UWE Facilities

Design Guide for Buildings

Issue 03
UWE Design Guide for Buildings

UWE Facilities

Design Guide for Buildings

Contents:

Part 1 Introduction

Part 2 Space Standards

Part 3 General Design

Part 4 B&CE Requirements

Part 5 M&E Requirements

Part 6 Specialist Installations

Part 7 Wayfinding

Associated Suite of UWE Design Documents:

Design Guide for Buildings

B&CE Model Specification
M&E Model Specification
Generic Room Data Sheets & Standard Finishes Schedules
UWE Safety Pack
Drawing Production CAD Standards Protocols
Energy Management Document

Comment on Design Guide

This Design Guide and the associated suite of documents have been produced to assist external
design consultants in their designs for all UWE properties and is based on past UWE experiences. It
does not absolve external design consultants of their legal or contractual responsibilities under health
and safety legislation, statutory requirements or design liability.

i
UWE Design Guide for Buildings

Change Control

1 2 3 4
Version Number Date of Issue Author(s) Brief Description of Change(s)
1.0 1st Feb 2012 S Brennan Issue Date
2.0 1st March 2013 S Brennan Part 1 & Part 5 Sundry Changes
3.0 4th November 2013 R Hill Updated and Revised

1
Add in a version number of the document. This will help you track your changes. Your first draft version of the Report would be Version
1.0. Any minor changes after your first draft could be labeled 1.1., 1.2 and so on. When a significant number of changes are being made or
when your Report has reached a milestone (for example, it is ready for internal review), you could then change your Version to 2.0 or 3.0.
Remember to change the footer at the same time.
2
Indicate the date you are working on the Report. This, along with your version number, will help you keep track of the most up-to-date
version.
3
More than one person will contribute to the report and it is important to indicate who worked on the Report, on what date and in what
specific areas. If you have questions later, you can then easily refer back to the specific author.
4
Identify what section was changed and provide a brief description of why the changes took place.

i
 UWE Facilities

Design Guide for Buildings

R Block Phase 2 completed 2010

Part 1

Introduction
UWE Design Guide for Buildings

Index

Part 1 Introduction

1.1.1 Introduction to UWE

1.1.2 Vision & Mission
1.1.3 Strategic plan
1.1.4 Master plan
1.2 Scope of this document
1.3 Project Governance
1.3.1 Project Management Documentation
1.4 General Design Principles
1.4.1 12 Principles for effective project co-ordination
1.4.2 Design Risk Evaluation
1.5 Sustainable Buildings
1.5.1 Design and Operation
1.5.2 Materials & Environmental Issues
1.6 Economic Evaluation of Building Projects
1.7 University Environment
1.8 Departures from Standards and Specifications
1.9 Documentation Ownership & Updating

Part 2 Space Standards

Part 3 General Design

Part 4 B&CE Requirements

Part 5 M&E Requirements

Part 6 Specialist Installations

Part 7 Wayfinding

Frenchay, R Block Interior

Comment on Design Guide

This Design Guide has been produced to assist external design consultants in their designs for all
UWE properties and is based on past UWE experiences. It does not absolve external design
consultants of their legal or contractual responsibilities under health and safety legislation, statutory
requirements or design liability.

Index
UWE Design Guide for Buildings

1 Introduction

1.1.1 Introduction to UWE

The University of the West of England (UWE) is a modern, growing university in the thriving
harbour side city of Bristol. UWE Bristol is one of Britain's most popular universities, with
around 30,000 students and 3,000 staff and is the largest provider of Higher Education in
the South West of England. Students come to UWE from all parts of the UK, as well as a
significant and growing number of international students from over 140 countries
worldwide.

UWE consists of 4 main campuses and three smaller business units within a 10 mile radius
of Bristol City Centre. In total all UWE campuses cover an area of 63 hectares, consisting of
circa 170 buildings with a combined total gross internal area of 212,082m2. There are 4
Main Faculties Supported by Facilities and other Support Services. These Faculties are:

• Business and Law (FBL)

• Arts, Creative Industries and Education (ACE).
• Environment and Technology (FET)
• Health and Life Sciences (HLS)

1.1.2 Vision and Mission

Our vision is to be the UK's best Knowledge and Learning Partnership University.
Our mission is to make a positive difference to our students, business and society.
Our ethos of genuine partnership working enables U+WE to successfully promote and
drive opportunity, social justice, creativity and innovation.

Together U+WE will INSPIRE

Our focus: Innovation - to pioneer and advance in all we do. We will be connected,
engaged and enterprising

• Nurturing talent - to provide an excellent staff experience. We will encourage

development and value excellence across the broad range of activities that are
important at UWE. We will make sure we achieve this in a healthy and sustainable
working environment
• Student experience - to provide an excellent student experience. We will be the best for
student representation; the best for preparing graduates for work and life after
graduation; and the best for supporting student learning and well-being in a vibrant,
healthy and sustainable learning environment
• Participation - to raise aspirations and widen participation in higher education. We will
engage and excite learners with the opportunities of an innovative and dynamic
university experience
• Internationalisation - to be globally connected through our staff, students and
curriculum. We will be a regional University with a strong global outlook. We will
provide international opportunities, and experience for our students and staff, both at
home and abroad
• Research - to produce world-class research in areas of growth. We will engage in
research that is relevant to society and which feeds back into our learning, teaching,
and knowledge exchange
• Exchange - to make knowledge exchange and public engagement thrive throughout
the university. We will ensure we are a first-rate partner for businesses, the
public-sector and communities. We will work with our partners to produce choices and
solutions for today, and for tomorrow's world.

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

1.1.3 Strategic Plan

This document is available on the UWE website and outlines the vision and mission in more
detail.

See: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/aboutus/visionandmission

1.1.4 Master Plan

UWE Board of Governors Agreed a Paper “Towards a master Plan Implementation

Strategy” in November 2010 which sets out the background to the future development of
the University.

All proposals should be considered in conjunction with this Strategy.

1.2 Scope of this Document

This design guide has been developed to ensure that any future building, whether new build
or refurbishment, is designed with the same parameters and principles. This document has
been developed to enable any of the design team or contractor to have a broad
understanding of the principles that UWE will require to be adopted for any future
developments, the guide is primarily designed to stage C (Concept) of the Royal Institute of
British Architects (RIBA) stages. Obviously the actual extent and scope of the design guide
to be incorporated for any future development will be based upon the specific projects
requirements.

This document has been produced to ensure that all new university property and any
refurbishment of older properties within the universities portfolio are developed to a
consistently high standard.

This document is a part of a suite of documents that should be read in conjunction

consisting of:

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

• Design Guide for Buildings

• Room Data Sheets & Standard Finishes Schedules
• UWE Safety Pack
• B&CE Model Specification
• M&E Model Specification
• Energy Management Document

1.3 Project Governance

1.3.1 Project Management Documentation

Effective project management helps ensure that projects are delivered to the agreed
quality, within budget and on time at best whole life value. Projects are to be managed
giving cogitation to the principles set in Achieving Excellence in Construction suite of
Procurement Guides and managed in the spirit of Prince II:

• Project Request – from Client

• Brief – From Client
• Project Initiation Plan / Project Plan – Agreed with Client
– Aim of Project
– Project Objectives
– Quality Criteria
– Project Team
– Budgets
– Management Structure
– Communication/reporting plan
– Milestones
– Tolerances
– Prerequisites / Dependencies
– Risks and Contingency Plans

1.4 General Design Principles

UWE aims to provide a safe and stimulating learning arena for

students and staff, which is a prerequisite of good quality higher
education.

The University has to ensure that students and staff continue to

enjoy a safe, healthy and fully functional work environment with the
minimum of operational failure.

The accommodation must be attractive to students and be a

significant aid in marketing the University to the wider community
and potential students. Designers are to consider the design
philosophy of buildings and the spaces between them.

All aspects of the development must be undertaken and delivered to a high quality.

Corporate branding should enhance the identity of the University.

UWE’s Facilities Service has an obligation to ensure that the University estate is run
efficiently including high utilization and low maintenance. UWE operates within a dynamic
environment which is influenced by many external factors including, technology,
educational practices, market changes and government policy. Flexibility is crucial and

Part 1 |Introduction 3|Page

UWE Design Guide for Buildings

consequently the buildings that accommodate the university must be designed to facilitate
these strategic changes as far as practically achievable and affordable.

The University will benchmark the design of its buildings in terms of:

• Sustainability
• Quality
• Design & Functionality
• Value for Money
• Life Cycle Cost

All construction projects will be subject to a post completion review, with new builds and
major refurbishments incorporating HEFCE Guide to Post Occupancy Evaluation
principles.

1.4.1 12 Principles for Effective Project Co-ordination

The University has identified 12 key principles that project teams should adhere to. These
are designed to promote co-ordination between projects and to ensure the effective
integration of the project into the wider campus and UWE Masterplan. Most detailed
guidance on a number of these items will be found in supplementary design guides:

1. Take a whole-life view of their project and its place in the wider master plan. This will
involve considering the costs (financial and environmental) and risks of constructing,
operating, maintaining, altering and demolishing their structures and surrounding
structures.
2. Work collaboratively to achieve effective co-ordination and co-operation between
projects (workshops and meetings will be convened to facilitate this).
3. Account for the impact of, and on, concurrent and future construction projects, UWE
operations and the wider environment.
4. Projects (and stages of projects) must be sequenced to enable the safe and efficient
delivery of construction projects and UWE’s continuing operations. This might include
off-site prefabrication.
5. Staff and students must be adequately segregated from construction activities with
appropriate security measures. Phased handovers are to be avoided where possible.
6. Where possible, sections of the campus will be designated as construction zones to
facilitate the safe and efficient delivery of a number of adjacent projects.
7. The project must provide adequate access routes (for pedestrians, construction traffic,
UWE deliveries, maintenance operations, emergency vehicles etc.). Pedestrian
routes must be accessible for persons with disabilities.
8. Provide adequate space to allow safe and efficient construction and effective site
waste management. This will include providing room for welfare and office facilities,
storage and lay down areas etc.
9. Services must be protected - When making connections to existing services, the
project will consider the condition and capacity of the existing services and upgrade
where necessary. Where services to other buildings will be disrupted, the scope of the
project must include provision of alternative supplies in advance of diversion or
disconnections.
10. Waste streams must be forecast, managed on site and recorded. Opportunities must
be found during the design phase to reuse arisings (whether on this project, concurrent
projects or future projects) or identify opportunities for recycling.
11. Asbestos will be completely removed prior to major refurbishments or demolitions.
12. Lessons learned on one project will be shared for the benefit of concurrent and future
projects through workshops, meetings and briefing notes

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

To comply with these principles it is necessary to consult widely with UWE Facilities -
Estates, the master planning team, surrounding building users, specialist consultants and
the project teams for adjacent projects.

1.4.2 Design Risk Evaluation

While UWE encourages innovation, certain design options have proven to be

disproportionately difficult, expensive or dangerous to manage and maintain. Periodically,
this document (and supplementary design guides) might therefore expressly ban or
stipulate the use of certain design options or highlight past problems. In other cases, the
guides might ask for detailed design risk evaluations to explain the risks posed and
management controls required for those design options which introduce elevated risks or
costs during the operation of the building. These design risk evaluations should be
recorded on the UWE maintenance schedule and design risk evaluation forms but can be
accompanied or replaced by annotated diagrams etc. These evaluations need to be signed
off by the UWE project lead and CDM coordinator.

1.5 Sustainable Buildings

1.5.1 Design and Operation

UWE Bristol has achieved and is proud of its Green Gown Award and design teams should
ensure that their designs sit alongside and enhance this award.
To ensure all new builds and refurbishments have the least impact on the environment and
the maximum benefit for society and economy the project team is required to:
Incorporate the following into all planning and design:
– Minimum use of natural resources
– Best business options available
– Best practice energy efficiency
– Best ecological options/opportunities
– Consideration of recycled materials
– Best community options available
• Members of the project team will be expected to incorporate their
professional/chartered standards into any UWE building scheme design
• Set targets to meet established benchmarks using all standards available. These will
include schemes such as BREEAM, Green Guide to Specification, BRE Sustainability
Check List, EPC targets, BSRIA soft landings and other relevant standards/methods of
assessment.
• Work with all stakeholders at the beginning of each project to establish what is needed
rather than wanted. This will include framework contractors, delivering the project.
• Not lower the specification of environmental initiatives when there is a conflict of
interest with tender price. Instead UWE will look at the project in its entirety and identify
possible solutions.
• Incorporate the principles of whole life costing at the design stage, including the use of
components (B&CE and M&E) which offer the best whole life value rather than
necessarily the lowest initial installation price. Include for modelling in-use energy
consumption to improve the design performance gap.
• Evaluate and Incorporate new technologies and concepts at the design stage.
• Ensure construction waste is dealt with in line with UWE’s Environmental Policy as
found on the UWE website.
• Context of the space with regard to physical landscape and buildings

Specific aspects of sustainability will be further detailed in General Design, Part 3.6.

Part 1 |Introduction 5|Page

 UWE Design Guide for Buildings

Evaluation Process for Sustainable Design

Management
Review

UWE Design
Guides
Benchmarking Sustainability
Strategy
BREEAM
Energy use, subjective feedback Standard
post occupancy reviews
Assessment
Feedback Develop Brief

Sustainable Assessment
Criteria
Procurement Development
Maintenance, Water, H&S, Energy
materials, transport, land use, ecology
Construction Feasibility Study
Considerate contractors
scheme ‘rethink’
Statutory
Control

Planning
Detailed Design Scheme Design Building Regs.

Specification
BREEAM

UWE Specifications, National green Assessment, prediction

spec. Green guide to spec. Ove Arup checklist
good practice guide

1.5.2. Materials and Environmental Issues

Designers should consider the impact on the environment when selecting materials. The
following list of some key principles is not intended to be conclusive but gives some areas to
be considered

• Consider alternatives to the use of PVC materials

• Use timber from certified sustainable sources
• Seek locally sourced materials to reduce transport costs
• Avoid over specification of cement content in concrete and consider cement
substitutes if possible
• Avoid the use of wood preservatives which may be harmful
• Optimize the mass of high density materials to increase thermal mass
• Check for recycling pathways for high maintenance short life materials such as flooring
and reduce accordingly.
• Avoid solvents and use water based paints and stains were practical
• Lime mortars to be used in preference to those which are cement based.
• Design for minimum wastage
• Consider factory components and prefabrication before on site manufacture.
• Consider materials with low whole life carbon emissions and minimal use of natural
resources
• Consider recyclability of materials at end of building life

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

1.6 Economic Evaluation of Building Projects

In accordance with UWE’s Environmental Policy, Whole Life Costing is to be undertaken for
all projects in excess of £500,000. Although the methodology to be applied in the
calculation of a Life Cycle Cost (LCC) will vary, there are certain aspects which should be
applied to every project:

• The LCC should include (at least) the total acquisition costs, maintenance, utilities and
consumables costs throughout the lifespan of the equipment until estimated
obsolescence or disposal. It is essential that the running costs are kept to a minimum
and are considered in order to build a business case which can be utilized to make
informed business investment decisions.
• All recommendations regarding plant and equipment installations must be based upon
LCC information.
• All Value Engineering (VE) exercises must be based upon sound WLC information. For
example; if a plant purchase is likely to save money on in-use costs, but have a
substantial impact upon the capital budget then this should be taken into account in
any decision.
• Along with any cost model an evaluation of the item’s performance should be included
in order to establish the consequences of any trade off in the purchasing decision.
• Life cycle lengths should be presented as options within any models to enable UWE to
make informed decisions regarding likely future usage profiles. The design team may
be required to provide energy certificates to be provided with the completed building
information.
• All WLC models are to be shared amongst the design team and UWE in an electronic
format to enable all parties to conduct a thorough investigation of the structure of the
model.
• Post contract evaluations are to be undertaken (after a suitable time interval) to assess
the actual building performance against the design performance.

The design life expectancy of the building will be stated in the individual project particulars,
however, it should be recognized that University Buildings are often retained far in excess
of this notional figure, individual components therefore need to be robust in nature.

LCC are to be carried out using best practice

as defined by the RICS, reference is to be
made to the BCIS/BSI publication PD156865
Standardized Method of Life Cycle Costing
for Construction Procurement (SMLCC): A
supplement to BS ISO 15686-5 Buildings &
constructed assets - Service life planning -
Part 5: Life cycle costing. Clause 1.7 of
SMLCC defines LCC as '...an economic
evaluation method that takes account of all
relevant costs over the defined time horizon
(period of study), including adjusting for the
time value of money...'. The difference
between LCC and Whole Life Costs (WLC) is
that LCC is focused only on the construction,
maintenance, operation and disposal of the
asset, whereas WLC additionally includes
client and user costs such as project
financing and occupancy costs.

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

1.7 University Environment

There are a number of significant and subtle differences in requirements between a

commercial development and one suitable for use by a Higher Education establishment.

The University’s requirements include but are not limited to:

1.7.1 The End Users

The end users of a higher education establishment are naturally exuberant and systems
need to be robust to cater for their needs.

The estate needs to cater for a number of distinct groups of end users such as - staff, full
and part time students, occasional visitors, conference delegates and summer schools
including children and those to whom English is not their first language.

1.7.2 Population Movement

University buildings have to cater for large numbers of person movements at times of
changeover e.g. between lectures and at the start and end of day. Consideration needs to
be given to the space available to accommodate these peaks.

1.7.3 Security

Enhanced security is required in certain areas but security arrangements have to cater for
the large numbers of persons that may need to use them. See Access Controls Part 6.3.

1.8 Departures from Standards and Specifications.

Whilst design guide is planned to act as a performance specification, the University does
not wish to be over prescriptive and wishes to allow any design team the freedom to be
innovative and forward thinking. It will, therefore, accept departures from standards and
specifications. These departures may be allowed if there is a specific and direct
advantage to the University. Economic advantage will be evaluated using a whole life cost
model to ensure that the university obtains value for money through the life of the building
(see section 1.6). It is recognized that there may be factors other than economic that may
justify a departure from standard.

1.9 Documentation Ownership & Updating

UWE Facilities will update this design guide on an annual

basis, to ensure continued legislation compliance,
industry best practice, university policy changes etc.

Part 1 |Introduction 8|Page

 UWE Facilities

Design Guide for Buildings

R Block Interior

Part 2

Space Standards
UWE Design Guide for Buildings

Index

Part 1 Introduction

Part 2 Space Standards

2.1 Space Requirements in General

2.2 Proposed Faculties and Departments
2.3 Relationship Between sectors
2.4 Room Data Sheets
2.5 Requirements for all Buildings
2.6 Space Standards
2.6.1 Teaching and Learning Accommodations
2.6.2 Teaching Spaces
2.6.3 Library and IT Spaces
2.6.4 Help Zones and Receptions
2.6.5 Academic Offices
2.6.6 Administration Offices
2.6.7 Office Support Areas and Meeting Rooms
2.6.8 Laboratory, Workshop and Teaching Kitchens
2.6.9 Catering Facilities
2.6.10 Sports Facilities
2.6.11 Toilets
2.7 Provision for Service Spaces
2.8 Space Referencing
2.9 Fire Door Referencing

Part 3 General Design

Part 4 BC&E Requirements

Part 5 M&E Requirements

Part 6 Specialist Installations

Part 7 Wayfinding

ECC Lecture Theatre

Index
 UWE Design Guide for Buildings

Part 2 Space Standards

2.1 Space Requirements in General

The University requires high quality, stimulating learning environments which are
attractive to all users including staff, students and visitors. Recent research by CABE
(Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, http://www.cabe.org.uk/) shows
that:

• Approximately 60% of students and staff indicated that the quality of the building design
had a positive impact on their decision to study or work at their chosen university
• Among staff, the quality of the buildings had the most positive impact on the recruitment
of academic staff (65%). Among students, the most positive impact was on the
recruitment of postgraduate students (72%)
• When asked to identify specific features of buildings that would most influence their
decision to work in a particular institution, just over half of all staff identified cosmetic and
environmental features as being most influential. These included cleanliness, a feeling of
space and bright working areas. Most students identified structural/functional features,
including the quality of the facilities, the library, sports centre, atriums and lecture rooms
• Only a very small number of either staff or students (around 10%) pinpointed situational
features (i.e. where the building was located) as being influential in their decision to take
up work or study at their institution.1

The estates costs are the second largest expenditure after personnel costs to the
University. UWE needs to maximise future utilisation of all building accommodation, with
all space being as flexible and adaptive to accommodation future business operations.

The ratio of the gross internal area to the net internal area needs to be or exceed 65%.
Space will therefore have to be managed to maximise its utilisation and the designs must
reflect this requirement.

Research by the Space Management Group http://www.smg.ac.uk/resources.html, shows

that increases in utilisation can be limited by:

• Poor condition and functional suitability

• Poor environmental quality
• Split sites
• Specialist spaces and equipment that have a limited range of uses.
• Accessibility and health and safety restrictions on space
• Availability of audio-visual equipment and the layout of rooms.

Therefore all future designs must minimise the fore mentioned factors and must
incorporate the following basics to ensure space efficiency

Within the building designs are achieved, these include but are not limited to the
following:

• Maximise the physical footprint of new buildings and by modest additions and
extensions in existing buildings
• Match new uses to the existing built form in refurbishment project
• Provide a high ratio of usable area to gross built area
• Capture balance areas for active use
• Provide versatile space, furniture and fittings that can be used for different activities
• Specify design features that allow different activities at different times

1
The value of Good Building Design in Higher Education

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 UWE Design Guide for Buildings

• Optimise space standards for effective work

• Create versatile office and research space, with appropriate open plan areas,
supplemented by meeting and quiet spaces
• Optimise furniture spaces for effective work
• Provide for wireless data access to enable maximum effective use of common space 2

In conclusion, all future designed UWE space needs to create a stunning and stimulating
leaning arena for students and staff. It must also be sufficiently flexible to meet the
dynamic environment caused by market changes and government policy. Utilisation of the
space needs to be high and any design must reflect this requirement.

2.2 Proposed Faculty and Departments

This section is to give information on the faculty and which schools are to be housed in
the building. The range of subjects, numbers of students, research students, number of
staff (both administrative and academic) This section is to give a flavour to the design
team of the amount and type of activity that will be taking place within the building.

TO BE COMPLETED FOR EACH SEPARATE PROJECT

2.3 Relationship between Sectors

This section is to allow the ideal relationship between specific rooms and faculties to be
specified e.g. ten person offices adjacent to workshop, how many interview rooms
adjacent to offices.

2.4 Room Data Sheets

Room data sheets are provided for each space at appendix 2.1. The generic descriptions
given below are for guidance with the room data sheets taking precedence over the
guidance. The design team will be expected to update the room data sheets throughout
the lifespan of the project and include a completed, final version in the hand over
documentation at the completion of the project.

2.5 Requirements in all Buildings

For the efficient future management of the completed building, a number of building
management facilities will be required. In addition to these a number of other facilities are
a prerequisite in all buildings, these include -

• A cleaner’s room on each floor incorporating a cleaners sink with associated water and
drainage.
• The numbers of required toilets will be calculated by the possible numbers of persons
within the building at a change in timetabled periods. Where possible, disabled toilets will
be provided within the main toilets or to be provided as close as possible.
• Shower rooms, changing rooms and drying rooms will be provided dependant on the
numbers of staff and students using the facilities.
• Lobbies and Reception Areas need to be bright and welcoming and clearly delineated, in
order that visitors known where to report and gain information.
• Hub Rooms/Switch Rooms and /or communication cabinets
• Waste storage will be required according to the waste strategy for the building and
surrounding campus. The design team will review the existing strategy and update with
consultations with the University.

2
Promoting space efficiency in building design

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 UWE Design Guide for Buildings

• First aid facilities

• The design team will be required to develop and incorporate furniture layouts orientation
with UWE appointed framework furniture supplier at a later stage in the design process.
2.6 UWE Space Standards
Space Categories
Category Basis of Allocation
Academic General purpose teaching space including lecture theatres –
General central provision (i.e. shared space)
Academic Specialist and laboratory space – local provision
Specialist
Academic Additional research space not covered by specialist space –
Research local provision
Open access learning spaces, have traditionally been in the
form of pc labs but with the increase in the number of
Academic
students with their own pcs, this is being reviewed in some
Open Access
areas to include facilities for group work / presentations –
central and local provision
Central library provision with some localised specialist
Library facilities – central with some provision
Could be combined with open access facilities
Office Staff, union office space – local provision
Meeting / Central with some local provision
Event
Storage Central and local provision
Commercial Restaurant, café, bars – central provision
Social
Commercial Student accommodation, leased office space, conferencing
Other and event space – central provision
Space Allocation
Space
min
sqm
per
Teaching Space student Notes
Currently 1 sqm however, many
HEIs moving to 1.3 to allow for
Lecture Theatre 1 more space per person and
incorporate more interactive
teaching methods.
Teaching Room
Large / Double 2.25
Desks
Teaching Room
2
Standard Desks
Teaching Room
1.5
Pallet Chairs
PC Lab 2.75

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

Timetabled Space
Percentage Notes
Utilisation
Timetabled number of
Occupancy 75%
occupants when room in use
Timetabled amount of time a
Frequency 75%
room is occupied per week
Timetabled Space
Percentage Notes
Utilisation
Occupancy x Frequency.
Gives allowance for 16%
Utilisation 56%
potential drop off to achieve
actual utilisation of 40%

sqm
per sqm per
Additional areas for specialist course research
accommodation student student
Languages and social psychology 0.80 0.80
Mathematics 1.10 1.10
Education, traditional geography, archaeology 2.70 2.70
Scientific geography 5.50 5.50
Experimental psychology 6.90 6.90
Architecture 6.55 6.55
Art 6.5 6.5
Music (departments of 50 students only) 7.50 7.50
Other studio 3.5
Open Access learning Spaces (Includes open
0.275
access pc labs).
Laboratories and ancillary accommodation for:
Biology 5.00 15.20
Physics, engineering science, electronics 4.90 13.80
Chemistry 5.00 14.25
Nursing & AH 5.00 11.00
Engineering laboratories, workshops,
3.95 14.30
preparation, storage
Other laboratory 2.75
Open Access learning Spaces (Includes open
0.275
access pc labs).

Space
min
SQM per
Library Space student Notes
Includes reader space, book
Basic provision 1.25
shelving and support facilities
Additional Area for Law 1 Includes reader space and

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

Space
min
SQM per
Library Space student Notes
School additional archive book
stacks

Space
min SQM
per
Office Space person Notes
Single Office with Designated Senior Staff or
15
Meeting Space specific requirement
Designated Senior Staff or
Single Office 9
specific requirement
Shared / Open Plan
7.5
Office Staff
Meetings Area in Open Where group working a
2.5
Plan necessity
Meetings Room 2.5

Space
min SQM
up to
Additional 3,000
Administrative Space students Notes
Includes reception and
hand in areas
Student facing
50 An additional 10 sqm for
administrative space
each subsequent 1,000
students.

Social Spaces sqm per student / staff

Restaurants / Cafés – dining areas 0.2
Restaurants / Cafés – kitchens 0.17
Communal areas – students 0.7
Communal areas – staff 0.9

Space requirements can be calculated by:

Office Space: An allocation based on the types of staff, the actual staff numbers except
for job share, hourly paid lecturers and other ‘hot-deskers’.

Teaching and Specialist Space: Allocations based on teaching delivery requirement and
open access learning space / laboratory or other specialist requirement.

Please note that the sizes specified for office space are not necessarily an entitlement but
an overall measurement for different categories of staff.

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 UWE Design Guide for Buildings

Storage should initially be considered as part of the allocation for office space. Additional
requirements could be considered on an individual basis.

Circulation, plant, void areas and facilities are calculated at 30% of the total space
requirement.

2.6.1 Teaching and Learning Rooms

The following terms are used to define teaching and learning spaces.
• Interview Rooms are private spaces where confidential matters can be discussed by four
or six people. Power, voice and data points are provided.
• Seminar Rooms are for groups of up to 15 students where they can work in an informal
way or have formal instruction. A requirement will be for staff to move around the working
groups and give advice as necessary. These rooms will normally be timetabled or book
able.
• Teaching Rooms are equipped with furniture that can be rearranged in different
configurations to suit teaching styles. Teaching rooms should have infrastructure to allow
different walls to be used as the teaching wall. Generally teaching spaces should
accommodate 25 students. Large teaching spaces for more than fifty occupants will
require more than one entrance.
• Social Learning Spaces are informal areas where students can congregate for group work
on an ad hoc basis. There should be a variety of locations and size and suitable for self
directed leaning as well as group work. There should be equipped with wireless
networking and sufficient power points to allow laptops to be used.
• Lecture Rooms have fixed furniture and are generally used for large numbers of students,
housing in the region sixty plus students. They are planned to meet overall institutional
needs and where possible link to other spaces to ease traffic flows.
2.6.2 Areas of Teaching Spaces

The following table gives approximate guides to the areas (m2) required for teaching
spaces

No
Inte Tea Soc Lec
of
rvie Se chi ial ture
Pe
w min ng Lea Ro
rs
Ro ar Spa rnin om
on
om ce g s
s
4 8
6 10
10 20 35
15 30 55
30 50 100
40 70
60 100 50
80 120 65
10 150 75
0
15 120
0
20 150
0

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 UWE Design Guide for Buildings

Social learning spaces have the largest range of student to area ratios and could vary
dependant on how the space is furnished.

2.6.3 Spaces for Library and IT Study

Study spaces should be created for twenty five students with additional area for
associated teaching support requirements.

2.6.4 Help Zones

Help Zones are the prime contact between Students, visitors and the university. They
need to be clearly visible welcoming and easy to find. Stand up PC's will be provided for
shorter use.

2.6.5 Academic Offices

Office space will be open plan for the majority of staff and will be planned to reflect
business environments where possible, office space must take account of spaces
2
required to meet academic deliverables. The normal office allocation will be 7.5m per
person. Where cellular space is provided it will be:

Single Office and Meeting space 152

Single person office 9 m2

Open plan space will normally include some flexible open space for informal meetings
and is included within the specified areas.

2.6.6 Administration Offices

Administration offices will also be open plan with a reception area. Account needs to be
taken of queuing, enquiries and the protocols for handing in of academic course work.
2
The normal office allocation will be 7.5m per person and maybe mixed with academic
staff.

