Encon delivers on Passive Fire for new £90m data centre

Our West London branch and Fire Protection team were instrumental in the delivery of leading passive fire protection solutions to the new data centre, Equinix LD7.2.

Led by Reid Brewin Architects and ARUP, and working with Mercury Engineering Contractors (MEC) Limited and installer J Coffey Construction, Encon & Nevill Long West London supplied Promat PROMATECT® 250 fire board, Promat PROMASEAL® range and systems, Hilti Firestop range and systems, Siderise CW-FS perimeter barriers, and fire stops.

Encon was also part of the project delivery team, which included Promat and Hilti. The team assisted J Coffey with the development of an engineered design solution for the structural steel encasements and the sealing of mechanical, electrical, and data service penetrations.

The building connects the new site to the existing campus and the public realm, to provide the client with up to 6,600m² of white space and 12MW IT load. It presented many challenges, including a demanding fast track build programme, bespoke passive fire protection systems, and working with restricted site storage and access.

The design team used BIM modelling technology to extract data, identify issues ahead of the installation phase and avoid costly errors and waste. While not the lowest cost solution, this approach ensured full cradle-to-grave traceability of the passive fire protection systems installed and complete confidence in compliance with the project design requirements. The end-to-end collaboration was recognised by the client and the construction team as delivering greater value to the project overall.

Our Fire Protection Business Development Director, Neville White comments:

“The main challenge on this project was the procurement and servicing of products. With tight site storage conditions onsite, installation of products in some areas was required at short notice. Ensuring product availability and the delivery of products in the quantities needed at the required time was vital. Encon also assisted J Coffey with solutions on specific areas, which helped determine when materials would be required and forward planning.”

Gareth Dean, J Coffey Construction, adds: “Using the BIM Firestop design service offered a new and innovative approach to the design of passive fire protection systems. Working with market-leading suppliers enabled us to resolve project-specific issues that we would have otherwise had to solve on an ad hoc basis on site.”

David Cregan, Project Manager MEC, concludes: “J Coffey Construction and the involvement of their project delivery teams during the design development stage was invaluable in ensuring the building’s critical design performance requirements were fully satisfied.”