Weatherite Building Services has developed an excellent working relationship with the John Lewis Partnership over a number of years – so it was no surprise when the retailer chose WBS to provide a new cooling system for its head office at 171 Victoria, London.

The work is part of a long term programme to refurbish the building’s HVAC equipment aimed at enhancing the working environment for the partners, whilst improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.

In the latest phase, WBS provided new ducted heating/cooling fan coil units to suit the total refurbishment and layout of the 12th floor conference and meeting rooms. The units were fitted above a new suspended ceiling, installed by the nominated main building contractor Durabilis Ltd.

In addition new LTHW pipe and control valve services were installed to serve the existing finned tube perimeter heating system under the windows of this iconic architectural building for John Lewis at the end of the Victoria shopping centre.

After an assessment of the site, WBS specified and installed fourteen Dunham-Bush Panther 4-pipe fan coil units to suit the new office layout as well as providing all the associated Mechanical services. The units work alongside existing cooling plant in the building, with each fan coil unit designed to suit the individual room cooling and heat load calculations conducted by WBS technical engineers. The new equipment offers the benefit of flexible airflow fan performance and low noise levels – imperative for conference and meeting room environments.

As well as installing new CW cooling and LTHW heating ring main circuits in the central corridor connecting the existing building core services to the new control/regulating valves at each new FCU location; WBS also provided fresh air connections to the existing ventilation system with distri

bution ducting to supply diffusers and return air grilles,.

To minimise disruption to the working environment, WBS worked in association with the specialist building fitters from Durabilis Ltd at night and weekends to install the plant and services in ceiling voids above relocated desk positions. The timely delivery of plant and labour was critical to each phase of the program.

Brian Taylor, Southern Sales Manager for WBS commented: “We have built up an excellent relationship with John Lewis Partnership after securing the contract to replace R22 refrigerant chillers and HVAC plant in their stores across the UK and carrying out other successful projects with Durabilis in the adjacent Partnership House building.

The electrical power/lighting and control services were provided by Durabilis specialist sub-contractors, N V White and Marsh Control Systems.

WBS has over 38 years experience in all aspects of building service including heating, ventilation, air conditioning, commercial kitchen ventilation/extraction, data centre/IT cooling, boiler house refurbishment/replacement and all aspects of M & E services. WBS offers its customers a complet

e building services solution-from one single source including total project management and full design, installation and commissioning activities.

WBS is part of the £40m Weatherite Group, one of the UK’s leading HVAC and Building Services organisations.