2.6.7 Office Support Areas and Meeting Rooms

Offices need space to house copiers, pigeon holes and possible work bench depending
on the staff numbers.

Interview rooms will generally be provided at the rate of 1 per 25 staff.

Meeting rooms range from:

Large Board Room (faculty) 70m2 Smaller Board Room (department) 50m2 Meeting Room
35m2 Small Meeting Room (1 per 30 staff) 15m2

Interview rooms and small meeting rooms can be designed into internal spaces.

2.6.8 Catering Facilities, Kitchens and Tea Points

Future accommodation will require some sort of catering provisions; this is entirely
dependent upon the size and nature of the proposed accommodation.

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 UWE Design Guide for Buildings

2.6.9 Laboratory, Workshops and Teaching Kitchens

These spaces are faculty specific and need individual response. It should be noted that
these facilities need determining early as they may have structural, mechanical and
electrical implications above “normal” space usage.

2.6.10 Sports Facilities

UWE prides itself on sporting facilities offered. Any future design proposal that relates to
sporting facilities will require the design team to adopt the universities excellent standards
and incorporate readily accepted industry standards.

2.6.11 Toilets

Toilet provision will be designed to be sufficient for building occupancy levels and be
compliant with the current Equalities Act and other relevant standard/regulation, best
practice etc.

Cubicle dimensions shall allow for the increasing sizes of the human frame.

Water use and heating saving is important. Non-touch flush and hand-wash controls are
required.

It is preferred that toilets have concealed services and cisterns. In this respect central
service spaces are to be designed which will allow maintenance and repair of services
without the need to close part or all of a toilet

2.7 Provision for Service Spaces

Make due allowance for provision of all service areas to include, Lifts and motor rooms if
required, Cupboards for cleaners including cleaners sinks and storage, It and
communications rooms, Plant rooms and specific archive and storage.

2.8 Space Referencing

UWE has a fixed method of room referencing and this is to be adopted for any future
scheme design. An overview of the Universities protocols is detailed below-

The room number commences with a reference to the campus level, then the building
letter, then the room number e.g. 2E36

The level number of each floor is determined by the site level so at the upper end of the
site the initial entrance may be on level 2

All spaces receive a number including lift shafts, ducts and risers. For Staircases and
Corridors add the letter S or C respectively e.g. 2EC26 for lifts add L.

Please refer to Section 3 for further Guidance for Cataloguing Rooms.

2.9 Fire Door Referencing

All fire doors within the estate will require periodic checks as stated and in accordance
with BS8214 code of practice for Fire Door Assemblies with non metallic leafs. To aid the
survey and periodic check there should be a separate electronic and paper drawing
produced which shows all fire doors and space references only.

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

The fire door referencing to be used should have the prefix FD followed by building
reference, floor level, door number.

E.g. FD/2E34 denotes fire door located level 2 in E Block room no 34

Part 2 |Space Standards 9|Page

UWE Design Guide for Buildings

UWE Facilities

Design Guide for Buildings

Appendix 2/1

Room Data Sheet

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 Facilities Room Data Sheet

GENERAL
Project Ref Project Name
Sheet of Revision
Room Number Room Name
No. of Persons Room Type
Room Usage
Time of Use hours per day days per week weeks per year
2
Room Dimensions m floor area m susp. ceiling m struct. soffit m clear height
Security
(E.g. Swipe access)
Electronic
Mechanical (E.g. Deadlock with cylinder type & code)
Physical (E.g. Door)
Special Req.s
FINISHES
Wall Finish (E.g. 'Plaster skim to plasterboard or blockwork)
Decoration (E.g. 'Diamond Matt Emulsion - White')

Floor Finish (E.g. 'Screed on Concrete)

Covering (E.g. 'Altro Designer 25 Safety Flooring - Twilight')

Skirting Material (E.g. 'Softwood or MDF - gloss painted white')

Sit In/Planted Sit In / Planted

Ceiling Type (E.g. 'Suspended Grid - White')

Ceiling Tiles
Soffit
Doors (E.g. "Veneer Finish")
Joinery / Trims
Windows
Internal Screens
Other
FIXTURES & FITTINGS
Item No. Type Finish
Desk(s) (e.g. Movable or Fixed)
Table(s)
Perimeter Benching
Chairs/Seating
Cupboards
Filing Cabinets
Shelving (e.g. Fixed or Hanging)
Pin/Notice Board(s)
Projection Screen(s)
Whiteboard(s)
Blinds
Signage
Toprail
Coat-hooks
Sundry items (e.g. Clock)
Waste/ Recycle Bins
Other

Part 2 |Space Standards 11 | P a g e

 KEY RELATIONSHIPS
To Other Rooms
To External Walls
To Ground/Roof
ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE
Sound Insulation
Min Value of Dnt (Tmfmax),w db
between Rooms
Sound reduction btwn room and circulation spaces Min Value db
Door within above partition, rated as a complete door set Min Value db
Reverberation
Min Value s
Time
Noise from
Min Value Nr
Building Services
ENVIRONMENTAL
o o
Room Temperature Summer C Winter C
Room Humidity Summer % RH Winter % RH
Filtration Level Supply G/F Extract G/F
Mechanical Ventilation Rate l/p/s ACH Noise Rating NR/DB
Relative Pressure Positive Negative %
MECHANICAL
Natural Other
Gases
Gas Specify:

Ventilation

HVAC Terminal Fan Coil Units Underfloor Heating

Units Radiators Natural Convectors
Fan Convectors Split DX Units
Electric Panel/Storage
VRV Units
Heaters
Unit Heaters CAV Boxes
Radiant Heaters VAV Boxes
Other Specify:

Specialist Control
Req.s
HOT & COLD WATER & DRAINAGE
Mains Cold Water Domestic Cold Domestic Hot Water Conventional / Chemical
Item No.
Fed Water Fed Fed Drainage
Wash Hand Basin
Sink
WC
Urinal
Shower
Drinking Fountain
Vending Machine
Dishwasher
Washing Machine
Cleaner's Sink
Fume Cupboard
Other (Specify)
Other (Specify)
Specialist Water / Draining Req.s

Fire Protection Sprinklers Class/Hazard

Inert Gas
Specialist Extract
Other Specify:

Part 2 |Space Standards 12 | P a g e

 ELECTRICAL
Lighting
Average lighting level lux Working Plane Height m See Luminaire
schedule for
Uniformity Glare index luminaire selection
VDU usage - yes/no Local task lighting required - yes/no and lamp type

Lighting Controls Local Manual Dimmable PIR Daylight Linked

Timeclock Photocell BEMS Scene Setting

Other Special Req.s

Emergency lighting Non-Maintained Maintained Sustained

Central Battery Self-test

Small Power 24V DC 110V DC 400V 3 Phase

Standard Dual Earth Clean Earth
Skirting Dado Ceiling
2
Desk/Worktop Floor Box No. Outlet / m

Wiring Type

Containment Type

Emergency Power Lighting PC Power HVAC UPS

Fume Cupboard IT Comms Other Power Generator

TV/FM/Radio Wall Dado Ceiling Floor Box

Outlets Desk/Worktop No. Outlet / m
2

Data/Phone Wall Dado Ceiling Floor Box

Outlets Desk/Worktop No. Outlet / m
2

Access Control Card - Chip Card - Swipe Keyfob Keypad

Intruder Alarm PIR Window Break Door Contact Perimeter

Panic Alarm Fixed Remote

CCTV Fixed ELECTRICAL Pan/Tilt/Zoom

Fire Detection Smoke Heat Manual Call Xenon Beacon

Ceiling level Voids
Sprinklers Other - Specify
Remote Indicator Door Hold Open Device

DDA Disabled Persons Alarm Induction Loop Public Address

IT & AV EQUIPMENT

Item No. New? M&E Services Requirements

Data Projector (E.g. '230v switched power supply and 1 no. RJ45 data outlet')
O/head Projector
Slide Projector
TV & Video
Audio Visual
Other

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

Appendix 2/2

Area Definitions
• Five definitions of floor area are used in construction projects in HEIs.
• The following guidance has been derived from the ‘RICS Code of Measuring
Practice: A Guide for Surveyors and Valuers’ 5th edition, and the Estates
Management Statistics Data Definitions.
GEA – Gross External Area (for planning applications)
• The area of a building measured externally at each floor level -
• Including all spaces within the building, and perimeter wall thicknesses, external
projections, loading bays and garages.
• Excluding open-sided balconies, fire escapes, canopies, and roof terraces.
GIA – Gross Internal Area (for building costs estimation)
• The area of a building measured to the internal face of the perimeter walls at each
floor level -
• Including all spaces within the building, internal structure, walls and partitions,
loading bays and garages.
• Excluding perimeter wall thicknesses and external projections, external balconies
and voids over atria.
NIA – Net Internal Area (equivalent of net letable area)
• The area within a building that comprises usable areas and primary horizontal
circulation - Including all usable spaces, kitchens and built-in units and cupboards
that occupy usable areas, and horizontal circulation.
• Excluding common entrance halls, atria, landings and balconies; toilets, toilet
lobbies, bathrooms and cleaners’ rooms; plant spaces (lift rooms, plant rooms, risers,
duct rooms, tank rooms and fuel stores); vertical circulation (stairwells, lift-wells and
associated lobbies); internal structure (structural walls, columns, piers etc); and
loading bays and garages.
NUA – Net Usable Area (area available in rooms for people to use)
• The area within a building available for people to use -
• Excluding primary horizontal circulation (major horizontal routes that link fire
escapes) in addition to all of the above.
Balance Area (areas to enable the building to function)
• The floor area planned to enable the building to function -
• Including stairwells; entrance lobbies; atria and foyers where the function is solely or
primarily for circulation; lifts and lift lobbies; lavatories and toilet lobbies; cloakrooms;
cleaners’ stores and cupboards; plant rooms, tank rooms, boiler houses, calorifier
chambers and fuel stores; loading bays and ducts, that otherwise are included with
gross internal area. It includes primary horizontal circulation, fire corridors and smoke
lobbies that otherwise are included within net internal area.
Excluding everything that is net usable area.

Note Revision of Current UWE Space Standards

UWE is currently working towards a revised set of space standards and although not yet fully
approved the proposed revision of Space Standards has been appended to this document to
show where UWE is going for future projects. It is worth noting that the key changes are in
teaching and lecture spaces to suit changes in teaching methods and also in utilisation
percentages

Part 2 |Space Standards 14 | P a g e

 UWE Facilities

Design Guide for Buildings

N Block

Part 3

General Design
UWE Design Guide for Buildings

Index

Part 1 Introduction

Part 2 Space Standards

Part 3 General Design

3.1 Policies and Practices for Good Design

3.1.1 Environmental, Social and Economic Impact
3.1.2 Impact
3.1.3 Build Quality
3.1.4 Design and Functionality
3.1.5 Asbestos
3.2 Compliance with Standards
3.2.1 Building Regulations, British Standards, Codes of Practice & Other Legislation
3.3 Technical Criteria
3.3.1 Design Grid
3.3.2 Occupancy
3.4 Equality and Diversity
3.4.1 Disability Equality Scheme.
3.4.2 Equality Impact Assessment
3.4.3 Disability Discrimination Act
3.5 Access for Maintenance
3.6 Sustainability
3.7 Waste Handling & Storage
3.8 Acoustic Design
3.9 Fire Strategy
3.9.1 Designing to Prevent Fires
3.9.2 Constructing Near Gas Installations
3.9.3 Fire Design Strategy for Persons with Disabilities
3.10 UWE Health & Safety Unit
3.11 Transport Strategy
3.12 Drawing Standards
3.13 Guidance for Cataloguing Rooms

Part 4 BC&E Requirements

Part 5 M & E Requirements

Part 6 Specialist Installations

Index
UWE Design Guide for Buildings

3.1 UWE Policies and Practices for Good Design

The University expects good quality design and will benchmark all projects to ensure that
buildings commissioned by them will meet their expected standards.

The good design principles will Rationalise stock/reduce costs/corporate branding

3.1.1 Environmental, Social and Economic Impact

The environmental, social and economic impact of a project will be assessed at the design
stage and reviewed throughout the buildings lifecycle. The project team will be expected to
reduce the impact of any proposed project by looking at all three impact areas and giving
each area equal weighting when making decisions.

Designers will be expected to refer to post occupancy evaluations from previous designs
they where/are involved in to ensure informed decisions are taken and principles adopted
by the project team. For example, designers should refer to monitoring of energy
performance from specific projects to provide guidance on how Part L building regulations
can be exceeded or achieved effectively.

The project team and contractors will be expected to exceed legislation, work with and
adopt the same standards as UWE. Where legislation, standards or best practice do not
exist the project team will be expected to develop and implement their own standards.
All projects must be in line with the UWE Sustainability Strategy and Environmental Policy
as found on the UWE web pages.

3.1.2 Impact

The designers must ensure that any projects physical impact on the surrounding area, local
communities and environment is in keeping and must satisfy the Local Authorities
requirements.

Designers must ensure that a relative scale to any proposed development is maintained
through well proportioned routes and spaces. Hard and soft landscaping should be used to
ensure that buildings compliment their surroundings and a sense of scale through softening
of the outline of the building is achieved. At the edges of any development the design team
should ensure that a strong, open, accessible and active interface is achieved with the
surrounding areas on all elevations.

Designers are encouraged to create buildings and spaces that produce visual impact, to
inspire users. Internal design and fit out to maximize student experience. Not iconic
facades.

3.1.3 Build Quality

UWE expects the whole design and construction process to be of high quality. This covers
the whole performance of the project and includes structural stability, robustness of
systems, safety and durability of fixtures and fittings whilst considering value for money

3.1.4 Design and Functionality.

The interaction of spaces, their flexibility, accessibility and the quality of the whole will be
assessed.

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

The University will be undertaking audits of quality, safety, environmental and sustainability
impact on a regular basis of all its projects. Designers and contractors will be required to
provide energy, waste and water information as part of project progress meetings and to
benchmark consumption against similar sized projects.

3.1.5 Asbestos

Although UWE Facilities holds an asbestos register, a refurbishment and demolition

asbestos survey must be performed by the UWE asbestos consultants as soon as
practicable after project inception, and the survey must cover the entire project area,
including items/spaces adjacent to work areas where disturbance from, say ,data/M&E
service installations could be expected. This survey should be completed and reviewed
prior to completion of detailed design as the findings could affect design decisions,
programme and costs. Where necessary, the project should make provision for on-site
testing facilities in order to facilitate the efficient processing of samples

3.2 Compliance with Standards

3.2.1 Building Regulations, British Standards, Codes of Practice & Best Practice
Legislation

Projects will be, as a minimum, designed and constructed in compliance with but not limited
to the following:

• All relevant Acts of Parliament, Statutory Instruments and Mandatory Guidelines

• The requirements of the Building Regulations
• British Standards, Specifications and Codes of Practice
• The requirements of the Local Authority
• The requirements of the utility supply companies
• Health and Safety Regulations including the CDM regulations and the Workplace
(Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulation.
• Environmental Protection Act 1990
• Standard UWE B&CE and M&E Specifications
• BRE Green Guide for Specification
• Designed to assist UWE meet our Halving Waste to Landfill commitment
• WRAP’s reuse of recycled material (See 3.6.10)
• BREEAM Excellent rating or equivalent for another relevant standard
• The LPC Design Guide for the Fire Protection of Buildings 2000
• BSRIA soft landings

All as current at the time of appointment and further revisions prior to final design sign off
being achieved.

3.3 Technical Criteria

3.3.1 Design Grid
The University wishes its buildings to be flexible, with spaces being designed to be as open
as possible. It therefore encourages a large grid and as large as possible finished floor to
finished ceiling height commensurate with a reasonable cost. The void created by a
suspended ceiling should be 600mm minimum deep under flat structural soffits in order to
accommodate services. Any raised floor should be a minimum distance of 250mm from
floor finish to structural floor.
3.3.2 Occupancy

See Section 2 – Space Standards

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

3.4 Equality and Diversity

3.4.1 Disability Equality Scheme.

The University has commissioned GEM, an independent local Equalities and Human
Rights consultancy firm to assist the University in revising its current Disability Equality
Scheme. This report is available on the UWE equalities Unit website and will become a
reference document for this guide.

3.4.2 Equality Impact Assessment

Each project shall have an Equality Impact Assessment which follows the UWE standard
format. This document should show proof that the UWE equality groups have been
consulted. Initially write a short report describing the proposals can be forwarded to these
groups via the University Equality and Diversity Unit. As the project develops there will be a
need to ensure this line of communication is maintained.

3.4.3 Disability Discrimination Act/ Equality Act

In 2004 UWE instigated a series of access audits to most sites and buildings and funds
were made available to ensure that areas and buildings were made compliant with the Act.
Since then the portfolio of buildings has changed and changes in the Act, including its
integration into the Equality Act 2010, led to new audits to cover those not included in the
original work and a reassessment of those which had.

A second batch of works based on a three year programme started in 2009 and continued
into 2012/13.

The emphasis of all this work has been to move towards best practice and to “design for
all”, not just to be compliant with the:

• Disability Discrimination Act (1995),

• Equality Act (2010)
• BS8300 : 2009 Design of Buildings and their Approaches to Meet the Needs of
Disabled People – Code of Practice

The main point being that by inclusive design there is no need for specialist design. For
example if a building is designed with level access and good simple access, then it is better
for all users.

The University Policy of “Access to All” may sometimes lead to conflict with the need for
specialist facilities for specific groups or persons, and this guide cannot cover all the
exceptional cases or eventualities. The basic principle is to ensure all groups have been
consulted to find the practical solution in designing to best practice and with flexibility for
future changes for those special cases e.g. ensuring enough space is included in
accessible toilets for a hoist.

As well as adopting a pragmatic approach for the DDA provisions based on the above, the
design team should also consider financial reasonableness.

3.5 Access for Maintenance

Access to plant and technical areas should be accessed internally or externally via
circulation areas. Access through areas of activity should be avoided. Sufficient space
should be allowed around plant to allow for maintenance, removal and replacement as

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

required for all maintenance operations. See also Part 5 M&E Requirements Item 1.2.
Safe access arrangements will need to be provided for all maintenance tasks.

3.6 Sustainability

UWE’s vision is to embed sustainability throughout everything we do, from the courses we
teach to the services offered to our students. Our Estate is no exception to this rule, and
sustainability should be a strong theme throughout any new development.

As detailed in 3.1.1, UWE’s Sustainability Strategy and Environmental Policy (available on

UWE web pages) sets out some overarching guidelines. Aspects of sustainability will be
discussed throughout this guide where relevant. The following section details some
specific areas UWE would like to be considered as part of any new development to ensure
sustainability is considered from the early stages of design.

3.6.1 BREEAM

The University requires all major refurbishments and new builds to aim for a BREEAM
Excellent rating. When specifying a new project, the University requires a pre assessment
to be carried out by a qualified assessor. The assessment will be monitored throughout the
design process to ensure compliance although there will generally be no requirement to
submit to the BRE.

This standard will ensure buildings are designed to environmental standards beyond
regulation.

3.6.2 Energy Use and Carbon Emissions

The University’s Energy Management Policy and Strategy, both available on the University
website, detail the key principals and responsibilities for energy management at the
University.

In 2010 a carbon emissions inventory was completed for the University covering buildings
emissions, water use, waste, staff and student business travel and commuting. Based on
figures for 2008/9 UWE’s total carbon emissions totalled 34,500 tones CO 2 . Energy used
in the University’s academic and residential buildings accounts for approximately half of
these emissions, and costs the University around £3million per annum.

The University has made a commitment to reduce its energy use and carbon emissions. It
has set out the following targets for carbon reduction associated with energy use in
University buildings:

• Absolute reduction from 2005/6 – 2020/21: 1.5% annual reduction Equating to

22.5% total reduction
• Relative reduction from 2001/2 ‐ 2020/21: 50% relative reduction (based on kgCO2
per m2 and average weather) – this has been extended from the original target of 30%
reduction from 2001/2 – 2011/12.

These targets are challenging but achievable as UWE is dedicated to meeting them.

The University’s Higher Education Carbon Management Plan (CMP) details projects
required to meet these targets and is available on the UWE website. As well as the
projects detailed in the CMP all new buildings and major refurbishment should consider
energy efficiency improvements to both building fabric and building systems. These

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

specific requirements will be detailed in the building, mechanical and electrical

requirements, Parts 4 - 6.

Target carbon dioxide emissions rate should always exceed those set out in building
regulations approved document L2A, Conservation of fuel and Power. The aim is to
improve on those requirements by 5%. At the design stage the designers should model the
in-use energy consumption including unregulated emissions.

3.6.3 Metering

As well as the BREEAM requirements, CIBSE guide TM39 (Building energy metering)
should be followed for metering strategies for new building and major refurbishments.

The University requires that all new meters should have a pulsed output that is connected
to the University Energy Team’s Elcomponent metering system. All necessary equipment
required to ensure that each metering unit can be connected onto the Elcomponent system,
including data points, power supplies, pulse loggers etc shall be provided as part of the
project. Allowance shall be made for modifying and/or extending the existing data
collection system as required ensuring that it is sufficiently sized to accommodate the
additional metering units within the building.

Specific details for electrical and mechanical metering arrangements will be addressed in
Part 5 and Part 6.

3.6.4 Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2002/91/EC

As required by the above directive, once any new building is physically complete, the
University should be supplied with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and a
recommendation report. It is the responsibility of the person carrying out the construction
to supply the University with this. At design stage a target EPC rating should be set through
liaison with the University. The minimum EPC target rating will be B.

As specified by the legislation, an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is also required for
refurbishments if a building is modified to have more or fewer parts than it originally had and
the modification includes the provision or extension of fixed services for heating, air
conditioning or mechanical ventilation (i.e. those services that condition the indoor climate
for the benefits of the occupants). Referenced from ‘A Guide to energy performance
certificates for the construction, sale and let of non-dwellings’ 2nd edition July 2008,
Communities and Local Government.

3.6.5 Renewable and Low Carbon Energy

When considering major refurbishment and new builds, renewable energy sources should
always be considered prior to specifying standard fossil fuels or grid generated electricity.
To achieve the University’s carbon reduction targets the onsite generation of energy is
required and the following should be investigated at all opportunities:

• Solar thermal
• Solar PV
• Wind
• Biomass/Biofuel
• CHP
• Air source/ground source heat pumps

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

3.6.6 Water Efficiency

UWE has a standard spec for WC refurbishments to aid water efficiency including WCs,
taps, urinals etc.

3.6.7 Rain Water and Grey Water

The use of rain water and grey water harvesting should always be investigated for major
refurbishments and new builds. Where possible a gravity fed system should be specified.
For refurbishments, if the retrofitting of an internal system is un-viable, the collection of rain
water should be considered for grounds watering purposes.

3.6.8 Timber
The University recognise the importance of the choices we make in buying products and
the impacts on environmental and social aspects throughout the world. Consequently it is
UWE’s policy to purchase only legal and sustainable or recycled timber and timber
products in accordance with the advice given in The Environmental Association for
Universities and Colleges (EAUC http://www.eauc.org.uk/commodity_information_sheets)
– Timber Commodity Information Sheet.

UWE has adopted the UK Government Timber Procurement Policy as below:

This policy requires that all timber and wood derived products procured originate from:

• Legal and sustainable sources (i.e. FSC), or

• FLEGT licensed or equivalent sources

Recycled products are equally accepted (where appropriate and agreed)

3.6.9 Steel

The University recognise the importance of the choices we make in buying products and
the impacts on environmental and social aspects throughout the world. Consequently it is
UWE’s policy to adopt the principles and guidance for the procurement of steel as given by
the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (eauc) sheet.

http://www.uwe.ac.uk/facilities/estates/information/informationindex.shtml

EAUC Recommendations:

Use suppliers that can demonstrate a commitment to the following throughout their supply
chain:

• Supply products with a high percentage of recycled steel

• Supply from companies which are signatories of the EITI
• Supply from companies which are signatories of the Voluntary Principles on Security
and Human Rights and UN Norms
• Actively engagement of the supply chain in minimizing social and environmental
issues.
3.6.10 PVCl

The University recognise the importance of the choices we make in buying products and
the impacts on environmental and social aspects throughout the world. Consequently it is
UWE’s policy to consider the principles and guidance for the procurement of Plastics as
given by the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (eauc) sheet

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http://www.uwe.ac.uk/facilities/estates/information/informationindex.shtml

3.6.11 Construction Waste Management

UWE seeks to reduce the amount of waste produced as a direct result of its construction
related activities. As a result the design team must ensure:

• That all waste is-‘designed out’ from the concept stage onwards
• The design meets UWE’s WRAP commitment to the use of recycled content.
• That the design minimizes waste on site in order for the Contractor’s to meet UWE’s
commitment to Halving Waste from Construction.

Contractors must- provide full details on how Hazardous Waste will be dealt with for
refurbishment and demolition work prior to starting on site.

Where reasonably practicable the design team and contractor must ensure that no
hazardous substances are included in the design and build of a capital project.

Site Waste Management Plans to be developed in accordance with statutory requirements.

3.6.12 Materials Selection

UWE has made a commitment to maximise recycled content in the construction process. In
new building UWE sets a target of 20% by cost. In refurbishment the same ethos is
envisaged although it is understood that this is more challenging so a target is set at 15%

As a result the design team and main contractor will be expected to use the following to
ensure the most environmentally sound materials are used in a project:

• WRAPs Materials Resource Efficiency Toolkit, and that a minimum of ‘good practice’ is
achieved.
• The Green Guide for Specification.

Recyclability at end of building life must also be considered, ensuring materials selected
are easily recyclable upon demolition.

3.6.13 Whole Life Costing

As detailed in section 1.6 Economic Evaluation of Building Projects, whole life costing
methods will be applied to all projects to ensure that the best option is selected for the
lifetime of the building not simply the lowest capital expenditure. This whole life costing
should include an evaluation of the utility and carbon costs for the life of the building.

3.6.14 Flexibility

The future of the higher education market in the UK is uncertain. It is possible that students
may not attend lectures in the future or that lecture rooms will be replaced with another form
of teaching environment. Future buildings should be designed to incorporate flexibility so
that areas can be altered easily, as far as practically achievable.

3.6.15 Funding Opportunities

The University is part of the Salix funding scheme which provides financial support to
projects that have related energy savings. If certain projects require additional funding to
enable the most energy efficient option to be installed, then the Energy Team within Estates
should be contacted to discuss the opportunities.

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Alternative funding from sponsors, Government initiatives, etc should be reviewed at Stage
B of project developments.

3.7 Waste Handling & Storage

As an overarching principle the design team should follow the guidance given as required
for a BREEAM assessment, the space given with such an assessment is in direct
proportion to the square meterage of the building.

The design team should note that UWE have a priority on recycling. Hence, the wider
design should include space for bins & recycling points across all areas of the building i.e.
offices, kitchens, eating areas, study areas etc. The design team will additionally need to
consider ease of access for cleaners, both storage of materials and access whilst
undertaking the cleaning of the buildings.

Any bin stores provided should have enough space for1100 litre recycling and general
waste bins to be moved in and out of the building and have good access/space/head height
for cleaners to empty smaller bins into them.

Any design should include the facilities to store hazardous waste. This will range from
fridges, to chemicals/contaminated cleaning containers, to fluorescent tubes, TV's through
to chemicals storage requirements. The design team must ensure adequate Health &
Safety precautions are in place including eye washes etc.

Hazardous waste storage and collection is not included in BREEAM calculations, the exact
requirements will depend on overall size/use of the building. In specific situations
depending upon the faculty in question there may be a need to provide external space to
accommodate lockable skips.

3.8 Acoustic Design

3.8.1 Introduction

This section deals with acoustic standards within new and re-furbished UWE buildings. The
overarching objective is to provide acoustic conditions within each room which are
compatible with its intended purpose.

The acoustic requirements are dealt with under the following headings;

• Sound insulation between rooms

• Noise entering the building from outside
• Room acoustics
• Noise from building services
• Acoustic Design of Residential Accommodation

Many of the standards are derived from those contained in the DfES publication BB93
Acoustic Design of School. The standards described in that publication are, under the
Building Regulations, mandatory for new and refurbished school buildings. For universities
they are not mandatory. While they form a useful starting point, some spaces within a
university fall outside the requirements of most schools, and in some cases higher acoustic
standards may be justified even when rooms are being put to similar uses.

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3.8.2 Sound Insulation between Rooms - Airborne Sound between Rooms

The table below lists various types of room according to their function, along with the
required level of airborne sound insulation.

Where a wall separates two rooms with different functions, the standard of sound insulation
to be applied will be the higher of the two.

The quantity used to specify sound insulation here is DnT(Tmfmax),w as defined in BB93.
This is the standardized level difference between the two rooms, measured according to
the requirements of ISO 140 part 4 and standardised to the highest recommended mid
frequency reverberation time in either of the two rooms. It is then frequency weighted as
described in ISO 717 part 2. It is not the same as the weighted sound reduction index,
abbreviated to Rw and commonly used by suppliers of building materials to characterise
their products.

Min Value of
Type(s) of Room
DnT(Tmfmax),w
Academic staff and admin offices, meeting rooms 45dB
Cafeterias, coffee bars etc. 45dB
Class rooms, lecture rooms, seminar rooms and tutorial rooms. 45dB
Audio Visual and video conference rooms and language laboratories
Drama studios, music practice rooms. 55dB
Halls and rooms for music drama and other live performances 55dB
Large lecture theatres and flagship conference rooms 50dB
Lecture theatres up to 100 seats 45dB
Library circulation and media storage areas 40dB
Library study areas 45dB
Recording studios 60dB*
Rooms intended for clinical examination and treatment, 50dB*
Confidential interviews, psychotherapy, speech therapy etc.
Science laboratories, art and design studios, graphics 40dB
workshops
Sports halls and gymnasia 50dB
Swimming pools 45dB
Workshops 45dB*

* Denotes that requirements can vary considerably and specialist design input may be
required.

3.8.3 Airborne Sound Insulation between Rooms and Circulation Spaces

It is difficult to measure sound insulation values between a room and an odd shaped space
such as a corridor. As a result it is normal to specify minimum values of the weighted sound
reduction index Rw required of partition systems and doors separating a room from a
circulation space. Two levels of sound insulation are specified here for these situations.

