Technical Documentation
Today’s major installation projects require more supporting documentation than ever before.
Design, Installation and Handover of Typical HVAC Projects
CDM projects require major input at all stages of the process – form the early days of tendering and draft designs right through to full H&S documentation, function descriptions, full working/installation drawings, co-ordination information, RFIs, minutes of meetings, contract variations, communication records, certification, commissioning data, as-built drawings and O&M manuals.
With our experience working within the full gamut of projects and principal contractors, we can lead you through this potential minefield; - the requirement for the correct documentation to be generated and presented at crucial stages during the lifetime of a project.
We appreciate that all projects are not the same, and therefore the focus on the ‘paperwork’ may not always be as intense of some jobs than on others.
However, jobs of all sizes should have certain salient documentation requested during their progress:-
In some more complicated projects, regular valuation payments may be dependent upon the correct pertinent information being supplied at crucial times.
We can assist with all of the above – even down to assessing systems designed and installed by others and generating suitable technical documentation to satisfy timely contractual obligations.
Local Authority Planning Documentation
This is a topic which crops up more and more for us, and we are very often asked to work with end user/operators and their agents to generate suitable kitchen ventilation specific documentation to satisfy local authority requirements for new commercial catering premises, change of use and upgrades/retrospective issues.
Local authorities (LA’s)are now very stringent on both environmental and planning issues relating to commercial catering establishments.
The days of an architect showing a ‘chimney’ on an elevation drawing are now long gone, and very detailed written and drafted information is now required.
Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) need to be shown that an extract system has been correctly assessed for the detailed catering operation, and that suitable systems are in place to mitigate against noxious odours, smoke and excess noise affecting local receptors.
This involves very specific risk assessments and detailed scheduling of suitable plant required as a result of these risk assessments. LA’s have been very well ‘groomed’ by major equipment manufacturers and suppliers, and they use recognised industry documentation on which to base their requirements.
Planning Officers are also very keen to minimise any other physical impact of any newly proposed kitchen ventilation system – they do not want to see new high level duct risers if this can be helped, or ugly plant decks appearing on flat roofs or at the back of building. This very often goes against the wishes of the EHOs from the same LA, so can end up being complicated convoluted process for operators and their agents.
This is where we step in – with our experience of dealing with LA officers, the equipment suppliers and builders/architects, we can help cut to the chase very quickly. We would work with the operator and their agents to specifically interpret their proposed installation, undertake risk assessments and scoring to provide suitable solutions for the EHO, and utilise our design experience to offer electro-mechanical solutions which have little or no impact on Planners.
We will work very closely with appointed Acoustic Engineers (or we can bring established acoustic partners to the table if that suits), architects and interior designers to fashion a system to satisfy all parties.
It is often the case that architectural consideration is not always given to the space, position and orientation of plant for the kitchen extract.
We can generate drawings and technical submissions and can continue to liaise the LA Officers to ensure due process is followed and that the operator is not disadvantaged further down the line with incorrect equipment or issues of non-compliance.
Satisfying LA conditions for kitchen vent systems can be very expensive (even more so when done retrospectively) and can come as a shock to would-be restauranteurs and developers, so it is important that specialist advice is sought as early in the process as possible.
Inspection Reports
We are often asked to undertake detailed inspections of existing kitchen ventilation systems with a view to fault finding, repairing, upgrading or maintaining.
Often, systems are poorly maintained, and this can lead to reduced performance, deterioration and possibly failure.
Sometimes, Gas Safe inspections highlight safety issues within commercial kitchens cause by poor ventilation.
We often find other safety issues due to increased fire risk.
We are always happy to entertain site visits of this nature and will always submit a detailed report with photographs showing faults and a list of recommendations to refresh the system and bring it up to speed.
We would advise that upgrades to kitchen ventilation systems and other complementary services will require the works to be completed to the standards of the day – meaning extra systems may have to be installed and extra upgraded be required – e.g installation of a mechanical fresh air systems for a gas installation or maybe the installation of a gas interlock system to link mechanical kitchen ventilation to the cookline gas supply.
Whilst we would always be happy to quote for any works thrown up by our reports, they are written in a way that 3rd parties can pick up on them and act upon them should they be so instructed.