Quelfire worked alongside the main contractor, Bouygues Construction Ltd, and all the relevant parties to deliver this project. The main objective was to incorporate an early engagement approach to design and build Pentre Awel around the tested details available, creating safe and compliant buildings.
During this project, what was the main challenge?
As this was one of Bouygues UK’s first early engagement projects utilising a new approach and systems, the initial cooperation of relevant parties proved to be the main challenge. This later led to the coordination of service spacings being lengthy and problematic due to the large number of services used on the project, steel beams, and restricted space available.
What solutions did the parties reach to resolve any issues?
Bouygues UK’s initiative to implement a new system called Morta was a real positive to this project. This ensured they completed work in line with the Building Safety Act and built the Golden Thread of Information to hand over to the building owner on completion of the project. It also guaranteed they met Building Regulation 38 requirements.
The idea of a clear ‘Builder’s Work in Connection’ (BWIC) opening schedule is to make sure all parties work together, take responsibility, and understand what is required.
To provide the most relevant firestopping tested solutions from Quelfire's extensive library, they required a detailed schedule with specific information about the project’s service penetration applications. This included information about the wall or floor construction, the required fire rating, and the dimensions of structural openings. Additionally, the company needed to know if the application involved a head-of-wall scenario, whether any movement was required, and details about the services – such as their type, material, size, and any insulation requirements, including thickness.
However, receiving the information and getting everyone on the same page proved to be quite challenging as, for many, this was a brand-new approach to building construction. Luckily, Pentre Awel discussions began in 2022, leading to the first early engagement meeting in January 2023.
After this, Quelfire had regular project meetings and workshops to discuss the firestopping package, BWIC openings, and any non-standard details. This ensured all parties were on the same page and could provide the correct information, minimising confusion.
Collaboration and communication were pivotal here. Without them, the project would have ground to a halt.
The Morta system ensured that all service penetrations were covered. If critical information was not provided, the schedule would go back to the responsible person to collate and send over. This ensured no service penetration was without a detail to work to; everything was mapped out before the build stage.
What kind of success did the client enjoy with Quelfire's services/products?
Early engagement was a critical factor in the success of Pentre Awel. From the initial planning meeting to regular rework sessions and correspondence, Quelfire provided extensive technical support from design to installation to make sure the firestopping was in line with regulations and guidance. This approach, alongside the company's unique hollow core floor testing, ensured the project continued with actual test evidence rather than engineered judgements.
Pentre Awel is a prime example of the importance of coordination between each party from the very early stages of the project. A successful project relies on input from every party, from the main contractor to the MEP designer and firestopping contractor, with a commitment to ‘sticking to the agreed plan’.
Quelfire have been very proactive in supporting our Golden Thread initiative via our Information Management platforms. They have also provided a lot of technical insight which we have used to improve on Pentre Awel processes, as well as other projects moving forward. - Tom Marsh, Senior BIM Coordinator, Bouygues
An approach for future projects
Now that early engagement has been implemented, this approach can be standardised across future projects to streamline processes and ensure fire safety is a priority. The commitment of all teams, and those for who this approach was new, demonstrated the positive changes taking place in the construction industry.
Quelfire’s Technical Manager, Alec, has supported the Pentre Awel design team throughout the detailed design stage, giving pragmatic guidance on tested passive fire stopping solutions. This support has been invaluable in assisting Bouygues in delivering our Golden Thread builders work approval process. - Matthew John, Design Manager, Bouygues
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