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Minimum
Structure
value of Rw
Partition separating a teaching space or office from a circulation area 40dB
Door within the above partition, rated as a complete door set 30dB
Partition separating a teaching space for specialised purposes (such 45dB
as music or drama) from a circulation area
Door within the above partition, rated as a complete door set 35dB

Specialist acoustic design input will be required if a teaching room or other noise sensitive
room opens into a busy atrium or through corridor, or in the case of large lecture theatres
and conference rooms with a waiting/ social area immediately outside their doors.

3.8.4 Impact and Air Borne Sound Insulation of Floors

Impact sound insulation deals with the transmission of noise to the rooms below from noise
sources in contact with the floor. Typical noise sources include footsteps, moving furniture
and machinery. Because the internal layout of a building may be changed many times
during its lifetime, a single set of standards is applied here for the airborne and impact
sound insulation of floors. In the case of airborne sound insulation, the quantity specified is,
as before, DnT(Tmfmax),w. For impact sound insulation the quantity specified is L'nT,w, as
defined in ISO 140 part 7 and ISO 717 part 2.

Minimum value of DnT(Tmfmax),w 55 dB

Maximum value of L'nT,w 55 dB
3.8.5 Noise from Outside

The maximum sound pressure levels due to external noise intrusion are listed in the table
below. These values include noise contributions from transport – including road and rail
traffic and civil aviation – from the weather, and from industrial and human activity both on
and off University’s premises. Building and civil engineering work are not included since
they are temporary in nature. The values listed should be considered in conjunction with the
specification for building services noise which appears later. Control of external noise
involves consideration of the ambient noise levels at the specific site involved, the sound
insulation properties of the building shell (including the roof structure in the case of aircraft
noise) and the impact on sound insulation of any ventilation requirements such as the need
for opening windows.

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Maximum value
Type(s) of room
of LAeq,30 minutes
Academic staff and admin offices 40dB
Cafeterias, coffee bars etc. 45dB
Class rooms, lecture rooms, seminar rooms and tutorial Rooms 35dB
Audio visual and video conference rooms Language laboratories
Drama studios, music practice rooms 30dB
Entrance halls, corridors, stairwells, atria and circulation spaces 45dB
Halls and rooms for music drama & other live performances 30dB
Large lecture theatres and flagship conference rooms 30dB
Lecture theatres up to 100 seats 35dB
Library circulation and media storage areas 40dB
Library study areas 35dB
Recording studios 25dB
Rooms intended for clinical examination and treatment, 35dB
confidential interviews, psychotherapy, speech therapy etc.
Science laboratories, art & design studios, graphics workshops 35dB
Sports halls and gymnasia 40dB
Swimming pools 50dB
Workshops 40dB

Rain falling on lightweight roofs can cause disturbing noise inside the building, for example
in a sports hall used for examinations. This subject is still developing and there is as yet no
standard for measuring noise from rain within buildings. The variability of the weather is an
added difficulty when setting standards for this since very exceptional rainfalls will occur
occasionally. Building designers are expected to supply information about expected rain
noise levels in the light of up to date knowledge and experience on other similar projects.

3.8.6 Room Acoustics

Control of reverberation within buildings is important in creating good learning and working
conditions within the building. The quantity listed in the table below is the mid frequency
reverberation time, Tmf, as defined in BB93 (and based on measurements made according
to ISO 3382:2000. This is obtained by calculating the arithmetic average of the
reverberation times in the octave bands centred on 500 Hz, 1,000 Hz and 2,000 Hz. As well
as being important in its own right, the reverberation time enters into the calculation of
standardised sound insulation parameters.

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Maximum
Type(s) of room
value of Tmf
Academic staff and admin offices 1.0 s
Cafeterias, coffee bars etc. 1.0 s
Class rooms, lecture rooms, seminar rooms and tutorial Rooms 0.8 s
Audio visual and video conference rooms Language laboratories
Drama studios, music practice rooms 1.2 s
Entrance halls, corridors, stairwells, atria and circulation spaces 1.0 s
Halls and rooms for music drama and other live performances 1.2 s
Large lecture theatres and flagship conference rooms 1.0 s
Lecture theatres up to 100 seats 0.8 s
Library circulation and media storage areas 1.0 s
Library study areas 0.8 s
Recording studios 0.6 s
Rooms intended for clinical examination and treatment, Confidential 0.6 s
interviews, psychotherapy and speech therapy
Science laboratories, art and design studios, graphics workshops 0.8 s
Sports halls and gymnasia 1.5 s
Swimming pools 2.0 s
Workshops 1.0 s

The reverberation time at lower frequencies tends to be greater than at the midrange
frequencies dealt with in the above table. Reverberation times at 250 Hz and 125 Hz should
not exceed the above figures by more than 30%.

Reverberation times in awkward shaped spaces such as corridors and stair wells are
difficult to predict and measure. In these spaces, complying with the guidance in Approved
Document E should result in satisfactory reverberation conditions.

3.8.7 Noise from Building Services

Noise from building services should not exceed the noise rating (NR) values listed below.
This includes noise from the normal operation of heating, ventilation and air conditioning
plant. Higher levels may be permissible during purge ventilation. When planning ventilation
duct runs, they should as far as possible avoid crossing partition walls, and where this is
inevitable a crosstalk silencer must be incorporated so that the sound insulation
requirements listed earlier are met.

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Maximum
Type (s) of room
value of Tmf
Academic staff and admin offices NR 35
Cafeterias, coffee bars etc. NR 40
Class rooms, lecture rooms, seminar rooms and tutorial Rooms NR 30
Audio visual and video conference rooms Language laboratories
Drama studios, music practice rooms NR 30
Entrance halls, corridors, stairwells, atria and circulation spaces NR 40
Halls and rooms for music drama and other live performances NR 30
Large lecture theatres and flagship conference rooms NR 30
Lecture theatres up to 100 seats NR 30
Library circulation and media storage areas NR 35
Library study areas and Recording studios NR 30
Rooms intended for clinical examination and treatment, NR 35
confidential interviews, psychotherapy, speech therapy etc.
Science laboratories, art and design studios, graphics workshops NR 30
Sports halls and gymnasia NR 35
Swimming pools NR 50
Workshops NR 35
3.8.8 Acoustic Design of Residential Accommodation

The Building Regulations Approved Document E – Resistance to the passage of sound,

provides guidance and sets the requirements for the acoustic design of residential
accommodation

3.9 Fire Strategy

3.9.1 Designing to Prevent Fires

BS 9999.2008 (Code of practice for fire safety in the design, management and use of
buildings) should be used for design of all new buildings. The Joint Code on Fire Prevention
in Construction Sites provides guidance to designers and places a number of requirements
on them. The code applies on projects over £2.5m and designers are to note that the code
states that “the design should be assessed to ensure that fire risk and potential for damage
have been fully considered to keep to a minimum during construction and use.” UWE
expects this assessment to be co-ordinated by the lead designer.

HSG168 also contains guidance on designers responsibilities, including measures such as

design proposals to reduce the amount of flammable materials on site, use of temporary
compartmentation (or other fire-engineering solutions) or design solutions that reduce
ignition sources (e.g. limits hot works).

In general, designs should allow temporary accommodation to be outside of buildings. If

this is to be located within buildings, the location should be carefully considered to minimise
risks presented by any additional ignition and fuel sources introduced.

On all projects, regardless of value, UWE requires that designers consider the following
items which are copied verbatim from the joint code:

• The use of non-combustible and non-flammable materials to reduce fire loads

• Materials and methods that avoid the need for hot work on site

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• Design details that prevent the passage of smoke and flames up through a building
during the construction phase
• Design of access routes to enable the contractors to construct buildings in such a
manner as to retain safe evacuation routes during the construction phase
• Design for fire fighting systems and fire alarms systems to allow early use – possibly on
a partial use basis.

Further specific guidance relating to design principles relating to BS9999 can be found in
The LPC Design Guide for the Fire Protection of Buildings 2000 published by the Fire
Protection Association 1

Relevant fire strategy information must accompany designs. This should comply with
Annex H of BS9999. Where possible, information should be conveyed in a
pictorial/diagrammatic form to aid rapid understanding. An example is included below:

UWE expects all new builds and major refurbishments to comply with BS9999.

3.9.2 Constructing Near Gas Installations

Wales and West (gas utility company) limits or prohibits certain works within particular
distances of their installations, as detailed in their publication “General Conditions to be
observed for the Protection of Apparatus and the Prevention of Disruption to Gas Supplies”.
If designs will involve excavations, UWE requires designers to undertake necessary
investigations to establish proximity of works to gas installations and to conduct any
subsequent discussions or notifications as required by Wales and West.

1
being superseded by the revised Design Guide series

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3.9.3 Fire Design Strategy for Persons with Disabilities

Legal Requirements

Every person responsible for fire safety measures in all categories of premises other than a
single private dwelling must comply with the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire
Safety) Order 2005 (RRO): to carry out a fire risk assessment of the premises, or appoint a
competent person to do so.

One of the many elements comprising a fire risk assessment is to assess what provisions
are in place to enable all disabled persons present in the premises to be able to safely leave
the building in an emergency. Having assessed the facilities that are in place, the
responsible person must put in place any procedures necessary and provide any
equipment necessary, to ensure that such emergency evacuation is achievable.

Apart from the RRO, the responsible person must also ensure compliance with the
Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and 2005 (DDA) and that (in new buildings) BS
9999:2008 (Code of Practice for fire safety in the design, management and use of
buildings) is achieved. The DDA requires that a disabled person is treated the same as a
person without a disability, with regard to such matters as access to and egress from a
building. BS 9999 gives all necessary technical specification for the size and location of
disabled refuges, emergency communications systems, disabled evacuation lifts, etc.

Practical Measures

The first step in making adequate provision for disabled persons’ emergency evacuation is
to assess the needs of the disabled person and make any necessary provision for such
evacuation, as long as it is ‘reasonably practicable’. The Department for Communities and
Local Government (CLG) provide a guide on this – Fire Safety Risk Assessment - Means of
Escape for Disabled People (Supplementary Guide).

The guide outlines what is required regarding the need for Personal Emergency Evacuation
Plans (PEEPs) and how they should be implemented.

Carrying out a PEEP

UWE should arrange an interview with the disabled person. This should consider what the
building, the management and the disabled person can offer for inclusion; it should never
be assumed that a disabled person cannot do anything to assist in his/her escape from the
building. Different types of disability and different constraints that this places upon the
individual all have to be considered. It is common to always think of a physically disabled
person confined to a wheelchair when considering the needs of a disabled person;
however, the disability may be vision impairment or hearing impairment, each of which will
need totally different considerations with regard to the facilities that need to be provided.

When a person is physically disabled, it is not always the case that their disability will
require the use of, for example, an EVAC chair. It is often the case that a person who uses
a wheelchair under normal everyday circumstances to move about, may have the means to
move without a wheelchair, for example by using a handrail or taking assistance from an
assigned buddy’.

Part of agreeing the PEEP is for each party to negotiate ‘reasonable adjustments’. While
the DDA requires that adaptations should be made to the physical features of a building, it
would be deemed unreasonable if the disabled person were to demand the provision of, for
example, a disabled egress lift if this is not feasible. The whole process should be one of
realistic negotiations.

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The CLG guide states that the following statements should be considered as part of the
negotiation procedure:

• Health and safety legislation requires building managers to ensure the safety of staff
and visitors to a workplace.
• The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires that all people using the
building be provided with adequate means of escape in case of fire. This includes a
suitable escape plan.
• There is also a responsibility for all staff using the building to be aware of and to
practise the escape procedures periodically. It works on the principle that people are
responsible for their own escape, which will be facilitated by the building management
and provided for by the responsible person.

The statements recognise that disabled people have a very valuable contribution to make
to the process. They are expected to volunteer any information that is required regarding
their ability to assist in their own emergency escape if possible.

Implementing the Strategy

At the design and construction phase guidance should be sought from Approved Document
M or BS 9999:2008; the following information is based on BS 9999.

Horizontal Escape

Phased evacuation involves evacuating the compartment containing the fire first. The
remainder of the premises is put on alert or standby until such time as the fire spreads or is
brought under control. During the first phase, disabled people can be evacuated using an
evacuation lift if provided, or other facilities as appropriate.

Zoned or progressive horizontal evacuation involves people moving horizontally from one
fire compartment to another where they may continue with vertical evacuation if necessary.
This method of evacuation requires more than one staircase and adequate vertical
compartmentation.

Vertical Escape

This forms part of the overall evacuation from the upper floors of a building or from
basements to an ultimate place of safety where people can move freely away from the
building.

For the evacuation of disabled people it will be necessary to provide additional, specific
facilities to a building to ensure that such evacuation can be carried out swiftly and
effectively.

In addition to the provision of PEEPs and associated facilities such as EVAC chairs, there is
a requirement to provide additional physical arrangements such as refuge areas,
communications and disabled lifts.

Evacuation Lifts

If the lift forms part of the overall evacuation plan, then it should be an evacuation lift. It
should normally be used as a passenger lift and preferably not only for evacuation, or other
use such as a goods lift. Please see separate specification.

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Refuges

The purpose of having refuges for disabled people evacuating a building is to provide a
comparatively safe place where they can break their journey while making their way out. If a
disabled person is able to move, unaided, horizontally across a building but requires
assistance to complete the vertical phase of their evacuation, then the refuge is the place
where the two phases meet or overlap.

If the PEEP requires a non-disabled person to provide assistance in the vertical escape
stage, then the refuge forms part of the PEEP as the meeting point for the two people.
Whether the vertical stage is by EVAC chair or disabled evacuation lift is irrelevant. The
refuge should afford adequate protection against the fire and smoke until such time as the
pre-arranged assistance may be provided.

A refuge is part of the total evacuation process. It must never be used as a place to
abandon disabled people until the fire brigade takes over the evacuation process. It is
incumbent upon occupiers to do everything they can do to move the disabled person(s) as
far as they can out of a building, in whatever time they have available prior to the arrival of
the fire brigade.

A refuge should be located on the escape route, accessible in the direction of escape flow.
Refuges should be provided on every storey for each protected staircase or external fire
escape staircase. Each refuge should be a minimum of 900mm x 1400mm to allow for
manoeuvring and accommodation of all sizes of wheelchairs. The access door should be a
minimum of 850mm width and the corridor leading to it should be a minimum of 900mm.

Most premises will only require the minimum size to allow for one wheelchair user. Where it
is anticipated that, in specific circumstances, a larger number of wheelchair users will need
to be accommodated, then the size or number of the refuge(s) should be increased
accordingly.

Where it is not possible to have a refuge located within a protected staircase enclosure, it is
permissible to use an adjacent lobby, corridor or room, provided that such a refuge is
subject to the same level of fire protection as the remainder of the escape route. It is also a
requirement that the use of such an alternative location does not reduce the width of the
escape route nor obstruct the flow of other persons using the escape route to leave the
building.

3.10 UWE Health & Safety Unit

UWE’s Health & Safety Unit maintain a web site detailing the H&S parameters the
university must abide by. Designers are required to have cognizance of this in relation to
their designs.

http://imp.uwe.ac.uk/imp_public/listEntry.asp?pid=4

Construction related H&S issues/queries should be addressed to the University’s

Construction Health & Safety Manager.

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3.11 Transport Strategy

3.11.1 UWE Transport Strategy
Overall Approach

The University promotes the following general principles in regard to design of new and
refurbished transport infrastructure on campus:

• Provision for transport users needs in a hierarchy, with pedestrians, cyclists and
disabled users at the top, followed by public transport users and then private cars.
• Application of Manual for Streets guidance, including especially shared space
principles.
• Spatial separation of transport infrastructure on campus, with the central areas of
campus primarily designed for pedestrians, with parking peripheral to the site.
• Consideration of all transport needs within the design process, including for example
safe and efficient servicing access and consideration of access for all modes including
motorcycle, taxi, etc.
• Legible pedestrian routes for key routes within campus to be strengthened through the
design process.
• Cycle facilities in new build shall have adequate sheltered and secure cycle parking,
lockers and showers, including facilities for disabled persons who may use a
hand-powered cycle and require storage for a wheelchair. New cycle parking to follow
Bristol City Council guidance
• (http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/Environment-Planning/Planning/planning-guid
ance---cycle-parking.en)

The design team will be expected to work closely with the Local Authority to ensure that all
requirements for the site specific transport strategy, traffic assessment and environmental
impact assessment are met.

3.11.2 Operations Access

The building design should allow sufficient space and routes of access for vehicles to
operate safe and efficiently during the maintenance and operation of the building.
Designers should undertake tracking studies and confirm that vehicles have sufficient
clearance space, head room etc.

It is UWE’s preference that maintenance vehicles are able to access relevant areas without
the need to reverse although will accept this in designated loading bays. A detailed risk
evaluation is required if such vehicles need to reverse across pedestrian areas but UWE
will not accept designs that require vehicles to reverse across heavily used pedestrian
areas.

Demarcation, guarding and lighting of areas used for vehicle operations should meet
statutory requirements (especially the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare)
Regulations) and HSE guidance.

3.12 Drawing Production & CAD Standards

See separate Design Guide for UWE Drawing Production & CAD Standards.

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3.13 Guidance for Cataloguing Rooms

3.13.1 Room Numbering and Internal Signage

It is crucial that staff, students and visitors can navigate around a building following a clearly
identifiable and logical directional system. Therefore all room numbering and internal
signage should comply with the University’s current policies on room numbering and
signage. A set of as-built drawings must be provided (in CAD and paper format) to the
space management team, who will mark up the room numbering on the University’s behalf.

As room numbers link into other data such as fire alarm systems, M & E controls, asset
management and asbestos records it is imperative that room numbering conforms to the
University’s standards from the outset. Any later changes to room numbering due to a
failure by consultants/contractors to comply with University guidelines may incur cost
penalties.

The space team has produced a standard room numbering policy (Guidance for
Cataloguing Rooms - SPP3) and room number request form (SPF3) in order to ensure
that its room numbering is strictly adhered to. These are available at
(http://cetts.uwe.ac.uk/spacemanagement.asp) or by contacting the space management
team at [email protected].

A copy is attached; however, designers should ensure that the current version is consulted.

Under no circumstances should internal staff or external contractors/consultants

assign their own room numbering system to any remodelling or new build project.

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Guidance for Cataloguing Rooms (SPP3)
Numbering and Measuring

Last Amended: 27 April 2011

Richard Bird

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 Guidance for Cataloguing Rooms

1.0 Gross External Area (GEA)

Gross External Area is the area of a building measured externally at each floor level.

Including Excluding
1.1 Perimeter wall thickness and external 1.16 External open-sided balconies,
Projections, covered ways and fire escapes
1.17 Canopies
1.2 Areas occupied by internal walls and
Partitions 1.18 Open vehicle parking areas, roof
terraces, and the like
1.3 Columns, piers, chimney breasts,
stairwells, lift-wells, and the like 1.19 Voids over or under structural, raked
or stepped floors
1.4 Atria and entrance halls, with clear
height above, measured at base level 1.20 Greenhouses, garden stores, fuel
only stores, and the like in residential
property
1.5 Internal balconies

1.6 Structural, raked or stepped floors are

to be treated as a level floor measured
horizontally

1.7 Horizontal floors, whether accessible

or not, below structural, raked or
stepped floors

1.8 Mezzanine areas intended for use with

permanent access

1.9 Lift rooms, plant rooms, fuel stores,

tank rooms which are housed in a
covered structure of a permanent
nature, whether or not above the main
roof level

1.10 Outbuildings which share at least one

wall with the main building

1.11 Loading bays

1.12 Areas with a headroom of less than

1.5m

1.13 Pavement vaults

1.14 Garages

1.15 Conservatories

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 Guidance for Cataloguing Rooms

2.0 Gross Internal Area (GIA)

Gross Internal Area is the area of a building measured to the internal face of the perimeter
walls at each floor level.

Drawings must show GIA for each block. Where multiple blocks exist within one building
the GIA of the block will form along the centre line of the wall where the two blocks meet.
This ensures that no area is unaccounted for.

Including Excluding
2.1 Areas occupied by internal walls and 2.18 Perimeter wall thicknesses and
Partitions external projections
2.2 Columns, piers, chimney breasts, stairwells, 2.19 External open-sided balconies,
lift-wells, other internal projections, vertical covered ways and fire escapes
ducts, and the like
2.20 Canopies
2.3 Atria and entrance halls, with clear height
above, measured at base level only 2.21 Voids over or under structural, raked
or stepped floors
2.4 Internal open-sided balconies, walkways,
and the like 2.22 Greenhouses, garden stores, fuel
stores, and the like in residential
2.5 Structural, raked or stepped floors are
property to be treated as a level floor measured
Horizontally

2.6 Horizontal floors, with permanent access,

below structural, raked or stepped floors

2.7 Corridors of a permanent essential nature

(e.g. fire corridors, smoke lobbies)

2.8 Mezzanine floor areas with permanent

access

2.9 Lift rooms, plant rooms, fuel stores, tank

rooms which are housed in a covered structure
of a permanent nature, whether or not above
the main roof level

2.10 Service accommodation such as toilets,

toilet lobbies, bathrooms, showers, changing
rooms, cleaners’ rooms, and the like

2.11 Projection rooms

2.12 Voids over stairwells and lift shafts on

upper floors

2.13 Loading bays

2.14 Areas with a headroom of less

than 1.5m
2.15 Pavement vaults
2.16 Garages
2.17 Conservatories

Part 3 |General design 22 | P a g e

 Guidance for Cataloguing Rooms

3.0 Net Internal Area (NIA)

Net Internal Area is the usable area within a building measured to the internal face of the
perimeter walls at each floor level.

To calculate the NIA, add all room areas together and subtract space that is used in any of
the following ways:

3.1 Toilets, toilet lobbies, bathrooms, cleaners’ rooms, etc.

3.2 Lift rooms, plant rooms and tank rooms

3.3 Stairwells, lift-wells and permanent lift lobbies

3.4 Circulation areas, corridors and thresholds/recesses associated with access, but not
those parts that are usable areas

3.5 Areas under the control of service or other external authorities including meter
cupboards and statutory service supply points

3.6 The space occupied by permanent and continuous air-conditioning, heating or cooling
apparatus, and ducting in so far as the space it occupies is rendered substantially unusable

4.0 Room Area

Room area is defined as: any internal space with a unique ‘room number’. This can
include any of the following: Lecture theatres, teaching rooms, offices, kitchens, toilets,
risers, plant, accommodation, etc. Most
rooms will be separated from other
spaces by walls or glazing but this is not
always the case as some rooms may be
multi-functional and have multiple room
numbers. The change in room or room
use may be signified by a change in
flooring or defined by the edge of a
column or other marker.

Measurements should be taken from the

internal face of the wall to include finishes
not to include skirting or trunking. In the
case of floor to ceiling glazing,
measurements should be taken from the
face of the glass. The height of a space
must be greater than 1.5m and any area
of a lower height than this should not be
included. Internal structural walls, walls
enclosing excluded areas, columns,
piers, chimney breasts and other
projections must be excluded. Areas
that are unusable because they have a
depth less than 0.25 (i.e. space between
a column and a wall) must be excluded.

Part 3 |General design 23 | P a g e

 Guidance for Cataloguing Rooms

5.0 Basic Room Numbering

The university has several inconsistent numbering systems in place. In order to improve
consistency for the future, the most common system currently in use will be adopted.

5.01 General Rooms

This is the standard for room numbering:

1 R 0 0 1
Room or Space Number
Always 3 Digits
Block or Building Code
Floor or Level Code

The Floor or Level Code should always come first, followed by the Block or Building Code
and with the three-digit Room or Space Number.

Level Block or Building Code Examples

B Basement A A Block
0 Ground Floor ECC Exhibition and Conference Centre
1 First Floor N N Block
2 Second Floor [etc.] WF Wallscourt Farmhouse
5.02 Special Usage

A special usage code should apply to all stairs, lifts, ducts etc. See table below.

Room Use
C Corridor
D Duct
L Lift
P Plant
S Stair
V Void

If this additional Special Usage letter code is used, it must be inserted directly after the
Block or Building Code. For example, in the case of a stairway:

1 R S 0 0 1
Room or Space Number
Always 3 Digits
Room Use Code (Example: Stair)
Block or Building Code
Floor or Level Code
5.03 Sub-Divided Rooms

When rooms have sub-rooms that cannot be accessed from a corridor or when a room is
divided to produce multiple rooms.

Part 3 |General design 24 | P a g e

 Guidance for Cataloguing Rooms

1 R 0 0 1 A
Sub-Room
Code
Room Number. Always 3 Digits
Block or Building Code
Floor or Level Code
5.04 Multiple Space Types

When a room has one number but multiple space types (eg stair cores have: stairs,
circulation space and a void through the middle)

1 R S V 0 0 1

Room Number. Always 3 Digits

Sub Space Code (Example: Void)
Room Use Code (Example: Stair)
Block or Building Code
Floor or Level Code

Sub Space
C Circulation
V Void
5.05 Student Accommodation

Once again, there is little uniformity in the numbering systems of student accommodation.
We are attempting to rectify this with the Frenchay Student Village. In the Village, each flat
usually contains six rooms which are numbered 1 to 6. The letter ‘R’ is used to delineate
each room within the flat, followed by the flat number and individual room number. For
ensuite bathrooms an ‘A’ should follow after the room number, i.e. 1Q1R103-1A. For other
areas contained within the building, the room code R can be substituted by whatever is
relevant, i.e., C for Corridor, D for Duct, K for Kitchen, etc.

1 Q 1 R 1 0 3 -1
Room
Number
Flat Number. Always 3 Digits
Room Use Code (Example: Room)
Block Number Code
Block or Building Code (Example: Quantock Court)
Floor or Level Code

Part 3 |General design 25 | P a g e

 Guidance for Cataloguing Rooms

Room Use Building Code

AC Airing Cupboard B Brecon Court
BS Bin Store CT Cotswold Court
C Corridor H The Hollies
CS Cycle Store M Mendip Court
D Duct Q Quantock Court
EL Electrics Cupboard
K Kitchen
L Laundry
O Office Block Code
P Plant Room 1 Block 1
R Room 2 Block 2
S Stair 3 Block 3
ST Store 4 Block 4 [etc.]
T Toilet
TS Toilet Shower

At the Hollies, the numbering system is slightly different. Here, instead of being numbered,
each room within a flat has received an identifying letter, from ‘A’ to a possible ‘H’. A room
number would therefore be shown as 0H6R002A, which translates as Level Zero, Hollies,
Block 6, Flat Number 002, Room A. Each one of the rooms at the Hollies has a built-in
wardrobe which is shown separately on the drawings. These are represented by the
number ‘1’ directly after the full room number, i.e. 0H6R002A1. The warden’s rooms at the
Hollies are the only rooms which contain an en-suite toilet and shower. These are
represented by the number ‘2’ following the full room number, i.e. 0H6R102F2.

6.0 Cataloguing and Numbering Stairs

Stair cores are to be divided into their component parts as indicated by the diagrams below.
The area under the ground floor stair may be used as a cupboard, in which case it must
have its own number if there is at least 1.5m of head room. If the number of the stair is
1BS001 then the void will be 1BSV001 and the circulation space will be 1BSC001.

Steps or ramps that occur in split level rooms (so long as the change in level is less than a
whole floor) must be included within the area of the room, no additional record should be
created.

Part 3 |General design 26 | P a g e

 Guidance for Cataloguing Rooms

7.0 Numbering Space in New Developments

Numbering in an area should be done sequentially from left to right or in a clockwise

direction as indicated on the diagram below.

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 Guidance for Cataloguing Rooms

Part 3 |General design 28 | P a g e

 Room Number Request Form

(SPF3)

Please complete this form if you require room number(s) to be allocated due to one of the
following:-

• Part 1: New Build

• Part 2 Remodelling of existing space within a building

Please return the completed form to the Space Planning Team at:
Email: [email protected]
Post: Facilities (CETTS), Mallard House, Frenchay Campus

Part 3 |General design 29 | P a g e

Part A: Estates Contact Details

Contact name

Telephone No

Email address

Signature Date

Part B: Authorisation
Approved by Signature Date
Project Leader

Approved by Signature Date

Space Planning
Manager
Database Updated CAD updated

Part 3 |General design 30 | P a g e

Part 1: New Build
Please attach a copy of any drawings that show the rooms that require numbering.
IMPORTANT: All drawings must adhere to UWE’s room numbering policy. Under no
circumstances should contractors/consultants use their own room numbering system.

1. When will the new building be

complete?

2. Are the drawings you have

supplied as-built or are they
subject to change?

3. Can space use be easily

identified from the drawing?
e.g. duct, riser, etc

4. What is the proposed deadline

for room numbering? (Please
allow at least two weeks’ notice
for room numbering of a new
build)

5. What is the latest date for

ordering room signage for the
new building?

6. What is the proposed occupation

date for the building?

7. Who will occupy the building?

8. Please supply a contact name

and number in case of any
queries regarding the drawings.

Part 3 |General design 31 | P a g e

Part 2: Remodelling of existing space within a building
Please provide drawings showing the before and after change(s) to the space.
IMPORTANT: All drawings must adhere to UWE’s room numbering policy. Under no
circumstances should contractors/consultants use their own room numbering system.

1. When will the alterations to the

space be complete?

2. Are the drawings you have

supplied complete or are they
subject to change?

3. Was the Space Planning

Manager consulted regarding
these alterations?

4. Can space use be easily

identified from the drawing?
e.g. duct, riser, etc

5. What is the proposed deadline

for room numbering? (Please
allow at least five working days’
notice for room numbering)

6. What is the proposed occupation

date of these rooms?

7. Who will occupy these rooms?

8. Please supply a contact name

and number in case of any
queries regarding the drawings.

