Summary Case Study:

Dorset County Council
Steps Youth / Community Centre

Fire Engineering Strategy, Mechanical and Electrical
Building Services Systems Design

Key Data:

• Project value £5.0 Million

• Newly constructed youth / community centre for use by the local community/general public

• Suitable for use by high dependency disability groups

• Sports hall with public use facilities and café

• Challenging, heavily inclined site and single fire escape direction of movement

The Scheme:

The Steps Youth / Community Centre at Weymouth, Dorset was a new construction comprising a double height sports hall to approximately 50% of the building, together with a large living room area, studio, toilet block, café, viewing balcony and other ancillary areas, with a floor plan of circa 500m2.

Our Role:

Our role consisted of the preparation of the overall site fire engineering strategy based upon an ‘engineered approach’, up to approval by the Building Control Department and Fire Brigade. The design of the mechanical and electrical building services systems including; lighting, small power, fire alarm and detection, ventilation, heating and comfort cooling, sanitation and rainwater services, water services and facilities for the fire services.

Challenges & Collaboration:

The challenges involved with this scheme were providing a code compliant scheme in a very condensed and sloping site, with many neighbour considerations such as; noise, light breakout and security. Working closely with the in-house Dorset County team of architects and engineers, the scheme design was completed successfully and to the satisfaction of all parties involved.

Commitment to Sustainability and the Environment:

We were required to work closely within the Council’s own sustainability and environmental policy, bringing our own ideas to the table and taking guidance from the appointed specialists.