Building Briefs – May 6th

• Quartzelec extends rail industry expertise by working on Caledonian Sleeper infrastructure

The new rolling stock required a wide range of modifications and improvements to ensure electrical stability and Quartzelec, in partnership with SVM Glasgow - a dynamic and experienced building engineering services consultancy, were contracted by Serco Caledonian Sleeper to upgrade, redesign and commission the existing shore supply protection systems at their northern sites of Aberdeen, Inverness and Fort William, in support of the project.

With SVM Glasgow completing the design requirements and producing the necessary Network Rail conformity documentation, Quartzelec then took the lead to implement the necessary modifications and undertake the commissioning with a scope which included modifying; the earthing resisters, the earth fault relay settings as well as the voltage relay settings. Track bonding was also modified at each site with all having to be completed within a two-week window ahead of the new fleet going into service.

Craig Thomas, from the solution designers SVM, added: “This was an important, high profile but time critical project and the highly experienced Quartzelec team were more than up to the challenging task. Getting the new Caledonian Sleeper fleet upgrade operating on the ‘Highlander’ route meant implementing various trackside modifications, in demanding conditions and with absolutely no margin for error both in terms of timescales and engineering safety; but everything went to schedule.”

Chris Rose, business unit manager at Quartzelec’s Hamilton operations, added: “We continue to prove ourselves in the field of rail engineering services and our team of engineers are more than familiar with the necessary electrical upgrades that go hand-in-hand with the introduction of new rolling stock. The upgrade to the Caledonian Sleeper line was a significant investment for the country and we were delighted to have been involved.”

• Angus Council to drop safety sprinklers plan

Angus Council has decided to drop the implementation of safety sprinkler systems in some of its new housing after the council agreed a partial switch to ‘off-the-shelf’ properties to boost its stock.

The drop was approved by a special committee which was established to keep the council’s decision-making going throughout the coronavirus lockdown, however, non-administration councillors have voiced their concerns about being kept in the dark, The Courier reports.

Council officials have said that the switch to development-build properties will mean different standards in some housing, including the lack of fire sprinkler systems which Angus Council introduced for new-builds over ten years ago.

John Morrow, housing manager, said: “The simplicity of this is that it allows us to boost affordable housing relatively quickly at a fixed price. Standards would vary depending on the developer and their own particular design specification.”

Montrose SNP Councillor Bill Duff told the special arrangements committee: “While I understand some of the reasons why this has been brought forward, our group is concerned there has been no consultations with local members and they are not best pleased about it. Sprinkler systems had always been seen as something Angus did as a positive move.”

• HMS Unicorn receives grant funding for roof works

Vital roof works are to take place on board HMS Unicorn thanks to new grant funding from Dundee Historic Environment and Fife Environmental Trust.

Berthed in Dundee’s Victoria Dock, the historic ship and tourist attraction is now the oldest ship left in Scotland and the most original old ship in the world.

The ship has historically been protected from the effect of long-term exposure to rainwater thanks to her protective roof and its felt covering. However, over time the felt covering on the roof’s extended eaves has come away, meaning rainwater has started to fall through the roof’s wooden planking and onto the ship.

Mackay’s, a traditional boat builder company from Arbroath, has now been tasked with carrying out repairs to reinstate the roof’s full protective covering.

Most of the work will be on HMS Unicorn’s starboard side, where most of the original roofing is missing and where the deterioration is most noticeable. Mackay’s believe the work will take around five days to carry out.

• Next stages of Arbroath Places for Everyone programme given approval

Angus Council has granted approval to proceed with the procurement exercise for professional services to Arbroath’s Places for Everyone Project.

In July 2019, the Scottish Government announced that funding under the Sustrans Places for Everyone programme had been awarded to Angus Council to develop the detailed design phase in conjunction with local community interests and Sustrans, and to support future development. The Arbroath project is one of 10 across Scotland funded under the Sustrans Community Links Programme.

The tender documents for professional services for the design phase will be published mid-May with a return date at the beginning of July.

The successful consultant will then progress the developed and technical design through to April 2022. It is hoped that construction would then commence onsite with project completion towards the end of 2023.

The project will make areas within Arbroath more accessible by improving pedestrian and cycling provision, making better use of green spaces and developing path networks. Links from railways and bus stations to the town centre will be improved while the main dual carriageway that runs through Arbroath will be redesigned.