Part 3 |General design 32 | P a g e

 UWE Facilities

Design Guide for Buildings

R Block

Part 4

Building & Civil Engineering

UWE Design Guide for Buildings

Index

Part 1 Introduction

Part 2 Space Standards

Part 3 General Design

Part 4 Building and Civil Engineering

4.1 General Requirements

4.2 Demolitions
4.3 Design Codes and Building Regulations
4.4 Imposed Loads and Performance
4.5 Foundations
4.6 Structural Form
4.6.1 Building Form & Envelope
4.7 Roof
4.8 External Doors
4.9 External Finishes
4.9.1 Cladding
4.9.2 Curtain Walling
4.9.3 Render
4.10 Internal Walls and Doors
4.11 Internal Finishes
4.11.1 General Provisions
4.11.2 Plasterboard
4.11.3 Tiles
4.11.4 Suspended Ceiling
4.11.5 Flooring
4.11.6 Painting
4.12 Windows
4.13 CDM Extension to Existing Buildings
4.14 Delivery Yards
4.15 Fixtures and Fittings
4.16 Handover and Soft Landings
4.17 Post-Occupancy Assessment

Part 5 M & E Requirements

Part 6 Specialist Installations

Part 7 Wayfinding

Index
UWE Design Guide for Buildings

4.0 Building and Civil Engineering

4.1 General Requirements

This section gives the design team an overview of the requirements UWE will require in
relation to any structural elements required for future new build projects.

The functional requirements of all UWE buildings and grounds can be categorised but are
not limited to the following:

• The need for flexibility and adaptable space

• The building should be naturally ventilated with provision
allowed for the future installation of HVAC services.
• The thermal mass performance of the structure and its
effect on the overall thermal performance of the building
shell should be considered.
• The foul and surface water outfalls both to the public
sewers and flood prevention scheme which encompasses
the Ravine on the North East of the Frenchay Campus,
and the balancing ponds on the old HP land
• The future maintenance to be considered to comply with
the requirements of The CDM regulations, and BIM
compatibility.
• New buildings shall adopt the principles of BIM
• The consideration of specialist vehicle access such as fire appliances and
ambulances, cranes etc
• The consideration of fire fighting across the whole of the campus and external spaces
for emergency evacuation assembly points
• The consideration of delivery vehicle access
• The consideration of contractor vehicle access and future development/construction
office/materials compounds

To facilitate the efficient operation and maintenance of a structure, UWE requires that
identification tags are used to identify the key components of the building envelope that
are liable to require replacement during the life of the building. These tags should contain
sufficient information so that an operative could readily find more detailed information in
property manuals or in manufacturers’ literature.

S Street Learning Zone B Block Cribs Lounge

Part 4 |Building & Civil Engineering 1|Page

UWE Design Guide for Buildings

Refurbished Laboratories
4.2 Demolitions

All demolitions must be preceded by a suitable survey to determine the structural form of
the building, the location of services etc. and consequently the most appropriate
demolition method.

A full asbestos refurbishment and demolition survey must also be carried out on any
structures that were constructed before the year 2000. On larger projects which are likely
to generate significant numbers of samples, temporary laboratory facilities should be
provided within or close to the building to allow samples to be tested in a quick and
efficient manner. UWE asbestos manager will determine when this applies in consultation
with the UWE asbestos consultants.

All demolitions must be carried out in accordance with a written plan and must be planned
and undertaken so as to prevent damage to adjacent structures, underground services
etc. Staff and students must be entirely excluded from areas of danger.

Demolitions are subject to the UWE approval to work process, requiring written
authorisation by the Contract Administrator before they proceed. All asbestos must be
removed prior to the demolition commencing.

Designers and contractors must identify ways of reusing or recycling the arisings from the
demolition so as to minimise the amount of material being sent to landfill. Where the Site
Waste Management Plan Regulations apply (projects over £300,000), the Plan must
provide details of how this is to be achieved. On projects of lower value, waste
management arrangements must form part of the plan of work. Works and waste must be
managed so as to prevent dust from creating a nuisance or posing a risk.

Careful co-ordination is also needed with UWE departments and faculties to determine
the most appropriate arrangements of limiting noise nuisances: This consultation will be
led by the Contract Administrator but will require the input and co-operation of the
contractor. Where mud or dirt is likely to be carried on to roads the contractor must make
suitable provision in their costs and plan of work for keeping roads in a clean and safe
state.

Part 4 |Building & Civil Engineering 2|Page

UWE Design Guide for Buildings

4.3 Design Codes and Building Regulations

In addition to the requirements of Section 3.2.1, the structures will be designed to:

• All relevant EN Structural Eurocodes,

• The requirements of the Building Regulations,
• Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007,
• Any further relevant legislation in force at the time of the design.
• All references to BS Codes and standards should be read as the latest versions
4.4 Imposed Loads and Performance
In general, loading will be in accordance with BS 6399 Pt 1 with the provision for office
accommodation to be designed for 3.0 kN/m2 to allow future flexibility for possible studio
and classroom use. The loading requirements may be project specific and are to be
confirmed at outline proposal stage.
The design team are to take into account loading requirements for plant and other
services within the building design, and temporary stability during construction. Design
teams should also consider any potential use of mobile plant, scaffolding etc. in the space
(e.g. to clean atrium, external windows etc). Where an item is not specifically referred to,
best practice is to be adopted for loadings in accordance with industry standards

Lecture Theatre 4B031

Part 4 |Building & Civil Engineering 3|Page

UWE Design Guide for Buildings

4.5 Foundations

A ground investigation report will be undertaken as a prerequisite prior to any specific

detailed foundation design works. A project option appraisal should be produced outlining
the choice of foundations, holistically considering sustainable passive design options (i.e.
ground source heat pumps) together with associated cost information. Any Radon reports
are available from the UWE Health and Safety Manager.

Consideration must also be given to temporary measures to stabilise ground when

excavating around existing buildings, and bridging details around services.

A report will be required at outline proposal stage with a recommendation put forward for
the foundation design solution.

4.6 Structural Form

The design team will produce a report on the options for the superstructure which will be
based on the recommended foundation design solution. The report should detail the
options, the contribution of each option to the thermal performance of the building shell
and the overall environmental impact. A further report will be required once the option has
been decided, detailing load paths and mechanisms. The report will form part of the
building design documentation required.

Due to the risk of fire, a detailed risk evaluation is required for any proposed timber
framed structures on UWE sites.

Use of pre- and post- tensioned and cantilevered elements should be the subject of a
detailed risk evaluation to ensure that future adaptations/demolitions can be undertaken
safely.

4.6.1 Building fabric and envelope

• Building orientation to maximise natural light and potential for renewable energy
installations. Consider the requirement of brise-soleil to manage solar gains
• Building fabric U values to exceed current regulations. See Part L2A Conservation of
fuel and power.
• Recycled content of building fabrics and recyclability of materials on demolition. BRE
Green Guide to Specification details relative environmental impacts of common
construction materials and should be referred to.
• Building segregation to be considered at design stage – keeping teaching spaces
and offices in separate zones to enable areas to be zoned off during holidays
• All external walls will provide a complete watertight, insulated and vapour controlled
wall in compliance with current Building Regulations and legislation.
• The performance at all junctions and intersections will be maintained. All openings
within the envelope are to be compatible visually and technically with the external
walls.
• It is UWE’s preference that plant etc. can be removed and replaced without
dismantling the surrounding envelope. However, the building envelope may need to
be designed to include some sacrificial elements to enable large items of plant to be
removed and/or replaced in the future. This provision should be subject to a detailed
risk evaluation. (See also Section 3.5).
• Further guidance on the use of insulation materials is given in the LPC Design Guide
for the Fire Protection of Buildings 2000.

Part 4 |Building & Civil Engineering 4|Page

UWE Design Guide for Buildings

R Block Roof
4.7 Roof

The roof structure shall be designed and installed in accordance with the wind loadings
and exposure conditions and particularly at Frenchay Campus which is particularly
exposed. Weather tightness, high insulation and vapour control performance will be
maintained across all roofs, including interfaces with external walls.

Wherever possible, designs should prevent the need for access onto roofs. If routine
access is required to a roof a fixed means of access must be provided. UWE’s
preference is that access should be via a stairway (e.g. extension of the stair core) rather
than ladder. Level, stable routes should be provided over roofs (e.g. a walkway of
suitable construction fitted on to a profiled roof system).

Locks should only be operable by designated, off-suite keys.

A detailed risk evaluation is required in the following circumstances:

• Access is to be via a ladder rather than stairs

• Fall restraint system is required. If so, the installation must be a Latchways system
and positioned so that it requires the use of a 1500mm lanyard, it must be compliant
with Part L, it must be accompanied by a calculation package, design life must be not
less than 25 years, all components should be stainless steel and installers must be
approved by the system supplier.
• Access to the roof is via a trapdoor/ opening roof light.

Fall arrest equipment is not to be used on roofs at UWE.

Roof drainage is to be designed in accordance with BS 12056-3:2000.

Roofs which are partially or entirely glazed should be designed to prevent the need for
operatives to walk upon them or work within 2.5m of them. They should be designed in
accordance with CWCT Technical Guidance notes 66-69. Warning signs and
demarcation should prevent operatives walking on to these roofs. If operatives are to
walk or work within 2.5m of a glazed roof then handrails (or similar) should be deployed to
prevent them stepping onto the glazing. A detailed risk evaluation is required if the
design requires operatives to walk or work on a glazed roof. Designs should address and
minimise the need to clean gutters & rainwater goods and glazing to roofs.

Part 4 |Building & Civil Engineering 5|Page

UWE Design Guide for Buildings

4.8 External Doors

Robust external doors will be provided to all entrances and means of escape positions.
Additional doors will be required to plant rooms and refuse areas. Typically main
entrances will be double doors, fully glazed, automated and have level access wherever
possible.

Access control, currently card reader system, to be fitted to enable doors to be secured
as and when needed, such as out of hours

Fittings and ironmongery are to be of a high quality, robust stainless steel or anodised
aluminium. Lock cylinders to be euro-profile on UWE Kaba master Suite.

4.9 External Finishes

4.9.1 Cladding

Cladding to be lightweight with high thermal performance and good aesthetic appearance.
The chosen finish is to consider solar gain and careful use of colours. Products are to
contain recycled elements in manufacture and be capable of having more than 50%
recycled at end of life disposal.

The cladding system to be integral with the glazing system and look for minimum 40 year
lifespan.

UWE has trialled & pioneered the use of “Modcell” panels into recent R Block designs.
These rendered straw bales construction and could be considered in future designs.

In order to facilitate construction and replacement, cladding panels must be in unit sizes
to allow easy handling using readily available plant/equipment and trade skills.

The design of the system should consider independent removal of individual panels to
allow for maintenance and replacement of damage and insertion of additional openings
for new windows etc, or to allow working access for future refurbishments of upper floors.

If may be foreseeable that during the life of the building, high level access will be required
on the external façade of a clad building. If so, the cladding design should allow for
access equipment to be tied in. If this is not possible then a detailed design risk
evaluation is required to explain how high level access can be safely achieved with
readily available plant/equipment which do not require advanced technical skills to
erect/use.

4.9.2 Curtain Walling

Curtain walling to be good aesthetic appearance with specialist glazing to avoid solar gain
and maximise insulation.

Transoms and mullions to give clear sight lines and be integral to system used.

Reference should be made to the Centre for Window and Cladding Technology when
specifying curtain walling. The CWCT ‘Standard for systemised building envelopes’ gives
a framework for specifying building envelopes and provides a ‘Specifiers checklist’
showing information that will change from project to project. This includes:

• Internal and external environment

• Air permeability

Part 4 |Building & Civil Engineering 6|Page

UWE Design Guide for Buildings

• Thermal performance
• Access and safety
• Design life
http://www.cwct.co.uk/specification/home.htm

4.9.3 Render

Render to be to current British Standards and be fully bonded to substrate with a good
appearance and colours to be sympathetic to surroundings.

Detailing of adjacent cills, capping, flashings etc, to prevent moisture penetration.

Overhangs (roof) to be of sufficient dimensions to avoid “drip” staining.

4.10 Internal Walls & Doors

Internal walls shall be designed and constructed so they provide a secure and stable
partition between areas and spaces throughout the campus. The type and nature of any
internal wall will have to be discussed and agreed by UWE Estates prior to construction,
and this will be based on the general location and use of the room / area.

Where blockwork is to be used, blocks should not weigh more than 20kg to reduce
manual handling risks during construction or subsequent alterations. A detailed risk
evaluation is required if a designer wishes to specify blocks in excess of this weight.

Consideration to be given when constructing new stud partitions to incorporate additional

support battens for the UWE Toprail support system.

Internal doors will be provided to provide safe and effective access through all internal
spaces and escape routes. Where necessary doors to comply with all current Building
Regulations & the Disability Discrimination Act. Where doors form part of fire
compartment they should fully comply with the requirements of BS9999 and provide equal
protection to the surrounding walls. Corridor an main circulation doors to be hold open
linked to and released on fire alarm

Fittings & ironmongery are to be of a high quality finish, robust stainless steel or anodised
Aluminium. Locks to be of a suitable profile to fit UWE Kaba 20 cylinders.

Where doors (or gates/shutters etc.) are powered they must ‘fail safe’. The electrical
design guide provides details of the required interface with the fire alarm system.

4.11 Internal Finishes

4.11.1 General Provisions
• Robust durable finishes appropriate to each functional space.
• For renovation projects, consider the building’s character and existing finishes. All
material patches should blend as closely as possible. Some buildings on campus
have an existing palette that must be matched. Coordinate with the UWE PM.
• All specified materials must demonstrate suitability for use in an institutional setting,
with similar regularity of cleaning and maintenance.
• Colour-through homogeneous materials are preferred.
• Avoid material(s) that require routine sealing or significant specialized maintenance.
• Construction and O&M documents must clearly identify and note all finishes,
including their extent of coverage.
• Stencil fire rating above ceiling at all fire-rated walls, in 150mm high letters at 6m
centers.

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

• All finishes must complete curing & drying (off-gassing) prior to Substantial
Completion.
4.11.2 Plasterboard
• When used at ceilings or soffits, provide access panels at regular spacing where
required for access.
• Plasterboard should meet WRAP requirement for recycled content.
• Plasterboard wall linings are not deemed suitable for high trafficked locations (i.e
corridors), communal areas (i.e. social spaces) or student accommodation.
Plasterboard wall linings should be assessed for suitability, but restricted to teaching,
learning or office areas, unless otherwise authorized by UWE Estates.
• Consideration should be made for ply-backed detailing or alternatively the use of
wall-board.
• Wet areas and/or tile backer board:
– Use cement backer board for tile.
– Avoid paper-faced moisture resistant gypsum board panels.
4.11.3 Tiles
• Floor Tiles:
– Porcelain tile is recommended.
– Cross-fall finished floor to floor drains.
– Maintain adequate substrate to prevent lifting of tiles due to thermal dynamic
movement of hidden services.
– Glazed or polished tiles are prohibited.
• Wall Tiles:
– Colour contrasts to comply with current disability legislation.
4.11.4 Suspended Ceilings
• All ceilings should be designed to be easily accessible for maintenance and other
access requirements, such as future technology installations.
• Tile size 600 x 600 with painted perimeter shadow batten.
4.11.5 Flooring
• Building Entrances: Provide primary and secondary walk off carpet with metal trim as
applicable.
• Lift floors: Rubber tile; Altro Mondopave
• Wet laboratories: Use chemical resistant flooring.
• Masonry flooring: Not permitted if it has significant fill and/or requires routine sealing
or significant specialized maintenance.
• Flooring materials not permitted by UWE:
• Specialty flooring: bamboo, cork and laminate.
• Wood flooring, except at gymnasiums and certain other specialized functions.
• Stair Treads & Risers: Colour contrasts to comply with current disability legislation.
• Carpeting:
– Any existing carpeting removed for renovation must be recycled where ever
possible. Justification must be provided for non-compliance.
– Preferred Construction; Solution dyed, bleach proof nylon construction. The use
of polypropylene pile carpet is prohibited.
– Minimum manufacturer’s warranty covering: wear, edge ravel, tuft bind,
delamination and static control:
– Barrier matting 5 years
– Offices, teaching rooms and other area 10 years.

Part 4 |Building & Civil Engineering 8|Page

UWE Design Guide for Buildings

4.11.6 Painting
• Manufacturers, products and colour ranges are to be restricted to the palate given in
the UWE’s Standard B&CE Specification.
4.12 Windows

Windows are to be design and constructed to meet the requirements of the appropriate
British Standard and are to be, at least double glazed, thermally broken and hermetically
sealed to meet the specification and test requirements of BS5713. UPVC window
systems should be avoided

The glazing is to provide a sealed weather tight unit, fully integrated into the façade
system and to be internally beaded for security and ease of replacement. Glazing to be K
Glass or equivalent, solar reflective and insulating to maximise daylight without glare.
Manifestation to be added to any large glazing areas which are at floor level. South facing
windows should consider solar shading.

The function of the room is to be considered at the design stage to facilitate the
appropriate level of privacy. Permanent obscured glazing should be used rather that
retrofitted films.

B Block window replacement

UWE encourages designs that allow windows to be cleaned from ground level (e.g. using
pole fed systems). A detailed design risk evaluation is required if cleaning:

• Requires attachment to eyebolts

• Requires use of mobile elevated work platforms (in which case sufficient hard-
standing is required)
• Is to be performed from suspended cradles etc.

No window, skylight or ventilator which is capable of being opened, closed, or adjusted

shall be designed in a manner likely to expose the person performing such operation to a
risk to their health or safety. It should be possible to reach and operate the control of
openable windows, skylights or ventilators in a safe manner. Where necessary window
poles or similar equipment should be kept available, or a stable platform or other safe
means of access should be provided. Controls should be placed that people are not likely
to fall through or out of the window. Where there is a danger of falling from height,
devices should be provided to prevent the windows opening too far.

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

No window, skylight or ventilator shall be positioned when opened which is likely to

expose any person to a risk to their health or safety. Open window, skylight or ventilators
should not project into an area where persons are likely to collide with them. The bottom
edge of opening windows should normally be at least 800mm above floor level, unless
there is a barrier to prevent falls.

Manifestation, preferably in etched glass, to be used wherever there is a risk of collision

of persons or where modesty may be compromised.

If roof skylights are to be used they should be non-fragile. If the roof requires routine
access and they are within 2.5m of a demarked route then they should also be guarded
(e.g. by handrails).
4.13 Extension to Existing Buildings

When a design incorporates or introduces a lower level building constructed against the
side of a taller structure, access problems may be introduced to the façade of the taller
building.

If access is likely to be needed to the higher element/elevation (e.g. window/gutter

cleaning) a detailed design risk evaluation should be produced to consider how access
will be safely achieved.

4.14 Delivery Yards

Adequate provision is to be made to allow safe and efficient delivery and access in
relation to the function and requirements of the building.

4.15 Fixtures and Fittings

UWE buildings will require the following fixtures and fittings to be provided according to
use and occupation levels:

• ‘Toprail’ flexible wall furniture system in teaching rooms, offices and specific corridor
locations (to solid or suitably reinforced stud partition walls only).
• Tea stations with sink, storage, microwave oven and fridge space (or integral
microwave and fridge)
• Integrated panel systems for concealing pipe work, toilet cisterns etc

Specialist fixtures and fittings for science laboratories, computer laboratories, engineering
workshops etc will be specified separately according to building/room use. However,
designers are invited to bring their expertise forward and suggest solutions. See also Part
6: Specialist Installations.

4.16 Furniture

In recent years UWE has been working towards new teaching methods and this in turn
has led to new types of furniture, in particular the installation of open learning zones such
as The Street Learning Zone in S Block and The Hive in Q Block. The use of I–Cyber
units provided quick access computers in B Block Lounge and Q Block but a fixed row of
PCs provided this service in the Q Hive.

Alongside this work the refurbishment of teaching classrooms includes a full audio visual
upgrade and plectrum tables for 6 students complete with glass and white boards to allow
for break out teaching and group learning.

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

S Block Learning Zone

S Block Learning Zone was made up of various types of seating and table arrangements as follows

2x Stand height tables (rounded corner)– seat 6 (with power/IT provision)

18x Stools for stand height tables (includes 6 spares) – comfort for prolonged study

2x Plectrum shaped or round tables (seat 6)

14x Stools / chairs for plectrum / round tables

1x Stand height bench (c 7 fixed computer points with additional desk mounted power point per
position) 9 No Stools / chairs for stand height computer bench (includes 2 spares)

1x Single sided 3 person desk with screen – fixed computer with additional desk mounted power
point per position

1x Single sided 3 person height desk with screen – fixed computer with additional desk mounted
power point per position. One position to be a DDA compliant desk and 6 task Chairs

1x Desking double sided arrangement (rounded corners) to seat c 12, with fixed IT and additional
desk mounted power point per position with 22 task chairs

6x Perch point stools for flexible use

2x 2 person high backed Sofa for large screen viewing and power available to each seat

1x Table to fit with sofa arrangement

6x Single seat upholstered chairs for flexible arrangement

6x Lap top tables for above with footstools

1x Circular high backed sofa arrangement or alternate with power

1x Table for above

6 Fatboy beanbags

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

The Q Block Hive

The Hive followed a similar furniture arrangement to Q Block but IT provision will vary to suit the
need for each area

Typical Teaching Room

An impression and Photo of a new format general teaching space. The AV installation is installed to
the UWE standard Specification. The lectern is not shown here (Additional glass and/or whiteboards
are also fitted to provide break away learning)

These spaces are generally fitted out on UWE standard grey carpets and wall colours.

Lecture Theatres

One of the latest Refurbishment of lecture theatres 4B031are pictured on page 3 of this section it
includes a Harvard style seat HBS2 seating by Freco Seating. Another two lecture theatres 2B020
and 2B025 were refurbished using Atlantic auditorium seating. Both theatres had a fixed writing
both in front wired for power. The Audio visual was to the latest UWE standard. These are a good
guide to the current requirements.

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

4.17 Handover & Soft Landings

During the construction period projects should follow the BSRIA ‘the soft landings
Framework’. Also the handover process itself should follow the hefce Guide to Post
Occupancy Evaluation.

At Practical Completion the designer should ensure that the minimum information detailed
within of the handover checklist are issued to the Facilities CA for the project. All
information issued should be a duplication of the information contained within the project
O&M manuals.

Prior to handover the designer should organise for a technical walk-round of the project
area for UWE Facilities staff and maintenance contractors for building familiarisation. Date
to be included in commissioning programme provided by commissioning contractor.

4.17 Post-Occupancy Assessment

Major Projects will be subject to a Post-Occupancy Assessment. It shall be coordinated

by the Lead Designer in association with the Estates CA, adopting the methodology
developed by Hefce Guide to Post Occupancy Evaluation.

http://www.aude.ac.uk/info-centre/goodpractice/AUDE_POE_guide

Summer Works and Minor projects will be subject to a Post-Occupancy Assessment

based upon UWE’s Standard Client Feedback Matrix Questionnaire and will be carried
out 12 months after practical completion by the Contract Administrator.

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 UWE Facilities

Design Guide for Buildings

R Block

Part 5

M&E Requirements
UWE Design Guide for Buildings

Index

Part 1 Introduction

Part 2 Space Standards

Part 3 General Design

Part 4 BC&E Requirements

Part 5 Mechanical & Electrical Requirements

1.0 General Design Principles
1.1 General
1.2 Facilities Management/Maintenance
1.3 Sustainability
1.4 Occupancy
2.0 Mechanical Design Criteria
2.1 Mechanical Design Standards
2.2 Statutory Requirements
2.3 Heating Season
2.4 Cooling Season
2.5 Humidity Levels
2.6 Cooling and Summer Temperatures
2.7 Infiltration
2.8 Ventilation
2.9 Noise Levels - Acoustics
3.0 Mechanical Conceptual Design (to RIBA Stage C)
3.1 General
3.2 Initial Load Assessment
3.3 Plant Selection
3.4 Plant Space/Location
3.5 Services Distribution
3.6 Whole Life Costing
4.0 Documents to be issued by designers/external consultants
4.1 General
4.2 Conceptual Design Confirmation (CDC), RIBA Stage C
4.3 Tender Issue, RIBA Stage E
4.4 Handover, Stage L
5.0 Mechanical System Selection and Configuration
5.1 General
5.2 Heating
5.3 Mechanical Ventilation
5.4 Cooling
5.5 Pumped Circuits
5.6 Pipework Distribution

Index
UWE Design Guide for Buildings

5.7 Central Plant

5.8 Hot Water Services
5.9 Cold Water Services
5.10 Foul Drainage above Ground
5.11 Utilities
5.12 Building Management System (BMS)
5.13 Other Systems
6.0 Schedule of Statutory Notifiable Plant
7.0 Register of Approved Mechanical Suppliers
7.1 Heating Plant
7.2 Cooling Plant
7.3 Ventilation Plant
7.4 Pumps/Pressurisation Units
7.5 Building Management System
7.6 Water Generators
8.0 Register of Approved Mechanical Contractors
9.0 Water Treatment
10.0 Commissioning - Mechanical
11.0 Electrical Design Principles
11.1 Electrical Design Standards
11.2 Statutory Requirements
12.0 Electrical Design Criteria
12.1 Lighting Levels and Limiting Glare Indexes
12.2 Electrical Load and Lighting Calculations
13.0 Electrical Conceptual Design
13.1 General
13.2 Initial Equipment Space Assessment
13.3 Equipment Selection
13.4 Equipment Location
14.0 Documents to be Issued by Designers/External Consultants
14.1 General
14.2 Conceptual Design Confirmation (CDC), Stage C
14.3 Tender Issue, Stage G
14.4 Handover, Stage L
15.0 System Selection and Configuration
15.1 General
15.2 Lighting
15.3 Emergency Lighting
15.4 External Lighting
15.5 HV Switchgear
15.6 Modular Switch Boards
15.7 Metering
15.8 Modular Panel Boards
15.9 LV Distribution Boards

Index
UWE Design Guide for Buildings

15.10 Transient over Voltage Protection

15.11 Power Factor Correction
15.12 Harmonic Filters
15.13 Fire Alarm System
15.13.1 General
15.13.2 Fire Alarm System Cabling
15.13.3 Fire Alarm System / Mechanical Systems Interface
15.13.4 Fire Alarm System / Access Control Systems Interface
15.14 Containment
15.15 Lightning Protection
15.16 Transient Voltage Surge Suppression and Protection
15.17 UPS Systems
15.18 Assistance Call Systems
15.19 Small Power Services
15.20 Under Floor Bus-Bar System
15.21 Studios and Workshops
15.22 Laboratories
15.23 Electrical Supplies to Mechanical Plant
15.24 Electrical Wall Clocks
15.25 Electrical Hand Dryers
15.26 Hearing Assistance Systems
15.27 Labelling System
15.28 Lifts
15.29 CCTV, Security Alarm, Access Control and Car Park Barrier Systems
15.30 Utilities
15.31 High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting
16.0 Approved Suppliers
17.0 Register of Approved Electrical Contractors
18.0 Commissioning - Electrical
19.0 Handover
20.0 Post Occupancy Assessment
21.0 Appendices:
21.1 Mechanical Appendices
A Conceptual Design Confirmation (CDC), Stage C Proforma
B Tender Issue, Stage E Proforma
21.2 Electrical Appendices
C Conceptual Design Confirmation (CDC), Stage C Proforma
D Tender Issue, Stage E Proforma
21.3 M&E Appendices
E Handover, RIBA Stage L

Part 6 Specialist Installations

Part 7 Wayfinding

Index
UWE Design Guide for Buildings

General Design Principles

1.1 General

The entire mechanical and electrical building services design, installation and
commissioning must be in full accordance with the documents/standards and statutory
requirements detailed within this document.

As with any existing site/building the designer will be required to visit site to survey the
existing services and ascertain the implications of any new works. A condition survey may
be required for works within existing areas.

The designer is advised that a significant amount of record documentation is available for
use to assist their site survey and ultimate designs. Various O & M manuals, as fitted
drawings and survey drawings are held in the Facilities Office archive which can be made
available for viewing. The designer is further advised that although significant, these are by
no means comprehensive, nor indeed do they cover all areas. Where available they must
be verified on site by the designer. It is re-emphasized the designer must check the
accuracy of any record information that is used in the preparation of their design.

For every project appointed, the designer will be expected to attend a series of coordination
meetings with the client or building user to establish the exact building and mechanical
services requirements to ensure the completed installation complies with client.

Where necessary, designers will also be required to attend meetings with maintenance
personnel/companies in order to discuss the implications of their design on the
maintenance strategy.

Room Data Sheets must be completed for each room of the project, the lead consultant
shall be responsible for initialising and coordinating each room data sheet. These shall be
based, where available, upon the UWE standard room data sheets. These documents are
to be supplemented upon discussion with the client and the other consultants. The
documents are to be maintained and kept up to date for the length of the contract.

The designer will be required (under the management and coordination of the Facilities
Representative for each project) to liaise with several UWE departments. This will typically
include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following departments:

• IT & Telephone Services

• Security
• Safety Unit

The specific Form of Tender / Preliminaries etc. will be advised on an individual project
basis.

All Statutory Instruments and Acts must be complied with in full.

The overriding design ethos should be:

‘Design to minimise cost, but with emphasis on value for money and energy efficiency
rather than economy’. Total ownership costs and consideration of whole-life costs
should be made through-out the project’s design and construction stages. In addition,
designs should be efficient and safe to maintain.

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

1.2 Facilities Management/Maintenance

The requirements for twelve months maintenance and reactive maintenance are as
detailed within the standard specification or separate document.

A separate maintenance schedule shall be produced by the designer and contractor for
each project. The schedule shall identify all items of plant to be maintained and the
maintenance intervals. Each item of plant shall be given a unique asset reference. Asset
references format shall be agreed with UWE maintenance department.

The designer must ensure that the O & M manuals for each project are annotated to
indicate which pages, notes, tables and diagrams are relevant to the plant installed. All
irrelevant data should be removed or where not practical marked clearly as ‘not relevant’.

Adequate space for maintenance should be provided around all plant (to a minimum of
manufacture’s requirements). All plant and maintainable components must be installed in
accessible positions that will not expose maintenance staff to undue risk. Defence Works
Functional Standard, Design & Maintenance Guide 08: Space requirements for plant
access, operation and maintenance; shall be used to determine access and maintenance
space requirements, this is particular important within plant rooms.

Consideration of whole-life costs should be made during the design process.

Escape routes within plant rooms/ areas must be well defined and kept clear at all times.
Where necessary, there should be a second means of escape provided.

Amongst the problems previously encountered at UWE are:

• Designs which impose a need to work at height in stairwells or frequent access above
the tiered or pitched seating of a lecture theatre
• Requirement for access to high level valves, gauges etc. with no provision for such
access
• Designs which force UWE to deconstruct bulkheads, cladding, casing etc. to permit
access to valves, gauges, flanges etc.
• Designs which place equipment in locations that require scaffolding to be built to
provide access (which must be avoided if alternative methods are reasonably
practicable) or force operatives to work close to unguarded edges
• Ductwork/pipes crossing plant room floors, creating trip hazards and leading to
damage as employees step on the duct work/pipes
• Low level ducts/uni-strut, etc. creating a risk of head injury or abrasion injury
• Risers which employees could or need to enter but which lack a load bearing floor
• No or inadequate fire stopping details
• Designs which require maintenance personnel to enter ducts/crawlspaces etc. UWE
now requires that these designs are accompanied by a detailed risk evaluation to
explain why this is necessary and to propose a suitable management strategy. If
Facilities agree to the design then the size and design of the ducts/risers must comply
with BS 8313.
• Designs which impose a need for confined space entry, as defined under the Confined
Spaces Regulations (which must be avoided if alternative methods are reasonably
practicable). A detailed risk evaluation and management strategy for entry should
accompany such designs.
• Items of mechanical installations lacking details of weights, lifting points etc. leading to
delays and complications during replacement/removal
• Limited consideration to the installation and removal of mechanical equipment, e.g.
ensuring that there is sufficient space to operate lifting equipment. Design teams

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

must co-ordinate to ensure that plant can be constructed and replaced (e.g.
co-ordinate the positioning of lifting beams, sacrificial cladding panels etc.) and that
external areas are available to load and transport equipment to/from building.
• Handover documentation has historically not contained details of the management
strategy if plant/equipment removal/replacement would require the use of cranes,
lifting beams, sacrificial panels etc. of any other activity that might pose operational
difficulties or a significant risk to contractors or UWE staff, students or assets.
1.3 Sustainability

Throughout the project, the services designer should consider

environmental and sustainability issues when designing and
specifying the electrical and mechanical services as specified in
General Design, Part 3, Section 3.6.

• As a guide, reference should be made to the following:

– BREEAM assessment method
– BRE Green Guide to Specification
– Building Regulations Part L for new buildings and
existing buildings respectively
• This process shall consider the various stages:
– Initial Procurement (i.e. Country of origin)
– Future energy costs/availability
– Maintenance:
– Specialist / Non-specialist
– Distance of travel (maintenance staff / spare parts)
– Final Disposal:
– Recycle / Re-use.
• This process shall include consideration of the following issues:
– Energy conservation
– Embodied energy
– Use of renewable energy sources
– Building emissions
– Water conservation
– Material selection
1.4 Occupancy
• Normal occupational hours:
– 08:00 – 18:00pm: office space
– 08:30 – 18:00pm: teaching
– 07.00 – 22.30pm: sports
– 24 hr: as specified for teaching/IT areas
– 24 hr: student accommodation
2.0 Mechanical Design Criteria
2.1 Mechanical Design Standards
• UWE Standard Mechanical & Electrical Specifications.
• CIBSE - Guides; Commissioning Codes; Technical Memoranda; Building Energy
Codes; Lighting Guides; Application Manuals;
• IOP - Plumbing Engineering Services Design Guide
• BSRIA - Technical Publications
• Loss Prevention Council - Rules for Automatic Sprinkler Installations
• BS 7671 Requirements for Electrical Installations (IEE Wiring Regulations)
• British Standards & Codes of Practices/European Standards (BS/EN).

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

• Statutory Acts, Regulations and associated legislation..

• Department of Education & Skills Building Bulletins
• Best Practice.

The designer shall inform and advise UWE of any conflict between the above, and seek
UWE approval of proposed resolution

2.2 Statutory Requirements

• Health and Safety at Work Act and all associated regulations, including their approved
codes of practice and guidance. In particular, designs must comply with the Workplace
(Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations and designers must discharge their duties
under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations.
• The Water Supply (water fittings) Regulations.
• The Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations.
• Current UK Building Regulations.
• Legionnaires Disease. The control of Legionella bacteria in Water Systems. ACoP
(L8).
• Pressurised Systems Safety Regulations.
• Pressure Systems and Transportable Gas Containers Regulations.
• Local Building Control / Environmental Health Office requirements.
• All applicable and relevant Statutory Instruments.
• Planning e.g. flue heights, fuel bunkers, tanks
• Environment Agency e.g. Pumping stations, condensate run-off.
2.3 Heating Season (air temperature)

Winter ambient: - 5.5°C db/100% RH

Room temp (general): 22°C db
(See CIBSE guide, table A1.3 for specific areas)
100% outside air ventilation ambient: -7.0°C db/100% RH
Allowances for intermittent heating: (See CIBSE guide, table A9.9).

2.4 Cooling Season (air temperature)

Summer ambient: 28°C db/20°C wb
Summer ambient (heat-rejection plant): 30°C db/21°C wb
Room temp (general): 22°C db/
(See CIBSE guide, table A1.3 for specific areas)
(note, these are only applicable where the case for mechanical cooling has been accepted
by Facilities, see 2.6 below).
2.5 Humidity Levels

Unless specifically specified Humidity levels shall be maintained between the high and low
level CIBSE recommendations.

2.6 Cooling and Summer Temperatures

The European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive Article 9, in

conjunction with the UK Building regulations Part L has imposed strict
limits on forced cooling. Forced refrigerative cooling shall only be
considered once all other means of achieving the required conditions
have been exhausted, including passive cooling systems.

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

To avoid the need for cooling systems the following principles should be considered and
adopted as appropriate:

Heat releasing equipment should be sited in areas with openable windows, free natural
ventilation or naturally cool areas e.g. basements etc.

A large population of heat releasing equipment should not be installed in a single area or in
areas where there are large occupancy levels.

Only the necessary quantity of machines/equipment should be installed.

Local exhaust ventilation systems used to remove heat from source wherever possible

In areas not comfort cooled the Building Regulations Approved document L2 performance
standard (BB 101 or CIBSE TM37), for avoidance of summertime overheating for learning
and teaching areas shall be adopted.

The above refers to comfort cooling only. When the function of an area requires specific
operating conditions i.e. processes, specialist equipment, chemical storage etc. then such
areas will be assessed independently. If it is concluded that cooling or air conditioning is
necessary then Local Exhaust Ventilation systems used to remove heat from source
wherever possible.

External Shading should be considered in conjunction with the building designer to

consider the full implications including minimising the effects of unwanted heat gain to
occupied space. This should be done from building conception.

Passive ventilation strategies should be assessed to minimize energy usage.

Re-use of low grade heat, such as heat rejection from chiller plant should be fully
considered both with respect to the building under design and/or buildings in the vicinity.

2.7 Infiltration

The effects of air infiltration and exfiltration shall be allowed for within the building thermal
loads.

2.8 Ventilation

Refer to Part F of the Building Regulations and the Building Bulletins for ventilation rates.
Where mechanical ventilation is required, heat recovery should always be assessed.

2.9 Acoustics

Please also refer to section 3 of the Design Guide

Noise from building services should not exceed the noise rating (NR) values listed below.
This includes noise from the normal operation of heating, ventilation and air conditioning
plant. Higher levels may be permissible during purge ventilation. When planning ventilation
duct runs, they should as far as possible avoid crossing partition walls, and where this is
inevitable a crosstalk silencer must be incorporated so that the sound insulation
requirements listed in section 3.6 are met.

Designs should aim to ensure that plantrooms operate at 78db or less. If sound pressure
level is between 79db-82db then a warning sign should be installed on the door stating that
hearing protection should be worn if individuals are in the room for more than half a day. In

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

addition, visual and auditory fire alarms should be installed. If sound pressure will exceed
82db then a detailed risk evaluation is required to provide details of the required
management strategy. Plant rooms must not operate at 88db or above.

Maximum NR
Type(s) of room
Value
Academic staff and admin offices NR 35
Cafeterias, coffee bars etc NR 40
Class rooms, lecture rooms, seminar rooms and tutorial rooms Audio NR 30
visual and video conference rooms Language laboratories
Drama studios, music practice rooms NR 30
Entrance halls, corridors, stairwells, atria and circulation spaces NR 40
Halls and rooms for music drama and other live performances NR 30
Large lecture theatres and flagship conference rooms NR 30
Lecture theatres up to 100 seats NR 30
Library circulation and media storage areas NR 35
Library study areas NR 30
Recording studios NR 30
Rooms intended for clinical examination and treatment, confidential NR 35
interviews, psychotherapy, speech therapy etc.
Science laboratories, art and design studios, graphics workshops NR 30
Sports halls and gymnasia NR 35
Swimming pools NR 50
Workshops NR 35
3.0 Mechanical Conceptual Design (to RIBA Stage 2 - 2013)
3.1 General

Client needs assessed through structured client liaison meetings.

Site investigation / surveys performed.

UWE Facilities guidance sought.

Consideration and review of case studies and technical papers of similar applications.

Consider and reflect budgetary and energy conservation requirements.

3.2 Initial Load Assessment

This is required for early assessment of the plants space requirements for co-ordination
with the building designer.

BSRIA documents and Institutes/CIBSE rules of thumb can be used as a check.

3.3 Plant and System Selection

Selected to maximize operational efficiency and availability.

To suit ambient conditions (thermal & noise) during all seasons.

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

Continuity with existing plant and manufacturers where appropriate.

Consideration of maintainability and the minimalisation of impact within occupied spaces.

3.4 Plant Space/Location

Whenever possible external plant should be located at ground level within a secure
compound. Guidance on roof-mounted plant is given elsewhere.

Defence Works Functional Standard, Design & Maintenance Guide 08: Space
requirements for plant access, operation and maintenance; shall be used to determine
access and maintenance space requirements, this is particular important within plant
rooms.

Take into account plant’s technical requirements and environmental/local ambient

conditions & visual aspects.

Allowance for future expansion.

Access should be via communal areas rather than occupied spaces.

3.5 Services Distribution

All services should be installed to allow safe future access.

Use of reverse-return pipework configuration is preferred where practical and cost effective.

3.6 Whole Life Costing

Preparation of Whole Life Costings as BREEAM requirements and section 1.6

DOCUMENTS TO BE ISSUED BY DESIGNER / EXTERNAL CONSULTANTS

4.1 General

Paragraphs 4.2 & 4.3 schedule the 3 no. reports that will be required to be provided by the
designer up to stage E for each project. (For the handover requirements refer to the
separate section of the design guide). These will generally be in the form of
multi-disciplined reports coordinated with all members of the design team, issued by the
lead consultant. They should be issued to the Facilities CA or Engineer to an agreed
programme.

4.2 Conceptual Design Confirmation (CDC), Stage RIBA 2 - 2013

This document is required for University audit purposes and to ensure that all client
requirements have been met, with the design therefore being suitable for development to
tender stage. It will also be used as a final check against funds allocated for the project (see
proforma Appendix A).

4.3 Tender Issue, Stage RIBA 4 - 2013

This is in essence confirmation of any changes to the CDC plus additions detailing amongst
others; copy of all calculations, details of statutory notifiable plant and final budget check,
(see proforma in Appendix B).

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

4.4 Handover, RIBA Stage 6 - 2013

This is in essence, a confirmation of any changes to the Stage G requirements, and

confirmation of the original design intent, plus amendments to incorporate essential
information (for occupiers and future maintenance) such as details of critical test
documentation, information required at handover should be considered pre-contract and
collated in the prescribed UWE format (See proforma in Appendix E).

5.0 Mechanical System Selection & Configurations/Specific UWE Technical

Requirements
5.1 General

The mechanical designer’s duties include the analysis of the building’s façade in
conjunction with the building designer and structural engineer to assess thermal
performance and ultimately to increase energy efficiency.

Consideration at an early stage should be given to future services requirements.

The mechanical services designer must liaise with all members of the design team
including the building designer and structural engineer to provide an integrated building/
structural / services installation. This must include coordination of mechanical builderswork
requirements, plant space and significant apertures within the structure.

• Coordination is also required with the electrical services designer regarding the power
and control requirements for the mechanical services.
• UWE contains a number of areas where access is restricted due to hazardous
processes e.g. laboratories. Any isolation valves etc. should be located outside of
these areas so that, in an emergency, supplies can be shut off without exposing
workers to risk.
5.2 Heating

Heat source: An assessment of low/zero carbon heating sources should be conducted

prior to specifying standard fossil fuel boilers.

Spare capacity: Except in individually served housing units, a minimum of two heat
sources must be installed: 150% total nominal capacity.

Three or more heat sources: 120% total nominal capacity

Heat source safety: Hard-wired high temp. cut-out.

Suitably rated safety valves

Heat source control: As HM Government: Non-domestic Building Services Compliance

Guide

Pumped circuits: Each pumped circuit must have dual pumps (i.e. run and standby).
Pumps should be specified with variable speed drives.

Design Margin: A minimum of +10% of heat out-put should be added to all terminal/(heat
emitting) devices. Adequate allowance for heat loss from distribution pipework should be
made.

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

Electrical Heater Batteries: These must not be used without prior agreement with the
Facilities CA.

Use of storage tanks: If storage tanks are to be used for providing heating fuel (e.g.
bio-fuel), tanks should be fitted with a fill indicator which is to be clearly visible at the filling
point and the tank should also be fitted with an overfill alarm, linked to the BMS. Secure
filling point to be located on accessible external wall. Tanks are to be double bunded.
Handover documentation must contain details of the refilling strategy (including required
traffic management controls etc.)

Zoning: Appropriate heat zoning should be defined to maximise system efficiency.

5.3 Mechanical Ventilation

Ducted supply ventilation: Major supply AHU’s (above 0.5m3/s) should have the
following:

• Pre filter: panel to EU3

• Main filter: Bar to EU6
• (With Magnahelic across both)

Facility for recirculation of air where possible via motorised dampers. Where full fresh air is
essential, other methods of heat recovery shall be evaluated.

Automated windows: Where installed, they should be complete with position indication or
window contacts.

Toilet extract: Ducted systems should have run & standby fans with auto-changeover and
BMS common alarm.

Variable speed drives: The use of variable speed drives should be assessed to maximise
the efficiency of the system.

Direct drives: Fan power should be of the direct drive type as opposed to belt drive.

Smoke extract: Should be provided as agreed with Building Control /Fire Officer.

Fire damper type: Should be specified and installed for ease of annual testing by
maintenance staff. The mechanical designer should make provision to witness the
operation of all fire dampers as part of their witnessing of the commissioning process.

Lift shaft smoke ventilation and LMR ventilation: Should be in accordance with
BS5655.

DW144: All installations should be designed and installed in accordance with this and other
relevant DW standards.

Displacement Ventilation: Use of this principle is preferred where practical and cost
effective.

Intake and discharge locations: These should be considered at an early stage in the
project whilst applying good design principles and CIBSE guide B recommendations.
Consideration of discharge and intake pollution must also be considered. External weather
louvers should be selected and specified by the mechanical services designer.

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Ducted supply & extract fans: Differential Pressure Switches (DPSs) should be mounted
across all fans.

VAV supply & extract fans: These should have differential pressure sensors rather than
switches.

Humidification: Use of humidifiers is not generally accepted but use of central plant for
dehumidification is.

5.4 Cooling

General

The emphasis of good design must always be on minimising internal summertime

temperatures. This should be approached in two stages. Stage 1 should evaluate the
suitability of natural or mechanical ventilation. If during this preliminary period it becomes
apparent that suitable conditions will not be achieved with natural ventilation, then Stage 2
should be to investigate the use of mechanical cooling (see clause 2.4 of this design guide).

The use of Mechanical Cooling is to be avoided, where it can’t be avoided approval for its
use should be sought for Client, the system shall also comply with the following:

Small-scale

• Local DX Cooling
• Heat pump – The use of reverse cycle heat pump is to be evaluated.
• Ducted Fresh Air via Fresh Air spigot to external
• BMS / controls Requirement: Remote Start/stop
– Common alarm
– Room temp sensor
– Auto-restart upon power reinstatement

The mechanical designer should ensure the details of the amount of refrigerant used and
source of power supply is provided on a trafolyte label screwed to the condensing unit.

Large-scale

• Cooling towers or other spray units will not be accepted.

• Number of chillers: A minimum of 2 chillers should normally be installed: nominal
System total nominal capacity: 125%.
• Chillers must have dual safety valve configuration to minimise loss of refrigerant during
maintenance procedures.

Design Margin

A minimum of +10% of cooling out-put should be added to all terminal devices.

Adequate allowance for heat gain from distribution pipework should be made.

5.5 Pumped Circuits

Should have at least 100% standby (excluding HWS secondary, where a spare pump shall
be provided).

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+10% to be added to all pump duties (head & flow) to make allowance for commissioning
tolerances.

In the first instance variable volume pumps with static pressure control via the BMS should
be considered. This is also important when future expansion of the installation is envisaged.

Variable speed drives should utilised where possible and have differential pressure sensors
rather than switches.

Local visual indication via temperature and pressure gauges should be provided in addition
to BMS sensors (BMS sensors alone are insufficient).

5.6 Distribution Services

Distribution pipework should generally be to match the existing installation.

Pipework installed in exposed or vulnerable areas should be steel.

The use of plastic pipework is generally not encouraged (excluding overflows and warning
pipes etc.).

All water services pipework must not be routed in locations (distribution boards, MCC’s etc.)
where it is possible a leak could cause a health and safety hazard.

Flexible pipework final connections to fan coil units are acceptable providing they comply
with relevant HEVAC standards.

Adequate allowance for system expansion should be made in pipework design rather than
use of expansion bellows.

Services for open plan accommodations should be designed on a grid basis.

ALL new plant and pipework/ductwork jointing gaskets must be asbestos-free with
confirmation plastic tags (which extend beyond adjacent joints for ease of future
identification).

Unless identified as indicated above, ALL existing gaskets should be assumed to contain
asbestos. Therefore, if they are to be exposed or removed during the contract works they
must be treated as hazardous and dealt with in the appropriate manner.

All motorised dampers and valves should have their ‘open’ and ‘closed’ positions clearly
marked on the side of their respective actuators prior to handover.

Insulation should be provided to comply with current regulations.

5.7 Central Plant

Certificates for the factory pressure testing of boilers, calorifiers and other pressure vessels
should be specified at tender and provided at handover stage.

Consideration of plant operation at part load should be made, with the use of fully
modulating plant preferred where considered economic.

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5.8 Hot Water Services

All methods of hot water production should be evaluated including solar, heat pumps,
biomass etc

An assessment should be made of the most efficient method of hot water production,
including the separation of heating and hot water.

Rather than LPHW/MPHW fed storage calorifiers, gas fired water heaters should be used
for hot water service generation.

Two pipe (Recirculatory) type systems only are acceptable. Guidance should be sought
from the Facilities CA\Engineer before installation of any other type.

Central water generators should have a minimum of two generators to minimise down time
during times of maintenance.

Storage calorifiers should be selected and designed to be capable of raising cold water
from 10oC to 65°C, with a two hour recovery period.

Calorifiers should have anti-stratification pump circuits which should be controlled to the
dictates of document L8.

All HWS should be stored at 60°C and warning labels provided at all outlets where there is
a risk of scalding.

Outlets within Disabled toilets and other areas with vulnerable occupants must have
reduced temperature flow via thermostatic mixing valves, specified as being suitable for this
application.

5.9 Cold Water Services

Water efficient systems should be installed to meet the required BREEAM rating.

If CWS storage is required it should have a minimum of two independent tanks

(inter-connected in a ‘fill’ and ‘draw’ configuration) to minimise down time during times of
maintenance.

Tank supplies should serve all cold water outlets except those in kitchens, tea bays and
vending areas where they should be designated as drinking water and should be mains fed.

To minimise the risk of water stagnation or bacteriological growth, storage capacity should
be commensurate with minimum storage rates.

RPZ non-return valves should not be used without the approval of Facilities CA\Engineer.

An assessment should be made of the use of rain water and grey water harvesting
systems.

5.10 Foul Drainage Above Ground for Laboratories & other similar environments

Vulcathene pipework shall be used for chemical drainage including laboratories etc

In engineering/science work areas and laboratories, all drain runs must be labelled to show
the source(s) of the drain. If it is known that will carry hazardous or radioactive
substances, the drains should be labelled accordingly

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Waste traps/catch pots are to be labelled with appropriate warning signage and contained
in locked and labelled cupboards

Please find a list of ‘prescribed substances’ as given by the UWE sewerage provider. These
substances cannot be put down the drain without notifying the sewerage provider, who then
needs to notify the Environment Agency:

• Mercury and its compounds

• Cadmium and its compounds
• Gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane
• DDT
• Pentachlorophenol and its compounds
• Hexachlorobenzene
• Hexachlorobutadiene
• Aldrin
• Dieldrin
• Endrin
• Carbon tetrachloride
• Polychlorinated biphenyls
• Dichlorvos
• 1,2-dichloroethane
• Trichlorobenzene
• Atrazine
• Simazine
• Tributyltin compounds
• Triphenyltin compounds
• Trifluralin
• Fenitrothion
• Azinphos-methyl
• Malathion
• Endosulfan
• Trichloroethylene (above 30kg per year)
• Perchloroethylene (above 30kg per year).

The use of prescribed substances shall be avoided where possible, where the use of a
prescribed product is proposed by a faculty the designer shall inform and review the full
implications with the design team and UWE faculties.

5.11 Utilities

The designer is responsible for checking the suitability of all existing supplies at project
inception.

NJUG National Joint Utilities Group’s guidance should be used for installation of
underground utilities.

All external underground pipework should be installed with braded marker tape installed
directly over the crown of the pipe for its entire length. This tape should be extended and
then terminated within suitable accessible points at either end of the pipe run (valve
chambers & building entry points etc) to facilitate future tracing via signal generation
method.

Underground services are to be marked and identified (in accordance with BS 1710)

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Gas installation line diagrams for new installations or amendments to existing must be
provided. They should be mounted on site plus a copy given to the Facilities CA at
handover.

Gas detection systems, linked to solenoid valves, should be provided within all new remote
boiler houses or those integral within the building and over 300KW.

Where Gas solenoid valves are provided the system must be designed to ensure they do
not auto-open upon power re-instatement, plus control provision should be made such that
its power supply is not interrupted during the university’s regular fire alarm testing regime.

Gas proving and Emergency Isolation Points should be provided in all laboratories and
kitchens.

Interlock of gas supply with supply air for all main kitchens is essential.

Manhole covers must be suitable for their location and UWE requires a detailed design risk
evaluation if any manholes are to be placed within a structure. UWE encourages the
placement of manholes away from high traffic areas to minimise risk during maintenance.

Metering and sub metering of utilities shall be installed as per CIBSE guide TM39 and
BREEAM requirements. All new meters should have a pulsed output that is connected to
the University Energy Team’s Elcomponant metering system as detailed in The Design
Guide for Builds, Part 3 General Design - 3.6.3.

5.12 Building Management System (BMS)

Schneider ‘SMART’ software to be installed during the BMS commissioning stage (covering
all plant provided under the contract) with the objective of providing a ‘defect-free’
installation at handover. Furthermore the contractor shall include for the monitoring,
analysis and defect rectification of all BMS components, and software engineering of said
equipment through-out the entire defects liability period, culminating in a totally defect-free
BMS system at end of DLP.

Provision should be made within the construction programme for client witnessing of the
BMS controls prior to handover.

A copy of all BMS graphics, control philosophy and bespoke software programming should
be issued to the Facilities CA\Engineer for approval, with sufficient time period (two weeks)
for comment.

All safety interlocks must be hardwired (i.e. temperature, pressure, airflow etc.) with
indication only to be provided via the BMS where applicable.

All plant’s MCCs must be linked to the sites fire alarm system, with a provision to over-ride
this link for regular fire alarm testing.

As a rule of thumb, room sensors should be located 1.5M AFFL, 0.5M from corners and
vertical protrusions, avoiding heat emissions and other thermal hot-spots. They must be
representative on the space being controlled.

Fridges and freezers that are considered business or research-critical must also be
connected to the BMS.

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5.13 Other Systems:

Fire Fighting:

Fire fighting dry/wet risers must be designed, installed and commissioned in accordance
with BS5306.

External hydrants must be designed, installed and commissioned in accordance with

BS9990.

All services must be fully coordinated with Building Control requirements (and Fire Officer
recommendations).

The use of any fire suppressant gas is to be avoided and in particular FM200, if unavoidable
the proposed gas and system to be used is to be agreed with facilities

Specialist services

Designers of faculty gas installations or specialist services (e.g. laboratory gases) must
co-ordinate their designs with the rest of the design team, the faculty and vice versa, even if
this installation is being procured as a separate package.

6.0 Schedule of Statutory Notifiable Plant:

The mechanical designer must consider the statutory requirements for all of the following
installations and advise the Facilities CA\Engineer of their project implications via the
reporting process detailed within the appendices of this design guide:

• Legionella Risk Assessment, schedule of legionella susceptible plant.

• Bristol Water, notifications.
• Refrigerant plant (above 25kwbar), schedule of plant.
• Boilers (above 100oC), schedule of plant.
• Pressure vessels and MPHW calorifiers (heating, CHW, refrigerant or CWS), schedule
of plant.
• COSHH tests, schedule of plant.
7.0 Register of Approved Mechanical Suppliers:
7.1 Heating Plant
Boilers up to 70 kw : Caradon/Ideal
: Baxi
: Potterton
: Vaillant
Boilers over 100 kw : Hamworthy
: Hoval
: Clyde Combustion
: Wellman Robey
Burners : Riello
: Nuway
Radiators : Stelrad (or to match existing)
: Runtal / Hudevad in specifically agreed locations
TRV’s : Sampson Type M20 control head and theft protection collar,
complete with matching Lockshields M33.

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7.2 Cooling Plant

Chillers : Daikin
: Carrier
: Trane
DX/VRV : Daikin
: Mitsubishi

7.3 Ventilation Plant

AHU : ABB Flatk
: Dalair
: Senior Moducel
Fans : ABB Flatk
: Nuaire
: Howden Group
: Elta
7.4 Pumps/Pressurisation Units
Pumps : Armstrong/Holden Brooke/Pullen
: Grundfos
: Smedegaard

7.5 Building Management System

BMS : Schneider

7.6 Water Generators

Instantaneous electric : Heatrae Sadia
: Santon

Direct gas fired : Lochinvar

8.0 Register of Approved Mechanical Contractors

The designer should advise and/or recommend to Facilities CA of suitable contractors.

Facilities CA will make the final selection.

9.1 Water Treatment (open circuits)

All water systems must comply with the specifications contained in the UWE legionella
policy.

Any designs that deviate from this policy should be accompanied by a detailed risk
evaluation.

If water treatment will require the use of substances that are potentially hazardous, then
suitable storage (e.g. bunded containers) and first aid facilities (e.g. eye wash station) must
be provided.

Drinking fountains are to be mains fed.

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9.2 Water Treatment (closed circuits)

Closed circuit dosing of new installations.

Commissioning - Mechanical:

The designer should ensure the system is fully commissionable (and self-balancing where
economically viable).

Commissioning devices should be installed to manufacturer’s recommendations and

accessible for future use.

CIBSE commissioning codes, BREEAM and BSRIA guides should be adhered to.

10-15% of all values should be checked by the mechanical designer.

100% of all safety interlocks (and all fire dampers’ operation) should be witnessed by the
designer.

Labs under Construction

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10.0 Electrical Design Principles

10.1 Electrical Design Standards:

Latest editions and amendments of:

• All relevant British Standards & Codes of Practice/European (BS/EN)

• UWE Standard Mechanical & Electrical Specifications
• CIBSE Guides and Technical memorandums
• BS7671:2001, IEE Wiring Regulations, Requirements for Electrical Installations.
Specifications shall refer to the IEE Wiring Regulations as a minimum standard to be
achieved and/or as supplementary requirements to detailed technical clauses which
relate to a specific aspect of an installation.
• In addition the electrical network shall comply with the Disability Legislation, BS 8300
‘Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled
people — Code of practice’ and all relevant UWE
University Guidelines/Installation Specifications.

(except where specifically different from this Electrical Design Guide, in which case inform
the Contract Administrator / Lead Designer and await authority to proceed from UWE)

10.2 Statutory Requirements:

• Health and Safety at Work etc Act, 1974
• Electricity at Work Regulations, 1989
• Construction (Design and Management) Regulations, 2007
• The Building Regulations of England and Wales
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations. 2002
• Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations, 2006
• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, 1999
• All relevant and applicable Statutory Instruments
11.0 Electrical Design Criteria
11.1 Lighting Levels and Limiting Glare Indexes:

See CIBSE Lighting Guides and Code for Lighting for additional recommendations and for
areas that are not defined in the following schedule:

Maintained Limiting Minimum

Illuminance Glare Colour Notes
(Lux) Index Rendering (Ra)
Office Areas See CIBSE LG7
General offices 400 19 80 See CIBSE LG7
See CIBSE LG7
Computer work stations 300 - 400 19 80
and LG3
Conference and meeting rooms 400 19 80 Controllable
Filing, photocopying, etc 300 19 80 Vertical surfaces

Academic Areas See CIBSE LG5

Classrooms, lecture hall 500 19 80 DALI Controllable
Colour temp
Art rooms, rooms 750 19 90
>5000K
Practical rooms and laboratories 500 19 80 Project Specific

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Handicraft rooms 500 19 80 Project Specific

Demonstration tables 750 19 80 DALI Controllable
See CIBSE LG7
Computer labs 300 19 80
and LG3

General Building Areas

Circulation areas, corridors Consult UWE Estates
Entrance halls 200 19 80
Reception desks 250 - 350 22 80
Stairwells 100 - 150 25 80
Plant rooms 150 25 80 & portable light
Electrical switch rooms 200 25 80
Store rooms 100 25 80
Toilets 100 19 80

External Areas See CIBSE LG6

12.2 Electrical Load and Lighting Calculations:

The appropriate load calculations shall be included for all design presented to the UWE
Estates Department for comment and/or information. Designers are required to enter the
appropriate values into a spread sheet format. Appropriate Dialux or Relux lighting design
submissions will also be acceptable.

Lighting levels in lux, uniformity, glare indexes along with energy targets and W/m2 values
to be submitted for each room/space.

The artificial lighting design shall meet the most current and appropriate requirements of
Building Regulations Part L2. Areas that fall outside these parameters shall be highlighted
to UWE Estates.

13.0 Electrical Conceptual Design (To Stage C)

13.1 General:
• Client needs assessed through structured client liaison meetings
• Site investigation / surveys performed
• UWE Estates guidance sought
• Consider and reflect budgetary and energy conservation requirements
• Designer to review case studies and technical papers of similar projects
13.2 Initial Equipment Space Assessment:
• This is required for early assessment of the equipment space requirements for
co-ordination with the building designer.
• BSRIA documents and Institutes/CIBSE rules of thumb can be used as a check.
• Consideration shall be given to the adequate sizing and layout of electrical switch
rooms/electrical service cupboards for coordination with the building designer. If
difficulty is experienced in complying with this requirement then it shall immediately be
brought to the attention of the UWE Estates Department Principal Engineer.
13.3 Equipment Selection:
• Selected to maximize operational efficiency and parts availability
• To suit local ambient and environmental conditions
• Continuity with existing plant and manufacturers where appropriate

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• To be selected to minimize the impact of future maintenance operations and to be

easily maintainable.
13.4 Equipment Location:
• Maintain safe access for installation and future maintenance
• Take into account technical requirements and environmental/local ambient conditions
& visual aspects.
• Allowance for future expansion
• Access shall be via communal areas rather than occupied spaces.
14.0 Documents to be Issued by Designer / External Consultants
14.1 General:

The following paragraphs schedule the 3 reports that will be required to be provided by the
designer at strategic points within each project. These will generally be in the form of
multi-disciplined reports coordinated with all members of the design team, and issued by
the lead consultant. They shall be issued to the Estates CA\Engineer to an agreed
programme.

14.2 Conceptual Design Confirmation (CDC), RIBA Stage 2 - 2013

This document is required for University audit purposes and to ensure that all client
requirements have been met, with the design therefore being suitable for development to
tender stage. It will also be used as a final check against funds allocated for the project.
(see proforma Appendix A & C).

14.3 Tender Issue, RIBA Stage 4 - 2013

This is in essence, a confirmation of any changes to the CDC plus additions detailing
amongst others: copy of all calculations and final budget check (see proforma Appendix B &
D).

14.4 Handover, RIBA Stage 6 - 2013

This is in essence, a confirmation of any changes to the Stage 4 requirements, and

confirmation of the original design intent, plus amendments to incorporate essential
information (for occupiers and future maintenance) such as details of critical test
documentation, information required at handover should be considered pre-contract and
collated in the prescribed UWE format. (see proforma Appendix E).

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15.0 Electrical System Selection & Configurations

15.1 General

The electrical designers’ duties include the analysis of the building’s façade in conjunction
with the building designer and structural engineer to determine the areas of glazing to aid
day-lighting design and ultimately increase the energy efficiency.

Consideration at an early stage should be given to future services requirements.

The electrical services designer shall liaise with all members of the design team including
the building designer and structural engineer to provide an integrated
building/structural/services installation. This must include coordination of electrical builders
work requirements, plant/equipment space and significant apertures required within the
structure.

Coordination is also required with the mechanical services designer regarding the power
and control requirements for the mechanical services.

The electrical services designer shall liaise closely with the mechanical services designer to
make certain that all services routes are carefully coordinated to ensure conflicts are
eliminated from the design.

15.2 Lighting

General

• Low energy light sources such as T5, compact fluorescent and LED shall be utilised
and due thought given to the selection of appropriate light fittings and to the colour
rendering. The design shall be developed to comply with the requirements of the 2002
amendment to Part L (ADL2) of the Building Regulations.
• All luminaires shall have light output ratios (LOR’s) of at least 0.75 and incorporate low
loss, high frequency DALI control gear.
• Generally, the colour temperature of lamps shall be 4000K (Intermediate).
• Cost effective lighting control systems incorporating presence detection and daylight
linking by DALI control to be utilised..
• Presence detection shall be provided in corridors spaces during normal hours of
building occupation.
• Provide adequate switching arrangements where applicable to permit ‘good
housekeeping’ by staff and students. The switching facility should provide flexible local
control for changing patterns of use and occupation and also permit considerable
reductions in lighting load for out-of-hours security patrols.
• Careful consideration for future maintenance tasks in relation to the positioning of
luminaires and mounting height. Consider the use of uplighters and suspended lighting
systems for rooms with high ceilings. Attempt to eliminate from the design, the
requirement for the use of access equipment for future maintenance tasks.
• Architectural and interior design requirements should be closely co-ordinated in
respect of colour rendering and display effect without compromising energy cost.
• Cables shall be a minimum size of 1.5mm2.
• A minimum of 10% of each lamp type shall be provided as spares within the
specification and be supplied to the Estates CA at Handover stage.

As a guideline the following shall apply

• The lighting system shall be designed so that it complies with ‘The Building
Regulations 2000; Part L Conservation with Fuel and Power’.

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• Lighting in all areas shall be designed and installed to comply with the relevant CIBSE
Lighting Guides.
• All lighting in office areas shall be designed and installed to comply with CIBSE
Lighting Guide LG7.
• All lighting in teaching rooms, lecture rooms, shall be designed and installed to comply
with CIBSE Lighting Guide LG5 and BS EN 12464 Part 1.
• The design documentation shall be produced, and submitted for examination; this
documentation shall include detailed calculation sheets for each sub and final circuit,
showing connected load, circuit protection type and rating, load current, voltage drop
and derivation of protective conductor sizes. These calculations shall be used by the
Contractor to verify electrical loadings of distribution equipment and to calculate loads
on main and sub-main distribution systems.
• Samples shall be submitted for ALL luminaires to the contract administrator / engineer
in sufficient time so as to seek approval before final order placement with their
suppliers to avoid contract delays being incurred during the installation period.
• Internal lighting circuit cables shall not be less than 1.5 mm² conductor CSA or more
than 2.5 mm². Final circuit wiring shall be LSF singles cable, reference 6491B, to BS
6004:2000, enclosed in galvanised steel trunking and conduit. The installation shall be
concealed in the fabric of the building, flush down walls and recessed in ceiling voids.
• Lighting circuits containing high wattage luminaries (above 150W) shall be individually
designed. Cable sizes, protective devices shall be carefully calculated to suit the
particular installation in these cases.
• Lighting circuits shall be protected by 10A miniature circuit breakers, located in the
specified distribution boards as shown on the distribution schematic drawing, with the
load on each MCB limited to 50% of its current rating.
• Circuit breaker types shall be appropriate for the light source employed e.g. Type C for
fluorescent or discharge lamps.
• Final connections to luminaries shall be dependent upon the location of the luminaire.
• Luminaries Recessed into or Fixed below Suspended Ceilings Luminaries shall be
installed recessed into the suspended ceiling or fitted directly below the suspended
ceiling as indicated on the drawings.
• Luminaries shall be supplied via modular lighting distribution boxes and associated
flexible leads, these shall also be used for emergency luminaries but utilising red
connectors to distinguish between lighting and emergency lighting luminaires.
• Modular plug in distribution boxes shall be located in the ceiling void, adjacent to the
luminaire fixed to the building structure/trunking, behind an accessible ceiling tile to the
side of the luminaire.
• The final connections shall be in heat resistant flexible cable.
• Luminaries installed on or suspended from soffits in areas with exposed electrical
installations. Luminaries shall be installed either directly on the soffit or suspended
from it.
• Where luminaries are fixed directly to the soffit they shall be connected direct to the
final circuit wiring with the final connections using heat resistant single core wiring from
terminations in accessible conduit boxes or adaptable boxes.
• Luminaries installed on soffits / walls in areas with concealed electrical installations
luminaries shall be installed directly on the soffit / wall.
• Wiring shall be concealed, recessed into or passing through the soffit structure. Final
connections shall be in heat resistant single core wiring from terminations in accessible
conduit boxes or adaptable boxes.

Daylighting

In accordance with the energy section of the BREEAM assessment, and to help to achieve
the required BREEAM rating there is a requirement to incorporate good day lighting into the
design.

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Lighting Control

General: The lighting controls within the building shall comply with “The Building
Regulations 2000, Part L2 Section ‘Controls for general lighting in all types of spaces’.

The lighting control system in open space offices shall have the following:

• Presence detection incorporating local switching to all office spaces. Presence

detection shall be provided on a 10m² grid so as to detect any personnel in any area
and at any workstation.
• Manual switches where used shall be provided in accordance with “The Building
Regulations 2000. Part L2 Section ‘Controls for general lighting in all types of spaces’”
which stipulates that ‘the distance on plan from any local switch to any luminaire it
controls should generally be not more than 6 metres or twice the height of the luminaire
above the floor if this is greater’.

Reception Areas

Lighting control shall be provided to allow for the ease of operation of individual circuits and
operation of a number of preset scenes via a DALI touch screen control panel with
graphical display.

Lighting shall be controllable as individual effects and areas for scene setting by the lighting
control system.

Café Areas

DALI lighting control shall be provided to allow for the ease of operation of individual circuits
and operation of a number of preset scenes via a touch screen control panel with graphical
display.

Lighting shall be controllable as individual effects and areas for scene setting by the lighting
control system.

Exhibition Space

DALI lighting control shall be provided to allow for the ease of operation of individual circuits
and operation of a number of preset scenes via a touch screen control panel with graphical
display.

Lighting shall be controllable as individual effects and areas for scene setting by the lighting
control system.

Teaching Spaces

DALI lighting controls shall be provided by presence detection and local switching and
dimming. The lighting will generally be provided by rows of luminaires running parallel to the
teaching surface.

Local l switches shall be provided to allow the occupant to switch ‘off’ lighting when not
required. Lighting shall be manually switched in rows of luminaires running parallel to the
teaching surface so as to turn off lighting adjacent to the interactive whiteboard/projector
screen.

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Two rows of fittings running parallel to the building perimeter façade shall be provided with
daylight linking dimming control to maximise the use of the available natural light.

Workshop Rooms

Lighting controls shall be provided by manual switching and presence detection. Where
rotating machines or machines of any kind are employed that may cause injury if ‘knocked
into’ then manual switching only should be used throughout.

Breakout/Social Learning Areas

Lighting control shall be by means of DALI . Additional ceiling recessed detectors shall be
used to ensure sufficient presence detection coverage is provided to prevent nuisance
automatic switching of the lighting.

The luminaires within the open plan offices shall be daylight linked and dimmable such that
a level of lighting within these areas is always achieved.

Local switching shall also be provided in rows to allow the occupants to turn off or dim
lighting when not required.

Open Plan Offices

• Lighting shall be DALI controlled by presence detection and local switching.

• Two rows of fittings running parallel to the building perimeter façade shall be provided
with daylight linking dimming control to maximise the use of the available natural light.
• The Contractor shall also provide local switching in rows to allow the occupants to
switch ‘off’ or dim lighting when not required.

Cellular Offices

Lighting controls shall be provided by DALI presence detection and Local l switching.

Two rows of fittings running parallel to the building perimeter façade shall be provided with
daylight linking dimming control to maximise the use of the available natural light.

The Contractor shall also provide local switches to allow the occupants to turn off or dim
lighting when not required.

Meeting & Interview Rooms

Generally lighting controls shall be provided by DALI with presence detection and
local switching and dimming.

Where the meeting room or interview room has an external window then the lighting shall
also be daylight linked.

Corridors

Lighting controls shall be provided by presence detection. Where appropriate the lighting
within corridors shall be linked with photocells such that if there is sufficient natural light,
within corridors then the artificial lighting will switch ‘off’.

In a building with a networked lighting control system, the lighting on corridors shall
remain illuminated when the building is occupied and shall not switch off, except where the

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photocells sense that there is sufficient natural light, until the lighting control system sense
that the building is empty.

Staircases

Lighting controls shall be provided by presence detection. Where appropriate the lighting
within staircases shall be linked into photocells such that if there is sufficient natural light
within a staircase then the artificial lighting will switch ‘off’.

In a building with a networked lighting control system, the lighting on staircases shall
remain illuminated when the building is occupied and shall not switch off, except where the
photocells sense that there is sufficient natural light, until the lighting control system sense
that the building is empty.

Library

The lighting control shall be by manual switching and presence detection.

Shower Rooms

The lighting control shall be by presence detection.

15.3 Emergency Lighting

System to be designed to comply with all relevant parts of the most current edition of
BS5266.

Escape routes shall have a system of emergency lighting throughout the route to the final
exit from the building.

The emergency lighting system in all areas shall be a fully automatic, self-testing computer
addressable (with LAN connection) system. The location of the computer terminal shall be
agreed with UWE Estates Department.

The emergency light fittings shall be self-contained, self-testing and addressable, 3hr
duration and appropriately selected for the specific location.

The escape route shall be indicated by non-maintained illuminated signage.

Where the absence of adequate external ambient light may hinder the safe evacuation of
the building, additional artificial emergency lighting shall be provided.

In buildings where sufficient quantities of emergency luminaires are to be installed and

access to the fittings may be difficult to change batteries and the like, due consideration
shall be given to the use of a Zumtobel Central Battery system.

15.4 External Lighting

Where colour rendering is not critical, consideration should be given to the use of more
efficient LED sources.

External lighting shall be controlled via the BMS system and photocell operation. An
over-ride switch shall be provided but shall be accessible to authorized persons only and
shall be linked to the BMS system to give an alarm condition on operation.

Avoid upward light pollution and consider overspill onto neighbouring buildings.

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Careful consideration for future maintenance tasks in relation to the positioning of

luminaires and mounting height.

Due consideration shall be given to the maintainability on the selection of columns or fittings
that can be folded or lowered to limit the need for work at height

Consider the use of bollard lights and street lights to illuminate external walkways as
opposed to floodlighting an area.

15.5 HV Switchgear and Transformers

HV switchgear panels shall be built to IEC 60694 and appropriate sections of IEC 62271
and IEC 61958

Package Substations built to relevant sections of IEC 62271

Switchgear shall be a minimum of IP44 and selected according to site conditions

Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6) may be proposed for all incoming and bus-section switches.
However emerging technologies that negate the use of SF6 must also be proposed. Switch
Panels shall be Smart Grid compatible and shall be equipped with intelligent
microprocessor protection relays and trip units offering data measuring and appropriate
communication facilities.

Switchgear shall have pulsed output, kWh and kVArh digital meters with serial output for A,
V, kW, kVAr and power factor. Metering to be provided for each outgoing circuit and be
linked to the Elcomponent system.

A separate cubicle shall be provided for the termination of all metering outputs and external
control circuits. Access shall be possible with the switchboard remaining live.

Transformers shall be, low loss, free breathing or hermetically sealed. Insulating fluid shall
be Midel 7131. Cast Resin transformers may be proposed where circumstances
necessitate their use.

Transformers shall be sized to ensure their most optimum performance.

15.6 LV Modular Switchboards

Modular Panel Boards shall be built to BS EN 60439-1: 1994

Switchboards shall be a minimum of Form 4b Type 5 construction.

Air Circuit Breakers (ACB’s) on all incoming and bus-section switches. The ACB’s shall be
equipped with intelligent microprocessor protection relays and trip units offering data
measuring and communication facilities.

Switchboards shall have pulsed output, kWh and kVArh digital meters with serial output for
Amps, Volts, kW, kVAr and power factor. Metering to be provided for each outgoing circuit
and be linked to the BMS system.

A separate cubicle shall be provided for the termination of all metering outputs and external
control circuits. Access shall be possible with the switchboard remaining live.

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Outgoing switches up to and including 630A shall be Moulded Case Circuit Breakers
however fuse-switch types may be considered where necessary to overcome
discrimination issues.

Outgoing switches rated at 800A or over, shall preferably be ACB type.

Switchboards shall incorporate transient voltage surge suppression protective devices.

Allowances of at least 25% spare capacity shall be made for future expansion.

Spare cubicles shall be incorporated into the design of LV modular switchboards for future
adaptations.

An assessment of the harmonics content and power factor correction requirement for the
connected loads shall be made at the design stage. Appropriate measures shall be
incorporated into the design of the LV modular switchboards.

Devices for locking-off switches for future maintenance and isolation purposes shall be
provided within the specification. The padlocks and keys shall be suitably engraved for
identification purposes.

15.7 Metering

Sub-metering of electrical supplies shall be provided in accordance with the requirements

of the Building Regulations specifically “The Building Regulations 2000 part L Conservation
of Fuel and Power”.

Metering units shall be installed to all distribution boards either in the main switchboard or
integrally in each distribution board. All meters shall have pulsed outputs.

Metering units shall be linked to the Facilities – Estates Elcomponent Energy Monitoring
Package and the ‘Power Logic’ monitoring and diagnostic system. An analysis study shall
be completed for the buildings to ensure that radio signals can reach the existing
transmitter/receiver of the Facilities – Estates Elcomponent Energy Monitoring Package
and that there is spare capacity on the Elcomponent system. Where the signal strength is
weak or not present then number of additional transmitter/receiver units shall be installed
as required.

All necessary equipment required to ensure that each metering unit can be connected onto
the Facilities – Estates Elcomponent Energy Monitoring Package including data points,
power supplies, etc shall be provided. Where, required allowance shall be made for
modifying and/or extending the existing system as required ensuring that it is sufficiently
sized to accommodate the additional metering units within the buildings and an additional
25% spare capacity.

Where the system needs to be augmented then a complete system shall be installed.

Sub-metered electricity supplies shall be provided for any retail and catering concession
units.

15.8 LV Modular Panel Boards

Modular Panel Boards shall be built to BS EN 60439-1: 1994

Panel boards shall be a minimum of Form 4b Type 5 construction.

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Fuse switch on all incoming switches.

Panel boards shall have pulsed output, kWh and kVArh digital meters with serial output for
A, V, kW, kVAr and power factor. Metering to be provided for each outgoing circuit.

A separate cubicle shall be provided for the termination of all metering outputs and external
control circuits. Access shall be possible with the switchboard remaining live.

Outgoing switches shall be fuse-switch type.

Panel boards shall incorporate transient voltage surge suppression protective devices.

Allowances of at least 25% spare capacity shall be made for future expansion.

Devices for locking-off switches for future maintenance and isolation purposes shall be
provided within the specification. The padlocks and keys shall be suitably engraved for
identification purposes.

Access space to be allowed to the rear of the panels to enable maintenance.

Resistive rubber mats to BS 921:1976 to be provided for all LV panels (in addition to HV)

15.9 LV Distribution Boards

Modular Panel Boards shall be built to BS EN 60439-1: 1994

Allowance to be made for future expansion. Distribution boards shall have at least 25%
spare capacity.

Separate distribution boards shall be provided at each location to segregate the following
services: lighting services, and small power services to teaching/academic areas.

MCB’s and RCBO’s to have a minimum rated breaking capacity of 10kA

MCB’s and RCBO’s to have a facility for padlocking off.

RCBO’s to be single module units.

Distribution boards to be provided with door locks.

Distribution boards to incorporate a main switch disconnector. Devices for locking-off

MCB and RCBO for future maintenance and isolation purposes shall be provided within the
specification. The padlocks and keys shall be suitably engraved for identification purposes.

15.10 Transient over Voltage Protection

The main switchboard shall have an integral three phase and neutral transient over voltage
protection unit to protect the system from the effects of lightning strikes and harmonic
spikes.

The transient over voltage protection unit shall be sized and rated to suit the application.

15.11 Power Factor Correction

A suitably sized spare way on the main switchboard shall be provided for the installation of
power correction. Power factor correction shall be provided with detuned capacitors to

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serve the whole building. The switchboard shall have integral power factor correction
equipment comprising multiple 25kVA capacitor banks to correct the reactive load and
automatic switching control of each bank to apply the necessary capacitance.

The power factor shall be between 0.95 lagging and unity power factor at any given time.

15.12 Harmonic Filters

A suitably sized spare way on the main switchboard shall be provided for the installation of
harmonic filters. The harmonic content of the system shall be monitored over the first three
months and the results shall be made available to the Facilities – Estates Department,
UWE University. Should the harmonic content be above the limit as detailed in G5/4 ‘Limits
for Harmonics in UK Electricity Supply System’ then harmonic filters shall be installed to
reduce the levels to an acceptable level.

15.13 Fire Alarm System

15.13.1 General

The UWE standard for detection is Type L3 for Non-Residential and L2 for Residential..

System to be designed to comply with all relevant parts of BS5839-1:2002+A2:2008.

Spare capacity shall be made available for future expansion of the system.

The category of fire alarm system to be applied will be project specific and will be advised
by the Estates CA.

The system shall be an analogue addressable type from the Gent Vigilon range.

All devices and accessories shall be selected from the Gent Vigilon analogue range.

Remote indicators will be required for all concealed detection devices and interface units.

Flashing beacons shall have a red lens. They shall be positioned at various locations which
will include corridors and communal areas, bars and café areas, lecture theatres,
classrooms, plantrooms, toilets etc.

All due consideration shall be given to the provision of mechanical plant shutdown relay
interfaces where required.

Plant override test switches shall be a key operated type.

In areas where entertainment equipment will be used, fire alarm interface units shall be
installed to disconnect the power to the equipment in the event of a fire alarm activation.

15.13.2 Fire Alarm System Cabling

BS5839-1:2002+A2:2008 - defines two levels of fire resistance for fire resisting cable
systems, termed ‘standard’ and ‘enhanced’

The preferred method of cabling is Pirelli FP200 Gold, cables with red coloured outer
sheath, minimum sized at 1.5mm2 , with red PVC shrouds at all terminations. This cable
type meets the ‘enhanced’ standard.

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Prior to completion of the design, the designer shall submit to the UWE Estates Department
Principal Engineer a written statement detailing conformance with this requirement and/or
reasons for proposing the use of ‘standard’ cabling within the fire alarm system design for
consideration.

15.13.3 Fire Alarm System / Mechanical Systems Interface

A fire alarm system interface unit shall be installed adjacent to each mechanical plant
control panel. This will include the ventilation system and boiler plant control panels.

15.13.4 Fire Alarm System / Access Control Systems Interface

All doors with electro-magnetic locking systems shall include a provision to allow the door to
be opened in the event of a fire alarm or other emergency situation.

A fire alarm system interface unit shall be installed adjacent to each secure door with an
additional manual break glass override – coloured green – mounted local to the door.

Careful co-ordination to be ensured between the lock installer and fire alarm system
installer.

15.14 Containment

The designer shall utilise a factor +50% when sizing containment systems to allow spare
capacity for future adaptations.

General: Galvanised steel trunking / conduit and accessories. Heavy gauge in boiler /
plantrooms.

Dado trunking: 3 compartment, white, pvc dado trunking and accessories. As Honey well
3D Prestige.

SWA cables: Heavy duty, galvanized steel cable tray and cable ladders/racks.

Data/telephone: Dedicated, heavy duty, galvanized steel cable basket

Fire alarm system: Dedicated, heavy duty galvanized steel cable tray with metallic cable
ties.

Security alarm system :Dedicated, heavy duty galvanized steel cable tray

15.15 Lightning Protection System

Designed to BS EN 62305:2006.

15.16 Transient Voltage Surge Suppression and Protection

Designed to BS6651

15.17 UPS Systems

UPS systems shall be selected to protect ‘critical loads’ from loss of mains power supply.
Typical critical loads to be considered are data storage and processing systems,
telecommunications network equipment and point of sales terminals.

Consideration must be given to:

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The size of the load

The load type

The load process requirements

The configuration type i.e. 1N, 2N, N+1 etc.

The installation of a fully safety interlocked, full wrap around maintenance By-pass

Separate LV supplies, one to the rectifier and the other to the static by-pass

The space available to house the equipment

The suitability of the proposed location eg: size and weight

Access to the proposed locations

Future expansion of the system

The additional requirement for mechanical cooling.

Period of autonomy required for each application

15.18 Assistance Call Systems

Assistance call systems shall be installed in all accessible wc’s. Alarms, both audible and
visual, shall be given local to the accessible wc and also be signed to show need to contact
porters/security lodge if activated.

The reset button shall be located within the accessible wc.

The electrical services designer shall liaise with the UWE Safety Unit and building designer
to determine suitable locations for disabled safe refuges. A purpose made system shall be
installed and linked to the porters/security lodge (location to be advised). The system shall
incorporate an intercom system to allow direct conversation between the person requiring
assistance and the security personnel. The main control panel shall indicate the location of
the alarm by means of an electronic mimic board.

15.19 Small Power Services

Complete small power installations shall be provided to serve each area/floor of Buildings.

The number of socket outlets, dedicated supplies, etc shall be derived from the standard
room data sheets and project specific room data sheets..

Small power systems shall be designed to comply with the requirements of the latest edition
of the IEE Wiring Regulations BS7671 latest edition and other applicable British and
European Standards and Codes of Practice.

The room data sheets detail the minimum requirements for small power outlets in each
area. However where PC’s are to be utilised in the space, circuits shall be limited to
accommodate a maximum of eight number PC’s. Allowance shall be made for future
expansion on each other sub circuit in his calculations.

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IT server rooms and IT suites/computer labs shall have an emergency stop button mounted
locally within the room to isolate the power in the event of an emergency.

The installation layout drawings for small power shall include all small power outlet
locations, circuit references and outlet types.

Final circuit wiring shall be wired in LSF single cables. Each final circuit cable in the
distribution board shall be fitted with a propriety cable ferrule system identifying the final
circuit cable reference. The cabling shall be sized in accordance with the latest edition of
the IEE Wiring Regulations.

Final circuits shall be installed in galvanised steel trunking and conduit within ceiling voids
and enclosed in galvanised steel conduit in walls. In the plant rooms, switch rooms, etc final
circuits shall be wired in XLSF single core cables in exposed galvanised steel trunking and
conduit. Within teaching spaces and the like 3 compartment White dado trunking shall be
installed as per Marco Elite, and must accommodate CAT 6 data cables. Contrast inserts or
contrasting dado lids are to be provided behind accessories for DDA Compliance.

Within all spaces where PC,s are likely to be used all twin switched 13A, 230V socket
outlets shall have dual earths and outboard switches, cables to be 4mm2.

Cleaners’ single gang, 13A socket outlets shall be provided, wired on separate circuits from
the general sockets and coloured red.

In all teaching rooms, lecture rooms and meeting rooms shall be provided with 13A socket
outlets, audio visual outlets, RJ45 outlets for data points and a telephone point for the Audio
visual and IT installations, and containment for future Audio visual and IT installations. The
requirements are contained in a separate Audio visual and IT specification.

15.20 Under Floor Bus-Bar System

In areas with raised access floors an under-floor bus-bar system shall be provided to serve
13A socket outlets.

The bus-bar shall comply with the requirements of the latest edition IEE Wiring Regulations.
Wiring to the under-floor bus-bar shall be in XLPE/SWA/LSF cabling installed directly on
the slab floor. All under-floor bus-bar system shall be rated at 63A and shall be supplied
cables sized for the full load of the bus-bar. Bus-bar shall be provided under all teaching
spaces, IT suites, meeting rooms, offices and studios

The under-floor bus-bar system shall enable the connection of the four compartment floor
boxes. The bus-bar track shall be located in the floor with the maximum spacing of 5.5
metres between bus-bars and 2.5 metres from walls. The floor boxes shall be fed via pre-
wired 3 metre un-fused tap offs, the use of fused type tap offs to served floor boxes shall not
be permitted.

Under-floor bus-bar systems in IT suites and office areas shall be used to enable
connection to desk mounted socket outlet modules. The desk mounted socket outlet
modules shall be fed via prewired 5 metre fused tap offs which shall exit the floor void via
grommets mounted in the floor. The desk mounted socket outlet modules shall be provided
as part of the electrical installations work. Each tap off unit identified in the room data
sheets shall consist of an electrical supply to the desk mounted socket outlet modules and
an RJ45 data outlet.

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Dado Trunking In areas where raised floors are not installed, a 3 compartment dado
trunking, as per Marco Elite shall be installed around the perimeter of rooms and columns.
The dado trunking shall be installed above desk height. The dado trunking shall
accommodate twin switched 13 amp socket outlets and CAT 6 data/voice outlets.

The 13amp socket outlets mounted on the dado trunking shall be wired in Ring
configuration and NO spurs shall be permitted.

Where sockets and IT outlets are installed on dado trunking grey inserts or trunking lid shall
be installed either side to comply with Part M and provide a 30% visual contrast.

15.21 Studios and Workshops

The electrical distribution system in studios and workshops shall be configured such that all
of the small power outlets (except cleaners outlets) can be isolated through one removable
key switch located within the staff office area. A ‘Firewatch’ panel shall be installed for this
purpose.

Emergency stop buttons shall be installed throughout the studios and workshops to isolate
power if activated. Stop buttons shall be ‘non-latching’ type buttons and isolate all power to
machinery and open sockets and where applicable Gas shut off interlocking installed.

Socket outlets shall generally have RCD protection except where they have been
installed specifically for computers, etc.

Sockets for cleaners shall be installed on a separate circuit and shall not be affected by the
emergency stop system. Machinery socket outlets shall be MK Commando type outlets to
prevent students from plugging in unauthorised power tools and the requirement shall be
project specific.

15.22 Laboratories

The electrical distribution system in laboratories shall be configured such that all of the
small power outlets (except cleaners outlets) can be isolated through one
removable key switch located within the staff office area.

Emergency Isolation Points, inter-linked to gas supply shall be installed throughout the
laboratory to isolate power and gas supply if activated. Stop buttons shall be ‘non -latching’
type buttons and isolate all power to machinery and open sockets.

Socket outlets shall generally have RCD protection except where they have been installed
specifically for computers, etc.

Sockets for cleaners shall be installed on a separate circuit and shall not be affected by the
emergency stop system.

15.23 Electrical Supplies to Mechanical Plant

Installations in connection with mechanical engineering services power supplies and

control circuits shall be supplied using information from the mechanical services design.

Power supplies and control cabling shall be provided, as required, to all items of
mechanical plant and equipment.

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Plant power supply circuits shall be wired in copper conductor, XLPE insulated, single wire
armoured, LSF sheathed cable run on suspended cable tray from mechanical control
panels located in the plant rooms.

Equipment power supplies, such as for extract fans, shall be wired in 6491B (XLSF) cable
run in trunking and conduit.

The controls wiring shall be installed in cabling and containment systems as required to
match the requirements of the Mechanical services design and the requirements of the
controls/BMS supplier

15.24 Electrical Wall Clocks

Unless a central system has been requested, where wall mounted clocks are required, they
will be radio controlled (MSF), with integral batteries and securely fixed in the required
locations.

15.25 Electrical Hand Dryers

An efficient mains automatic electrical hand dryer shall be installed in each WC. The unit
shall incorporate an overheat protection device and installed in accordance with DDA and
part M requirements.

15.26 Hearing Assistance Systems

Analogue infrared transmission equipment shall be installed within each teaching

room/space. The system shall be compatible with other units installed throughout UWE.

All equipment to be housed in a locked cabinet secured to the building fabric.

Systems to be complete with radio microphones.

15.27 Labelling System

All accessories shall be labelled with the distribution board room number, distribution board
number and circuit reference.

Details of cable sizes and type, protection device ratings, and point of origin shall be
labelled on all LV switchboards, panel boards and distribution boards.

Details of Z e readings with the date of test shall be displayed at each switch board/panel
board/distribution board.

15.28 Lifts

Lifts to be designed to comply with the Lift Regulations 1997 and all relevant parts of BSEN
81:2005, all sections apply.

Please also refer to section 6 of the Design Guide

15.29 CCTV, Security Alarm, Access Control and Car Park Barrier Systems

The electrical services designer shall liaise with the UWE Security Services Department
and building designer to determine the requirement for CCTV, security alarm, access
control and car park barrier systems. The designer shall incorporate these requirements
into his design to be provided by the electrical services contractor and allow for all

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necessary power, fire alarm interfaces, data points etc. The designer shall further include
all containment and ducting requirements.

The designer shall collate all the necessary commissioning certificates for these services
for submission to the Estates CA.

15.30 Utilities

The designer shall ensure that, where there is an existing supply, it is of a suitable type and
capacity for the anticipated additional load, with due consideration given to the load growth
of the existing installation and time/season of the year. Measurements - over a period of 1
week - shall be taken to ascertain the existing electrical load profile.

Where a new supply is required, the designer shall be responsible for arranging with the
local Electricity Supply Company for the installation of a suitable electrical supply of
adequate capacity for the anticipated electrical load.

15.31 High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting

Any installation incorporating HID must be subject to a detailed risk evaluation in order to
ensure compliance with the Control of Artificial Optical Radiation Regulations 2010.

16.0 Approved Electrical Suppliers

HV distribution : Square D / Schneider Electric / Siemens Reyrolle /
Hawker Siddeley Switchgear
LV switchboards/panel boards : Square D / Schneider Electric
LV distribution boards : Square D / Schneider Electric
Lighting : Zumtobel
Lighting Control : Zumtobel / Philips
Wiring accessories : Honeywell MK / MEM /
Dado trunking : Marco Elite
Lightning protection : Furse / EES
Transient voltage protection : Furse / Dehn
UPS systems : Chloride / UPS Systems
Generators : Broadcrown / Chloride / F G Wilson / Dale Erskine
Fire Alarm System : Gent Vigilon Analogue Addressable System
Assistance Alarm : Wandsworth
Hand Driers : Dyson / Airforce
Cables (all to be LS0H) : Delta Crompton /Pirelli / Draka UK.
17.0 Register Of Approved Electrical Contractors

The designer shall advise and/or recommend to Estates CA of suitable contractors. Estates
CA will make the final selection.

18.0 Commissioning – Electrical

The designer shall ensure that the systems proposed are fully commissionable.

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Commissioning shall be carried out to manufacturers’ recommendations.

CIBSE commissioning codes and BSRIA guides shall be adhered to.

100% of electrical installation test results shall be checked by the electrical designer. He
shall also witness the electrical installation testing to verify their accuracy.

The electrical designer shall attend and witness fire alarm commissioning work and verify
sound level tests.

The electrical designer shall attend and witness emergency lighting commissioning work
and lighting level tests to verify their accuracy.

19.0 Handover Soft Landings and Post Occupancy Evaluation

At Practical Completion the designer should ensure that the minimum information detailed
within of the handover checklist (see Appendix E) are issued to the Facilities CA for the
project. All information issued should be a duplication of the information contained within
the project O&M manuals. BISRA soft landings and the hefce post evaluation process to be
followed

With-out receipt of this information the building will not be accepted by UWE.

Prior to handover the designer should organise for a technical walk-round of the project
area for UWE Facilities staff, maintenance contractors and client end users/stakeholders
for building familiarization. Date to be included in commissioning programme provided by
commissioning contractor.

20.0 Post-Occupancy Assessment

A post-occupancy assessment shall be performed by the designer in association with the

Estates CA after 1 years full occupation of the project area. Reference shall be made to the
RIBA Post-Occupancy Review of Buildings (www.architectural.com) and CIBSE PROBE
formats.

21.0 Appendices
21.1 Mechanical Appendices

A Conceptual Design Confirmation (CDC), Stage 2 Proforma

B Tender Issue, Stage E Proforma

21.2 Electrical Appendices

C Conceptual Design Confirmation (CDC), Stage 2 Proforma

D Tender Issue, Stage 4 Proforma

21.3 M&E Appendices

E Handover , RIBA Stage 6 - 2013

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B Block Lounge Stretch ceiling

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Section 5 - APPENDIX A

Mechanical: Conceptual Design Confirmation (CDC), Stage 2 Proforma

A1.
Summary of Client’s Mechanical Services Brief
• (attach to rear if necessary)
A2.
Brief overview of Mechanical Services proposed

A3.
Report on Renewable and Low Carbon Technologies

A4.
Report on Part L strategy
• Including method of compliance with Part L considering building thermal performance, summer
time overheating, orientation infiltration and consequential improvements.
• Include design Energy Performance Certificate
A5.
Mechanical services scope of works
LPHW heating: Boilers Y/N
Radiators Y/N
Mechanical Ventilation: General Y/N
Toilets Y/N
Smoke Management Y/N
LMR ventilation Y/N
Specialist extract Y/N
Other (specify) Y/N
Cooling: Local Y/N
Central Y/N
Other (specify) Y/N
Type of refrigerant to be used
Compliance with EN378 (refrigeration systems) Y/N
Hot Water Services: Local Y/N
Central Y/N
Cold Water Services: Tanks Y/N
Mains Y/N
Utility Services: Gas Y/N
Water Y/N
B.M.S.: Y/N
Fire: Dry riser Y/N
Wet riser Y/N
Hydrant Y/N
Other Systems: Fire Suppression Y/N
Other (Specify)

A6.
Variations from UWE Design Guide Standard Criteria
•

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Section 5 - APPENDIX A
A7.
Schematically layout indicating Design Principles
Drawing N°: …...................................... (to be attached)

A8.
BMS Points Schedule

N° of new controller: Nr
N° of new master controllers: Nr
N° of analogue inputs: Nr
outputs: Nr
N° of digital inputs: Nr
outputs: Nr
New intranet connection required? Y/N
Confirm if above points taken from existing controller(s) Y/N
Copy of proposed labelling attached Y/N

A9.
Asbestos Survey
• Confirmation that Type 3 Asbestos Survey performed
A10.
Confirmation of suppliers
•
A11.
Elemental budget breakdown (including VAT)
Element Cost (£)

A12.
Confirmation of Mechanical services design and construction program
•
A13.
Whole Life Costing document
•
A14.
Proposed contractors
•
A15.
Confirmation of coordination with structural engineer and building designer
•

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Section 5 - APPENDIX B
MECHANICAL: Tender Issue, Stage 4 Proforma
B1.
Confirmation of major changes from CDC
•
B2.
Schedule of all calculations (copies attached)
•
B3.
Schedule of Legionella Susceptible Plant
•
B4.
Confirmation of notification to Bristol Water
• Copy attached (+ response if received)
• Confirmation of use of any RPZ non-return valves
B5.
Confirmation of plant requiring statutory inspection
• Schedule of plant
• Confirmation of safety devices provided (including settings)
B6.
Building control
• Copy of part L energy calculations
• Ventilation control strategy
• Details of pressurised Water heaters
B7.
Disruption to UWE services
Significant plant shutdowns required (interruption to existing supplies)
• Installation effected
• Disruption period
B8.
Confirmation of fire fighting, smoke management or life safety plant
•
B9.
Confirmation of coordination with structural engineer and building designer
•
B10.
Confirmation that internal QA check performed
•

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Section 5 - APPENDIX C

ELECTRICAL: Conceptual Design Confirmation (CDC), Stage 2 Proforma

C1.
Summary of Client’s electrical services brief

• (attach to rear if necessary)

C2.
Brief overview of proposed electrical services

• (no more than 500 words)

C3.
Electrical services scope of works

Lighting General Y/N

Emergency Y/N

External Y/N

Automatic Controls Y/N

LV Modular Switch Boards Y/N

Power LV Modular Panel Boards Y/N

LV Distribution Boards Y/N

Power Factor Correction Y/N

Harmonic Filters / Conditioners Y/N

Metering Y/N

Small Power Y/N

3ph Supplies Y/N

Mechanical services requirements Y/N

Fire Alarms General Y/N

Interface with mechanical services Y/N

Interface with access control systems Y/N

Interface with entertainment equipment Y/N

Flashing beacons Y/N

Containment Y/N

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Section 5 - APPENDIX C

IT/Telecoms Services Y/N

CCTV System Y/N

Security Alarm System Y/N

Access Control Systems Y/N

Vehicle Barrier Systems Y/N

Lightning Protection System Y/N

Transient Voltage Surge Protection Y/N

UPS Systems Y/N

Assistance Call Systems Y/N

Disabled Safe Refuge Systems Y/N

Electrical Wall Clocks Y/N

Electrical Hand Dryers Y/N

Hearing Assistance Systems Y/N

Lifts Passenger Y/N

Goods Y/N

C4.
Variations from UWE Standard Electrical Design Guide Criteria

C5.
Schematically layout indicating Design Principles

Drawing N°: …...................................... (to be attached)

C6.
Asbestos Survey

• Confirmation that Type 3 Asbestos Survey performed

C8.
Confirmation of suppliers/manufacturers for equipment and plant

To include the following:

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Section 5 - APPENDIX C

• Light fittings and proposed light sources to be utilized.

• Wiring accessories

• LV Switch Boards

• LV Panel Boards

• LV Distribution Boards

• Cables

C9.
Elemental budget breakdown (including VAT)

Element Cost (£)

C10.
Confirmation of electrical services design and construction programme

C11.
Proposed contractors

C12.
Confirmation of coordination with building designer, structural engineer and mechanical
services designer

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

Section 5 - APPENDIX D

ELECTRICAL: Tender Issue, Stage 4 Proforma

D1.
Confirmation of major changes from CDC

D2.
Schedule of all calculations (copies attached)

• Lighting. Illuminance level, uniformity, glare index, energy target and W/m2. Areas that
fall outside the W/m2 parameters to be highlighted.

• Daylighting

• Emergency Lighting. Coverage calculations

• Power. Load calculations and circuit design calculations

• Fire Alarm System. Detection device coverage. Cable type. Loop capacities

D3.
Confirmation of notification to local Electricity Supply Company

• Copy attached (& response if received)

D4.
Confirmation of equipment/installations requiring statutory inspection

• Schedule of equipment/installations

D5.
Building control

• Copy of part L energy calculations and worksheets

D6.
Disruption to UWE services

Significant electrical isolations/plant shutdowns required (interruption to existing supplies)

• Installation effected

• Disruption period

D7.
Confirmation of Fire Alarm System design/components/strategy

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

Section 5 - APPENDIX D

D8.
Confirmation of coordination with building designer, structural engineer and mechanical
services designer

D9.
Confirmation that internal QA check performed

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

Section 5 - APPENDIX E
M&E: Handover Report, Stage 6 Proforma
E1.

Confirmation of major changes from tender

•
E2.

Schedule of Legionella Susceptible Plant

•
E3.

Confirmation of Bristol Water Maintenance Requirements

•
E4.

Confirmation of plant requiring statutory inspections

• Confirmation of plant installed

• Schedule of safety valves (including settings)
• Confirmation of above’s basic operating conditions, including:
Type of liquid

Process temperatures and pressures

Safe operating limits

Provision of safety instructions

General:

Schedule of safety valves (including settings)

E5.

Confirmation of fire fighting or life safety plant

•
E6.
Confirmation of Handover information received by mechanical
designer Date received

• Chlorination certificates
• Gas safety certificates & installation line diagram
• Life safety ventilation certificate
• Dry / Wet riser test certificate
• Fire hydrant test certificate
• Pressure Systems factory certificate

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Section 5 - APPENDIX E

• COSHH certificates
• O&M manuals received
• As fitted drawings received
• Energy Performance Building Directive requirements
• Building Regulations, Building Log Books
(for further requirements refer to BSRIA (AG 1) & CIBSE (OOM)

E7.
Confirmation of compliance with EN 378, refrigeration systems

E8.

Safety Interlocks

Confirmation that all plant safety interlocks (and ALL fire damper drop tests) witnessed by mechanical
designer

E9.
Feedback on Contractors used

• Recommended for future use ........................................................... (Y/N)

E10.
Confirmation of any significant site changes coordinated with structural engineer and building
designer

E11.
Contractors contact details for defects liability period

• Building
Name Telephone

• Mechanical
Name Telephone

• Electrical
Name Telephone

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 UWE Facilities

Design Guide for Buildings

Lecture Theatre in the ECC

Part 6

Specialist Installations
UWE Design Guide for Buildings

Index

Part 1 Introduction

Part 2 Space Standards

Part 3 General Design

Part 4 BC&E Requirements

Part 5 M&E Requirements

Typical IT Room
Part 6 Specialist Installations

6.1 Lifts
6.2 IT Cabling Infrastructure
6.2.1 Standards
6.2.2 UTP Termination and Containment
6.2.3 Fibre termination and Containment
6.2.4 Outlet labeling Convention for Both UPT and Fibre
6.2.5 Approved System Manufacturer
6.2.6 Communications Rooms General Requirements
6.2.7 External Services and Resilience
6.2.8 Telephone Services
6.2.9 Audio and Visual Equipment
6.3 Security & Access Control
6.4 External Works
6.4.1 General
6.4.2 Hard Landscaping Materials
6.4.3 Soft Landscaping/ Tree Planting
6.4.4 Street Furniture
6.4.5 External Lighting
6.5 Kitchen Fit Out
6.5.1 Deli/Café/Bar Style Operation
6.5.2 Design
6.5.3 Finishes
6.5.4 Seating Area
6.6 Vending Operation
6.7 Tea Points

Index
UWE Design Guide for Buildings

6.1 Lifts

Provide lift equipment in accordance with the safety requirements of the appropriate BSEN
80/81 Standards and the requirements of the Health and Safety Executive and Part M of
Building Regulations.

Accessories; Lift trip counters to be fitted.

6.2 IT Cabling Infrastructure

6.2.1 Standards

The three standards are formally titled ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.1-2001, -B.2-2001, and

-B.3-2001.

Copper cabling in new buildings to be CAT 6 and cabling installation will be provided with a
manufacturer warranty for 25 years. New buildings shall be provided with blanket wireless
coverage.

Contractors should be aware of the network of underground fibres across UWE campuses
and that works may interfere with these services

6.2.2 UTP Termination and Containment

Any UTP data cabling installation will:

• Be terminated in the communications room on 24 port RJ-45 patch panels

• Terminated at the outlet on an RJ-45 outlet with spring loaded shutters
• Install white plastic outlets in either flush mounted wall outlets or within dado trunking
• Have charcoal grey identification at the outlet in compliance with Part M Building
Regulations.
• The containment will be pervasive, continuous and allow for 50% more cables than
originally installed.
• The containment paths must follow routes in accessible areas, such as corridors.
• A blue 3m patch cord to be provided for each outlet.

6.2.3 Fibre Termination and Containment

Any fibre optic cable installation will:

• Only single mode optical fibre (SM1) to be used.

• Fibre optic cables will be terminated as follows into connectors to be specified by ITS
dependant on application.
• Fibre optic cables are to be installed in 24 way patch panels at the top of
communication cabinets.
• The containment will be pervasive, continuous and allow for 50% more cables than
originally installed. (Containment can be shared between the UTP and fibre
installations)
• All fibre optic cable installations are to be tested using OTDR and the results supplied
to the client after commissioning.

6.2.4 Outlet Labelling Convention for both UTP and Fibre

The following labeling convention will be used for labeling off both UTP and fibre systems:

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

• Each outlet, or fibre connector, to be labelled with Black Text on a Yellow Background.
• Each office outlet will identify which communications room it is feed by and the outlet
within that communications room. Eg. 2B012/34, the 34th outlet in communications
room 2B12.

This is as follows:

A/x <-----------------------------------------------------------------> B/x

Label in room A tells you where the other end of the cable is terminated, i.e. room B.

• The x indicates the consecutive number on the communications room patch panel,
using the example above, the 34th outlet in communications room 2B012 that goes to
room 2B062 would be labelled as follows:

2B012/34 2B072/34

This is labelled outlet 34, no matter if it is the first or 34th outlet in the room 2B062 so that
every outlet ID is unique

• NOTE : There is no difference between a data socket and a telephone socket. The
difference is where the points are patched in at the machine room end.

6.2.5 Approved system/manufacturer

The current approved systems/manufacturers for UTP and fibre installations are:

• Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) - ADC Krone – TrueNet

• Fibre (Single and Multimode) - ADC Krone - TrueNet
• Blown Fibre(Single and Multimode) - ADC Krone
• Alternative fibre manufacturers will be considered

6.2.6 Communications Rooms General Requirements

The communications room must be designed to be a secure area and a suitable size to
accommodate both the IT and Security infrastructures. It must be secured with electronic
access control and also be of a suitable size to allow for the requirements below as well as
wall mount the security equipment. It is likely that multiple comms rooms are required in
larger buildings (See separate security requirements and design sections).

The general requirements for the communications room is:

• Data cabling should be terminated on RJ-45 patch panels in cabinets.

• Connections from switches to patch panels to made with blue 12cm patch cords.
(Patch cords to be included in costs for data cabling installation).
• All cable management to take place in the side voids of an 800 cabinet. The space for
the switches (see above) is to be totally free for the installation of deep 800mm
equipment.
• The cabinets are to a minimum of 42U in height, exact model of cabinet to be specified
by ITS, this specification is dependent on the application:

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

– 800 wide x 1000 deep.

– The front and rear doors should be wardrobe doors that are perforated/ventilated
unless sound proofing cabinets are used.
– There should be at least 1m of space around the cabinet/s on front, 1 side,0
back.
– Cabinets should be floor standing on plinths.
– Power to be supplied by a 10way PDU with current monitoring as a minimum.
– 32AMP supply terminated on D rated commando socket.
• The size of the room will depend on the number of connections required/number of
cabinets to be installed. A two cabinet installation would typically require a room at
least 3m x 3m.
• The rooms should be completed as early as possible in the project.
• The space will allow for the installation of wall mounted cooling.
• The space should be cooled by natural ventilation where possible.
• The space should allow for the installation of security systems on the wall.
• The minimum floor to ceiling height should be the height of the 42U Cabinet + 500mm.
• Where communications rooms are vertically aligned within the building sufficient fire
protection should be provided between rooms.
• Communications rooms should be directly accessible from the corridor, and not
through a store room/classroom etc. Ideally centrally located to reduce number of
comms rooms.
• All UTP cabling runs, back to the communications room, must not exceed 90meters
length and pass the appropriate cabling tests using a Flux or similar tester. All results to
be supplied to the client at the completion of the project.
• Patch panels and active equipment (switches) to be installed as figure 1.

Figure 1 – Layout of switches and patch panels in racks

6.2.7 External Services and Resilience

• Diverse routes are required for service distribution, such as fibre connections. Typically
routes would use risers at opposite ends of the building for resilience.
• External services will be delivered into the building. These will require building entry
points, containment and ducts to the communications rooms. Diverse building entry
points and routes are required.
• NJUG National Joint Utilities Group’s guidance should be used for installation of
underground utilities.

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

6.2.8 Telephone Services

The normal process for the deployment of telephone services is to use VoIP. Therefore
there is no requirement for a dedicated outlet/cabling for a telephone handset as long as a
data point is available with V0IP support.

Where a legal requirement necessitates that an emergency telephone handset is required

then dedicated telephone cable will be required back to the central PABX room. These
outlets are to be terminated on RJ-45 patch panels with the racks in the communications
rooms.

6.2.9 Audio & Visual Equipment

Audio Visual Infrastructure General: The choice of AV infrastructure employed shall be

determined by the type of electrical installation, but take into account the A/V requirements
to be provided within the rooms. UWE will require the use of either surface mounted using
compartmentalised containment or conduit tubing if the accessory plates are mounted flush
with the wall.

The design team should take into account UWE audio visual requirements, which will
encompass further detailed design later within the design process. UWE will require the use
of floor boxes using a compartmentalised containment. Surface containment is to be
avoided

6.3 Security and Access Control

UWE is generally open to the public and operates 24/7 so this raises security issues and
some areas require security of varying standards according to need. This is generally
provided by access control and camera supervision alongside the entry and movement or
intruder detection systems throughout the sites.

Any new works and schemes should be discussed with the Security Manager to ensure that
the project is in line with the correct level of control and security for that space. All schemes
should ensure that the containment for the above is included and co-ordinated with the rest
of the works. For all cases, a detailed site specific assessment is required to determine
the level of security. This is to be led by the Security Manager at UWE and discussion with
the occupying clients.

6.4 External Works

6.4.1 General

The designers approach to the public realm and external space in

general should be to creating useful spaces which accommodate
the necessary functions of urban life and living. The external areas
should provide safe linkages to existing areas/features, safe areas
to sit and congregate. All spaces should be designed to be
welcoming and of high quality that encourage their use.

This identify can be further developed through the use of variations

in the visual character, orientation, scale, dimensions utilized
through to the choice of materials for both hard and soft
landscaping.

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

The design team should take into consideration that UWE will be seeking to incorporate any
future environmental developments and best practice into their design guide covering
external spaces. The design team must consider and be able to demonstrate that they have
taken the future management of the external spaces into consideration during the design
process and as a result formulate an external spaces management plan for future
maintenance and upkeep.

6.4.2 Hard Landscaping Materials

Any hard landscaping materials should be selected to reflect the local aesthetic
surroundings with a contemporary feel. General surfaces to combine smooth slab paving
and textured blocks where appropriate.

6.4.3 Soft landscaping / Tree planting

Tree planning should be adopted in future developments where appropriate to soften the
outline of the built form. Tree selection should be on the basis of appropriate form and
growing habit, but all to be clear stem to allow visual sightlines to be maintained.

6.4.4 Street Furniture

The selection of street furniture should be robust with a contemporary design. Where
possible any proposed street furniture should be integrated into designed elements, such
as paving bands. The design team must ensure that adequate cycle & motorcycle storage
facilities are provided for the design of the specific project in accordance with industry
accepted design principles and industry/local authority requirements.

6.5 Kitchen Fit Out

6.5.1 Deli /Café /Bar Style Operation

The guideline will enable the main aspects of design to be considered in developing a brief
for the design of the style of catering operation.

Considerations will be given to:-

• Design
• General layout and room specifications
• Service Style
• Mechanical and Electrical to include IT and phone lines
• General Service Requirements
• Finishes

6.5.2 Design

The design of modern retail Deli/Cafe catering outlet should only be undertaken by a
specialist catering Design Company with experience in delivering a “Turnkey” package.

A detailed brief can be provided by the client utilising this guideline as basis on which to
commence the design process.

This process ensures that the design is Client based with a full understanding of the
commercial aspects and technical issues demanded from the proposed outlet.

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

The Outlets should be so designed to create a modern bright space with the emphasis on a
de-skilled or semi skilled food production, and able to offer a range of quality light meals,
snacks, sandwiches and beverages. Consideration to design if location to be licensed for
the sale of alcohol

General Layout and Room Specifications

The operation will ideally be a self sufficient unit but could be partly supplied via a larger
local central catering operation.

Stores for storage of back up stock would be required as will modular refrigeration and
freezer units.

Ventilated dry storage should be provided with adequate shelving space for holding stock
equivalent to 30 days.

Modular cold storage units would ideally be divided into three areas, High risk storage, low
risk storage and freezer storage. This facilitates the implementation of the food handling
elements of the food safety act.

Depending on style an area would also be required for the Chef Manager to receive goods
and to conduct cashing up. This would normally be sited close to the entry point for goods.

There will only be a limited use of crockery with disposables being used in the main. A
dishwasher system however maybe required for the washing of crockery and utensils and
this should be sited within an area away from food preparation areas.

This operation will produce waste and therefore, consideration should be given to
separating food waste from waste that can be recycled.

Waste areas should be identified as under counter and external recyclable waste bins.
External enclosed bin areas should be considered within the design or have a holding
facility away from food preparation areas whereby waste can be stored prior to being taken
to main waste storage areas.

A separate lockable COSHH cupboard with shelving and Belfast bucket sinks should be
provided for cleaning and chemicals.

Kitchen Design

The operation is dependent upon a minimum of food being prepared on site and therefore
the space required is relevant to the operation. However, sufficient space should be given
to produce food in a safe and organised manner maintaining separate areas for high and
low risk food preparation.

The operation should allow raw and cooked foods to be prepared in separate areas, having
dedicated refrigeration, sinks and prep benches for those areas.

Cooking equipment should be adequate for use, with the extra ability to meet demands for
increased business. Low intensity food production methods are advised for Deli/Cafe/Bar
style food operation refrigeration and oven and frying equipment to be selected for purpose
of design. Extraction fan to be fit for purpose of selected equipment.

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

A balance of equipment power requirements should be achieved with a view to having a

mix of gas and electrical cooking equipment. Additional electrical power to be available for
any future additional equipment needed.

Separate sinks are required for food use and cleaning use.

Adequate hand wash sinks are required.

The catering environment to be temperature controlled with adequate fresh air make up
and if feasible adequate natural light.

All finishes within the service area should be of an impervious nature and cleanable with the
ability to be regularly sanitized.

Service Style

Operation is relatively low skilled with the emphasis being placed upon low intensity food
production.

The main service counter would be approximately 6metres in length with a back counter
around the same. Again this would depend on location and space available

Space should be given to chilled ambient, hot, option and retail space for grab and go.

The design elements of the flow of customers should be considered to reduce dwell time
and queuing issues. This may affect the type of coffee machines utilised which could be self
service, barista style or bean to cup.

Consideration should be given to the careful management of staffing levels required to

operate the food service points. Staff should be able to migrate between counters during
quieter periods. Staff should be adequately trained in all areas of food production and
service.

The food service counters should include;-

• Limited hot section Chilled Deli and salad section Hot Snacks
• Grab and go, with easy access to tills for speed of service to include-cold drinks
sandwiches and boxed salads etc
• Quality coffee and hot beverage offer on back or front counter
• Each area of the counter outlet will serve and display from either hot (dry heated solid
tops) or cold (chilled self selection and served) units. This could be of a mobile nature
for use elsewhere or fixed as part of the shop fitting.
• Space on the counter and their approaches should provide for the merchandising of
trading up items. Each outlet will require power and data connections to operate POS
systems and widescreen confirmation of service times and menu offerings

6.5.3 Finishes

Consideration should be taken in applying the selection of kitchen finishes in order to

ensure compliance with health and safety and the food safety act.

Ceiling finishes should have a plastic faced cleanable tile on a white corrosion resistant
grid. A 600mm2 grid is advisable. Light fittings should be enclosed vapour proof fittings with
diffusers fitted in to the ceiling grid.

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

Floors should be anti-slip vinyl or quartz screed with 120-150mm coved edges.

Wall finishes should be of a cleanable and impervious nature Whiterock sheeting with an
integral biocide is advised.

Doors should be manufactured with cleanable laminate surfaces.

All paint surfaces should be either low VOC gloss or eggshell.

Food server counters should be manufactured in stainless steel with decorative polymer
counter tops or granite, and have decorative laminates to the front facing elevations.

Impulse space should be designed in to the counter along with an element of retail.

Back counters should be manufactured in stainless steel with stainless steel work surfaces.

Social spaces should have a variety of seating which would suit the varied dining styles
offered.

6.5.4 Seating area

The mix of seating ideally would include fixed seating, breakfast bars and soft seating
areas.

The colour scheme should be so designed as to create a bright and airy environment with
the use of neutral tones accented with stronger feature colours.

Flooring to be cleanable and possibly include some carpeted areas where soft seating is
present.

The use of audio visual facilities should be utilised within the space for information
purposes, therefore data cables would be required in those areas.

6.6 Vending Operation

General

The intention of this guideline is to seek to provide a modern efficient Vending Service.

This guideline will enable the main aspects of design to be considered in developing a brief
for the design of a Vending Operation.

Vending can be used to capture sales in areas of significant footfall or designed to provide
an additional out of hour’s service to back up retail catering operations.

It can further be used to provide a service in remotely located areas away from the main
Catering operations

Considerations will be given to -

• Design
• Mechanical and Electrical
• General Service Requirements

Design

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UWE Design Guide for Buildings

The design of a retail Vending Operation should only be undertaken by a specialist in

Supplying Vending or a catering design company with experience in delivering such a
service.

A detailed brief can be provided by the client utilising this guideline as basis on which to
commence the design process.

This process ensures that the design is client based with a full understanding of the
commercial aspects and technical issues demanded from the proposed outlet. The Outlets
should be so designed to create a discreet vending operation which is carefully sited and
fits well within a given social space.

A Vending operation will require the use of a remote storage facility sufficiently large
enough to hold back up stock particularly where the supply of chilled drinks are required
through vending. Space is also required for storage of hot beverage product and drinks
cups.

It may be that chilled back up space is required where sandwich and chilled snack are held
in situations where the vending machines are stocked more than once per day.

The stores should be adequately lit and well ventilated. Dry storage should be provided with
adequate space for holding stock equivalent to 3-5 days.

All stock is subject to the requirements of the food safety act.

Vending produces waste and therefore, consideration should be given the provision of
separating wet waste from waste that can be recycled. To this effect consider the use of
waste and recycling units adjacent to the vending area.

General Service Requirements

The University Health and Safety Advisor should be consulted at an early stage of the
design process to ensure that the vending is not sited so to cause any restriction or hazard
in public spaces and will satisfy statutory regulations.

Social spaces may be adjacent to the vending and consideration should be given to a
variety of seating which would suit the operation.

Vending is often best placed within a shop fitted housing which can be designed and built to
complement the local scheme.

Consider the use of anti-slip flooring to the area immediately in front of the vending
machines due to the potential slip hazard created by spillage.

6.7 Tea Points

Tea points are required within large office areas and will be an area of 4m2 and will consist
of Vinyl flooring, overhead and under counter storage, sink, fridge dishwasher and fridge.

Part 6 |Specialist Installations 9|Page

 UWE Facilities

Design Guide for Buildings

R Block Phase 2 completed 2010

Part 7

Wayfinding
UWE Design Guide for Buildings

Index

Part 1 Introduction

Part 2 Space Standards

Part 3 General Design

Part 4 B&CE Requirements

Part 5 M&E Requirements

Part 6 Specialist Installations

Part 7 Wayfinding

Introduction to UWE
7.0 WAYFINDING PRINCIPLE 1 INCLUSIVE DESIGN
7.0.1 Inclusive Design Issues: Needs, Circumstances and Profiles
7.0.2 Modes of travel
7.0.3 Size and Type of Transport
7.0.4 Means of Navigation
7.0.5 Methods of Navigation
7.0.6 Inclusive Design: Campus Observations
7.0.7 Inclusive Design: Fundamental Principles
7.0.8 Inclusive Design: Design Solutions
7.1 WAY-FINDING PRINCIPLES: SITE CIRCULATION
7.1.1 Site Circulation Fundamental Principles
7.1.2 Site Circulation: Design Solutions
7.1.3 Site Circulation: Materials Specification
7.2 GRAPHIC DESIGN
7.2.1 Formal Way-finding Signage
7.2.2 Graphic Design: Signage Parameters
7.3 TECHNICAL ANNEX
7.3.1 Circulation spaces and routes
7.3.2 Materials Specification
7.3.3 Nodes and intersections
7.3.4 Street Furniture
7.3.5 Assessment Tool
7.3.6 Circulation spaces and routes
7.4 EXTERNAL SIGNAGE GUIDELINES
7.4.1 Introduction / Purpose
7.4.2 External Vehicular Signage
7.4.3 External Pedestrian Signage
7.4.4 Maps
7.4.5 Finger Boards
7.4.6 Entrance Fixed Signage:

Comment on Design Guide

This Design Guide and the associated suite of documents have been produced to assist external
design consultants in their designs for all UWE properties and is based on past UWE experiences. It
does not absolve external design consultants of their legal or contractual responsibilities under health
and safety legislation, statutory requirements or design liability.

Index
UWE Design Guide for Buildings

INTRODUCTION

The Way-finding Design Guide is not only based upon the fundamental principles which
contribute towards a legible and permeable site, but also refers to issues facing the
University in line with the move towards a master planned campus.

This guide therefore sets out to demonstrate how visual connectivity and effortless
circulation between destinations across the campus can be achieved. Each section
responds to issues identified by a detailed site analysis, establishes design principles and a
series of “best practice” typical details culminating in way-finding that goes un-noticed until
needed.

To support these details a restricted suite of hard and soft materials has been established
to create a consistent “brand image” and landscape character across the site. This
continuity would result in a public realm which is attractive, easily maintained and adaptable
in the future. The selective palettes have been identified to allow for flexibility in the laying
out and general arrangement of materials and allow a degree of variation in the treatment of
the public realm. A balance is required so as not to generate sterile or uniform design
solution in all cases. Careful use and application of appropriate materials and features from
a suite available to design teams will create a locally distinctive but clearly UWE brand
across the campus.

This guide therefore establishes unifying solutions which will provide the setting for the
formal and informal way-finding elements which will be applied to future designs on
Frenchay Campus

The guide is not intended to be a treatise on design, but provides clarity about the design
intent and the way the Campus Way-finding can be improved.

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7.0.0 WAY-FINDING PRINCIPLE 1: INCLUSIVE DESIGN

7.0.1 Inclusive Design Issues: Needs, Circumstances and Profiles

The importance of consultation, review and impact assessments of the design of new
routes cannot be underestimated. This is because legislation and best practice place
responsibilities upon UWE in relation to how it manages its environment for the benefits of
visitors and users. Future design teams will therefore need to demonstrate that a
consultative, review and impact assessment methodology has been followed that takes into
account UWE stakeholder observations.

The following range of needs, circumstances, and profiles, should be taken into account
when preparing detailed design schemes.

Needs

Individuals can be described as having a range or combination of needs pertinent to the

design and management of both internal and external environments:

Universal needs – recognizing that everyone has basic needs, many of these are
addressed by attending to the following specific needs;

Cognitive needs – individuals respond differently to the environment they find themselves
in: some have more specific needs that necessitate the availability of tranquil spaces and
highly legible surroundings;

Hearing needs – a number of individuals may not able to make use of audible signals of
danger and can become particularly vulnerable to vehicle movement and especially cycle
movement. It is therefore necessary to distinguish between pedestrian only routes and
routes used by vehicles and cyclists. These include providing distinctive surface treatments
between shared or segregated routes;

Visual needs – some people are not able to navigate environments, without either clear
visual information, in the way of tonal contrast and good lighting; whilst others require
physical and tactile information in order to navigate the same environments;

Mobility needs – some people find movement around an environment difficult and will
elect to use the most effective modes of mobility to get them from one place to another,
such as cars, hand-powered cycles, wheelchairs or walking with or without mobility aids,
and will seek out routes that minimize their expenditure of energy and provide them with
opportunities to rest when necessary;

Metabolism needs – some people have needs that are best described as relating to their
inner functions, many of which can be managed and do not require significant provision in
the way of design, other than to say that information with regards the whereabouts of
facilities such as toilets can be particularly beneficial.

Circumstances

Individuals can be described as having a range of needs arising from differing

circumstances:

Age – a variety of persons of ages with prevalence of differing needs will be present at the
university for 351 days of the year. Although the majority of students on campus could be
expected to be young adults, there will also be school age children, staff and mature

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students. Conference delegates will range in age. Others will have brought in children –
particularly those who are making use of the campus nursery facilities. The opening up of
the Campus and its specialist and community facilities to adjacent residential developments
will also attract a spectrum of people for a number of disparate reasons;

Stress – stress is not uncommon, especially as exam time approaches, such that the
opportunity to find tranquil environments can become especially welcome;

Pregnancy – pregnancy brings particular needs for which ease of movement an opportunity
to find resting places are also welcome;

Injury – everyone can experience particular need as a result of injury, no one is immune;

Emergence Evacuation – there will be an expectation that if there is an emergency

evacuation that there will be suitable spaces at a safe distance from the building for
assembly whilst awaiting further help or instruction.

Profile

People traversing the campus will fall into two main profiles:

Visitors and the Public – for whom one will have little or no prior awareness but for whom
the UWE has an anticipatory duty to consider and accommodate their needs under the
equalities legislation;

Students and Staff – for whom one will have more information and for whom UWE will have
responsibilities under particular parts of equalities legislation pertaining to employment and
the provision of education.

7.0.2 Modes of travel

In preparing schemes, designers must take into account the various modes of travel, the
relationship between modes of travel, and the means of navigation that people make use of
across the Campus. Staff, students and visitors will elect to use different modes of travel to
and/or around the campus. These could include:

Public Transport – a significant bus interchange will remain on site, with plans for a bus
based rapid transit scheme to emerge, subject to funding. These modes will be used by
those seeking to move about the campus by foot or wheelchair, and as such the design of
stops need to take account of pavement to vehicle transitions and the information available
to aid navigation both on and off site;

Foot – it is anticipated that most people will move about the Campus on foot, making the
availability of easily navigated and travelled pedestrian routes a priority;

Wheelchair – some people will wish to make use of wheelchairs with the majority of users,
but not everyone, electing to use electric wheelchairs or mobility buggies in order to
overcome the significant distances and vertical changes in level -necessitating well
designed routes that are conducive to movement via wheelchair;

Cycle – many people will elect to move about by cycle, including hand-powered cycles –
necessitating provision that does not bring them into conflict with pedestrians and allows
them to park in safe and secure places that do not give rise to obstructing the safe
navigation by other users;

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Car – some people with mobility impairment will elect to move about by car and will need to
find locations close to each building where they are able to park;

Van and Lorry – Drivers of delivery vehicles or contractor vehicles may be one time only
visitors. They will need to find their destination, park, undertake their activity and depart
from the campus without difficulty. Contractors undertaking long term work will be expected
to drop-off tools and equipment close to their workplace, but park in university car parks;

Specialist Vehicles – There will be occasion when specialist vehicles will be used, for
example fire tender and ambulance for emergencies, cranes for maintenance and future
development. The need for the future use of specialist vehicle access must be considered
at design stage sufficient space to maneuver and operate must be allowed for.

7.0.3 Size and Type of Transport

Hand in hand with modes of travel will be the size and type of vehicle used. Designers will
have to consider these in their designs taking into account the following:

Size – in this context the vehicle size can be associated with destination. Busses/coaches
to the Transport hub or bus stop, taxi’s to taxi rank, cars to car parks, cycles to cycle parks,
delivery vehicles to Loading/Delivery bays (Mail, catering, retail) and contractors’ vehicles
to construction site. But they also vary in size and weight and so allowance for vehicles up
to the maximum weight and size allowed on roads must be made.

Type – the type of vehicle will, in most cases, be associated with size. But in this context,
allowance for electric powered cars and wheelchairs must be considered. For example,
charging points, and whether having these will encourage drivers/users to change to these
if on-site charging is provided.

7.0.4 Means of Navigation

People will elect to use different means of navigation to arrive at and move around the
campus. These include:

Visual & Architectural – most people will utilize visual information in order to navigate an
environment, which will be greatly assisted by good lighting and tonal contrast, but will
significantly benefit from the use of architectural signals that contribute to not only to
identifying entrances to destinations, but contributing to the sense of distinguishable places
on route;

Audible – most people who have usable hearing will unconsciously use audible information
to alert them to hazards that they have not seen, whilst people with visual impairments will
use sound not only to detect hazards, but to add to their sense of place.

7.0.5 Methods of Navigation

Further to 7.0.4, people will rely on different methods of navigation to arrive at and move
around the campus

Fixed – these will be sign posts or sign boards with text or images

Electronic – these will be home/work computer internet maps or textual directions, or

information received over mobile devices. Future development of, and use of, electronic
navigations aids for mobile devices used by both able and sensory impaired persons must
be considered in developing wayfinding.

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7.0.6 Inclusive Design: Campus Observations

Tactile – many people with visual impairments use physical entities, such as kerb lines,
building edges and tactile surfaces to navigate through environments, with clearly
distinguishable path edges being a primary means by which cane and guide dog users
track their routes through the environment;

Signage – clearly understood and interpreted environments are necessary within complex
environments in order that people may plan their most efficient routes;

Assistive – some people seek the assistance of others, guide dogs or technology to
navigate environments, which can have a significant bearing on how the UWE manage the
campus environment and enable such forms of assistance to work.

Frenchay campus straddles a “spinal ridge” and Topography challenges exist to breach this
ridge. Routes can either broadly follow contours or cut across them: in certain instances,
there is little choice open to designers. Those routes that run parallel with the crest of the
ridge are generally more conducive to movement, whilst those routes that traverse the ridge
can pose the greatest challenge, unless earthworks and cut and fill strategies are adopted.
These can be effective, but costly.

There are points on certain routes that pose particular challenges and make continuity of
travel problematic for people with mobility impairment: Most routes lack resting places and
some environments do not exploit the opportunity to find tranquillity.

Many vehicle access/control barriers present problems owing to their location, their design
for operation and the difficulty associated with communicating with site security staff.

Navigation of the environment is often hindered by insufficient visual clarity, whilst the
introduction of way finding signage is enabling better route planning.

Several routes do not provide continuous physical, tactile and visual way-finding clues.
There will remain a need to ensure that people with sensory impairments are able to
navigate the environment with sufficient confidence and to distinguish between pedestrian
only surfaces and routes also traversed by cars and cyclists.

7.0.7 Inclusive Design: Fundamental Principles

The essence of successful way-finding will be the ability to create and manage an
environment that is responsive to individuals’ diverse needs, circumstances and profiles. In
relation to preparing a detailed scheme design, there are a number of ways in which
designers can respond to these high level issues. The evaluation tool presented at 7.3.5
provides the opportunity for designers to justify deign approaches in relation to the following
inclusive design criteria:

Logistics: The necessity to plan ones movement to avoid protracted or problematic routes
to destinations;

Legibility: The necessity to achieve clear, logical and efficient navigation through an
environment;

Clarity: The necessity to make sense of the visual and audible information available within
an environment;

Tranquillity: The need to find alternatives to places of high sensory or social intensity;

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Ergonomics: The need for taking account of differing dexterity, size, ability and / or need
when incorporating any physical feature;

Desirable: The need to arrive at equitable solutions evident as a result of devising elegant
solutions that include provision for people’s different needs;

Enjoyable: The aim of designing and implementing a scheme design so that enjoyment
can be experienced by everyone.

These issues become increasingly relevant when the challenging topography of the UWE
New Campus is bought into play. See Figure.

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7.0.8 Inclusive Design: Design Solutions

Attractive, functional and inclusive design solutions can be achieved by a wide range of
measures, interventions and thoughtful design approach. Amongst the range of
approaches that can be taken include:

• Creating mental links with an identifiable network of routes, nodes, levels, principle site
(and floor level) datum etc;
• locating vehicle arrival points close to buildings for individuals reliant on their cars for
mobility;
• securing connections between level routes using well graded connections;
• aligning external routes with internal lifts in order to achieve vertical bridges between
levels;
• designing in stepped alternatives to ramped routes where possible;
• provision of regular pedestrian and wheelchair user resting points, especially where
gradients are steeper;
• procuring seating that provides appropriate physical support;
• identifying opportunities for finding tranquillity, especially where routes pass through
areas that lend themselves to such opportunities;
• accepting that a distinct relationship between pedestrian preference routes and vehicle
preference routes is required, so that those who are especially vulnerable to vehicle
and cycle movement are able to navigate with some knowledge as to where they are in
relation to these other modes of travel;
• ensuring clarity and visual definition between objects and between modes of travel;
• designing linear edges and optimum kerb definitions between vehicle routes and those
for the pedestrian;
• incorporating tactile information across open areas so as to facilitate navigation by
people with visual impairments;
• devising lighting strategies that illuminate surfaces and objects without placing source
within the centre of one’s visual field;
• rolling out branded signage that takes on board the UWE signage strategy principles.

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7.1.0 WAY-FINDING PRINCIPLES: SITE CIRCULATION

7.1.1 Site Circulation Fundamental Principles

The site analysis phase, summarised

in the observations above, have
helped to identify a number of
fundamental design principles that
should be considered when
preparing new or enhanced routes as
part of a managed implementation
programme. The following principles
are developed further latter in this
guide.

Establish pedestrian priority across

the campus, principally within the
central core and served by clear and
direct routes from peripheral car
parking areas.

Define a character type for each

route within the hierarchy. This would
offer consistency and aid orientation
between main entrances, student
housing, academic and welfare
facilities.

Differentiate pedestrian and Examples of Variances in Surface Treatment to Aid Navigation

cycle zones along routes
where both share space.

Establish minimum dimensions and

maximum gradients along routes to deliver an inclusive environment, accessible to all.

Use a restricted palette, or suite, of materials, whilst allowing opportunities for their
application in a varied way along routes and in respite and/or event spaces.

Promote quality in the public realm. Through concentrating quality materials in key spaces
and provide landscape events. Provide respite for pedestrians by means of seating, shelter
and landscape interventions, particularly along lengthy routes between key destinations.

Promote visual links and connections along the primary and secondary routes to aid
navigation, legibility and mental mapping.

Restrict tree planting to soft landscape areas and out of the way of circulation routes.

7.1.2 Site Circulation: Design Solutions

Set out in Section 7.3 are a number of potential detailed design solutions relating to
primary, secondary and tertiary routes, and their intersections. These are presented in as a
technical annex for the benefit of future design teams interested in the delivery of technical
solutions across the Campus. The University would expect design teams to apply the
principles in these diagrams to their respective routes, explaining and justifying instances
where deviation is required to deliver a particular solution. The University may wish to

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collate alternative practical design solutions to aid future route designs which share a
common characteristic or challenge not foreseen in this Guide.

Section 7.3.1 covers the following:

• Shared routes (pedestrian, cyclist and restricted vehicle movements) along primary
routes – two options for surface treatments.
• Principal pedestrian and cyclist routes (segregated) – two options for surface
treatments.
• Secondary pedestrian routes – paved and resin bound options
• Tertiary pedestrian routes
• Cycle only route
• Vehicular routes (to main car parks and “link” road connecting the Northern Gate to the
internal UWE Service (spine road) *
• Service trenches

It is important to note that South Gloucestershire Council have identified a wish to deliver a
bus based rapid transit system in the Bristol North Fringe. The 2009 UWE masterplan
identifies a potential route through the central spine of the site, running from the North Gate
to S block and then using the East Gate, with a secondary route entering the Campus close
to S Block from the west, also using the East Gate. The Council has identified a need for an
11m corridor to serve this requirement. Detailed designs for these access corridors will
need to be developed, if required, through a collaborative approach between UWE and the
Council, responding to issues such as intersections with pedestrian routes (as shown on
the Test Route) and bus stopping points and associated facilities.

7.1.3 Site Circulation: Materials Specification

Section 7.3.2 and the table below identifies a restricted palette of surface materials to be
used across the Campus. Commentary is provided here in relation to the suitable
application of the materials in relation to the hierarchy of routes, or other factors affecting
their use.

Currently under review

Route/Space Surface Treatment Edging

Shared surface Clay Block paving/Dutch Wide Top Concrete Edging
pavers (if surface vehicular) Kerb
Principle
Principle Clay block paving Wide Top Concrete Edging
Pedestrian Route Kerb
Secondary Clay block paving / Resin Concrete Pin kerb
Pedestrian Route bound
Tertiary Resin bound Concrete Pin Kerb
Pedestrian Route
Featured Spaces Natural Stone Paving n/a
Services Trench Gravel n/a

Fig 15: Application of Restricted Palette of Materials

Section 7.3.2 provides more detail and identifies readily available stock items, however it is
recommended that a stock of material is procured for long term maintenance purposes.
Details relating to seating, lighting and planting design associated with site circulation are
identified in further sections.

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7.2.0 GRAPHIC DESIGN

This section refers to the new style of signage being introduced across the Campus.

This section should be read in conjunction with 7.4 External Signage Guidelines, which is
a reproduction of a document issued separately by UWE Marketing & Communications.

7.2.1 Formal Way-finding Signage

Graphic design is critical to the effective use of formal way-finding elements and should be
employed when designing “tools” such as web based literature, leaflets, handouts and
reoccurring logos on Campus buildings and street furniture.

A suite of new formal signage and information boards was agreed in 2010. The aim of the
suite was to radically enhance the successful movement and destination finding experience
of people through the campus. The appropriate placement of required signs has been
drawn from research undertaken by the UWE Estates Team with close attention to the
masterplan. Intersections and nodes were identified as part of the site selection criteria for
signage where maximum impact could be achieved.

The signage art work uses colours and tints taken from UWE brand guidelines resulting a
new colour palette to highlight routes loosely based on the London Underground system.

7.2.2 Graphic Design: Signage Parameters

The signage and information boards (see Figures) have been informed by the following
graphic principles. Future design teams will be expected to liaise with UWE Estates team to
identify the location for new signage and ensure that the appropriate form of sign is
delivered in accordance with the agreed design approach.

• The key routes are separately identified on plan and placed at the top of signs to
overcome any issues of colour blindness
• Main campus buildings are shown in a red tint
• Main paths, roads, and car parking areas in grey
• A dark background gives a strong contrast to the various components.
• Pale green spaces shown depict ‘tranquil’ areas within the campus.
• All important accessible car parks, lifts and toilets are clearly visible.
• A ‘heads up’ plans across the coloured routes - a term used to describe the angle of the
plan when viewed (the ‘You are here’ position of the visitor indicated at the bottom of
the plan with everything immediately facing the visitor in each ‘zoom in’ plan).
• A wider context campus plans and ‘zoom ins’ that show a close up, immediate
environment plan to aid decisions and confirm location and destination.
• Starting from the initial base layers the plans have a simple, flat colour treatment and
each given a separate key for supporting text to avoid clutter.
• A set of clear, stylised pictograms are used to illustrate generic areas such as toilets,
lifts etc In some areas, tricky elements such as indoor routes, underpasses, gradients
and steps required a simply graphic treatment.
• Signage specifications and artwork templates are held by UWE Facilities and Estates

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Examples of the UWE Signs Typical UWE Fingerpost

Extracts from the UWE signs

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7.3.0 TECHNICAL ANNEX

7.3.1 Circulation spaces and routes

This presents design approaches covering routes widths and treatments for shared spaces,
primary, secondary and tertiary routes, cycle only routes and service trenches.

7.3.2 Materials Specification

This recommends a restricted palette of materials for application in edges, finishes and
tactile surfacing.

7.3.3 Nodes and intersections

Potential design approaches for major traffic/pedestrian crossing, secondary junctions,

pedestrian intersections and buildings entrances are provided, identifying in plain form the
general arrangements of design elements and treatments. Respite areas, large and small,
and event spaces are also covered.

7.3.4 Street Furniture

A restricted palette of: benches and seating; bins and enclosures; cycle storage; planters
and; retaining elements are recommended.

7.3.5 Assessment Tool

As explained in the introduction, designs for primary routes must be justified with reference
to the main headings set out within the Assessment Tool. This is to be used by both the
design team in helping to “test” the suitability of emerging designs, and by UWE, should it
so wish, to audit the design process and be used to inform internal sign-off processes. For
smaller scale projects, a sub-set of the issues included will be determined by UWE at the
start of each commission.

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All to be Confirmed following Master Plan Review:

7.3.1 Circulation spaces and routes

7.3.2 Materials Specification

7.3.3 Nodes and intersections

7.3.4 Street Furniture

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7.3.1 Circulation spaces and routes

A Clay block paving

B 1 No. Header course clay block paving
C Wide top granite edging kerb
D Clay block paving
E 1 No. Header course clay block paving

Shared space (pedestrian, cycle and limited vehicle)

Typical Design Solution 1

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A Clay block paving material

B 1 No. Header course clay block paving
C Wide top granite edging kerb
D Dutch clay block paving
E 1 No. Header course Dutch clay block paving

Shared space (pedestrian, cycle and limited vehicle)

Typical Design Solution 2

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A Clay block paving material

B 1 No. Header course clay block paving
C Wide top granite edging kerb
D Clay block paving material
E 1 No. Header course clay block paving

Primary pedestrian / cycle routes

Typical Design Solution 1

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A Clay block paving material

B 1 No. Header course clay block paving
C Granite edging kerb

Primary pedestrian routes

Typical Design Solution Option 1

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A Dutch clay block paving material

B 1 No. Header course Dutch clay block paving
C Wide top granite edging kerb
D Clay block paving
E 1 No. Header course clay block paving

Secondary pedestrian / cycle routes

Typical Design Solution 2

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A Permeable tarmac paving material

B Granite edging kerb

Secondary pedestrian routes

Typical Design Solution Option 2

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A Permeable tarmac paving material

B 1 No. Header course clay block paving
C Granite edging kerb

Tertiary pedestrian routes

Typical Design Solution

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A Granite edging kerb

B Clay block paving material
C 1 No. Header course clay block paving

Cycle only route

Typical Design Solution

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A Service provision under clay block paving

B Natural gravel, laid within service trench

Service Trench
Typical Design Solution

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A Tarmac paving material

B Half battered road kerb
C Tarmac paving material
D Tarmac paving material

Main vehicle routes

Typical Design Solution

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A Tarmac paving material

B Tarmac paving material
C Half battered road kerb
D Tarmac paving material

Secondary vehicle routes

Typical Design Solution

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7.3.2 Materials Specification

Edging
• Description: Wide top Concrete edging kerb
• Product: Wide top, square edged Concrete kerbs
• Supplier: Hardscape Ltd (Tel: 01204 590666)
• Size: 300x200mm section
• Colour: Royal White
• Finish: Flame texture, 10mm pencil nosing
• Jointing: Butt jointed

• Description: Concrete edging kerb

• Product: Standard, square edged Concrete kerbs
• Supplier: Hardscape Ltd (Tel: 01204 590666)
• Size: 100x225mm section
• Colour: Royal White
• Finish: Flame texture, 10mm pencil nosing
• Jointing: Butt jointing

• Description: Concrete edged kerb

• Product: HB 50 Pressed concrete Pin kerb
• Supplier: To contractors choice
• Size: 50x100/150/200mm section (depth as
required)
• Colour: Natural
• Finish: Smooth
• Jointing: Butt jointing

• Description: Half battered road kerb

• Product: HB2 125 Pressed Concrete Kerb
• Supplier: To contractors’ choice
• Size: 125 x 225mm section
• Colour: Natural
• Finish: Smooth
• Jointing: Butt jointing

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Surface finishes
• Description: Clay Block Paving
• Product: Harland Clay
• Supplier: Hardscape Ltd (Tel: 01204 590666)
• Size: 100 x 200 x 80mm
• Colour: Blue Dragfaced
• Finish: Dragfaced
• Jointing: Narrow sand jointed
• Laid: Herring bone pattern
•
• Description: Dutch Clay Block Paving
• Product: Neland Clay
• Supplier: Hardscape Ltd (Tel: 01204 590666)
• Size: 200 x 65 x 85mm
• Colour: Maastricht Dark Grey
• Finish: Sanded
• Jointing: Narrow sand jointed
• Laid: Feather bond

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• Description: Natural stone paving

• Product: Concrete slabs
• Supplier: Hardscape Ltd (Tel: 01204 590666)
• Size: 600mm gauge, random lengths, range 100-800 mm
• Colour: Magma
• Finish: Flamed
• Jointing: 5mm as part of a specialist mortar system
• Laid: Random coursed
•
• Description: Natural stone setts
• Product: Concrete setts
• Supplier: Hardscape Ltd (Tel: 01204 590666)
• Size: 100mm square
• Colour: Royal White
• Finish: Sawn and cropped
• Jointing: 5mm as part of a specialist mortar system
• Laid: Chequer board pattern
•
• Description: Natural gravel
• Product: Golden flint
• Supplier: CED Ltd (Tel: 01773 769916)
• Size: 10-20mm
• Colour: Golden Brown
• Finish: Level raked, even
surface
• Laid: To a depth as desired
with geotextile membrane
as necessary.

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Tactile Surfacing
• Description: Pedestrian crossing tactile paving
• Product: Concrete ‘Blister’ paving
• Supplier: Hardscape Ltd (Tel: 01204 590666)
• Size: 400 x 400 x 800mm slab paving units
• Colour: Royal White
• Finish: Bush hammered
• Jointing: 5mm as part of a specialist mortar system
• Laid: Chequer board pattern
•
• Description: Pedestrian hazard tactile paving
• Product: Concrete ‘Hazard Warning’ paving
• Supplier: Hardscape Ltd (Tel: 01204 590666)
• Size: 400 x 400 x 800mm slab paving units
• Colour: Royal White
• Finish: Bush hammered
• Jointing: 5mm as part of a specialist mortar system
• Laid: In two course stretcher
•
• Description: Pedestrian guidance tactile paving
• Product: Concrete ‘Directional Guidance’ paving
• Supplier: Hardscape Ltd (Tel: 01204 590666)
• Size: 400 x 400 x 800mm slab paving units
• Colour: Royal White
• Finish: Bush hammered
• Jointing: 5mm as part of a specialist mortar system
• Laid: Single stretcher

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7.3.3 Nodes and intersections

A Edging kerb
B Tarmac paving
C Pedestrian crossing tactile paving with ‘flush’ wide top edging kerb
D Wide top edging kerb
E 3 No. Courses natural stone setts
F Pedestrian crossing tactile paving
G Clay block paving
H Edging kerb
I Tarmac paving

Major traffic / pedestrian crossing

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A Natural stone setts

B Edging kerb
C Wide top edging kerb
D Pedestrian crossing tactile paving with ‘flush’ wide top edging kerb
E Edging kerb
F Tarmac paving
G Clay block paving

Secondary traffic / pedestrian crossing

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A Edging kerb
B ‘Flush’ edging kerb
C Tarmac paving
D Wide top edging kerb
E ‘Flush’ edging kerb
F Clay block paving
G Natural stone setts
H Natural stone paving

Pedestrian intersection

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A Building entrance
B ‘Flush’ edging kerb
C Wide top edging kerb
D Pedestrian hazard tactile paving
E Clay block paving

Building entrance / exit

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A Edging kerb
B Tarmac paving
C Wide top edging kerb
D Natural stone paving
E Wide top edging kerb ‘flush’ with natural stone setts
F Clay block paving

Large seating / facilities space

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A Edging kerb
B Tarmac paving
C ‘Flush’ edging kerb
D Wide top granite edging kerb
E Natural stone paving
F Natural stone setts

Respite space with facilities

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A Edging kerb
B Tarmac paving
C Edging kerb ‘flush’ and natural stone setts
D Wide top edging kerb
E Clay block paving

Small respite space

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7.3.4 Street Furniture

Benches and Seating

• Description: Bench
• Product: s56, Bench timber seat with stone base
• STS, Seat
• with backrest
• STCB, Square seat
• Supplier: Omos Ltd (Tel: 353 [0] 45 899802)
• Size: s56, L 2000mm, W 615mm, H455mm
• STS, L 3750mm, W 1040mm, H 850mm
• STCB, L 525mm, W 525mm, H 435mm
• Colour: As manufactured
• Material: Stainless steel with timber frame. Seat surface in iroko hardwood with stone
and gabion base
• Finish: 316 grade stainless steel frame, unfinished timber

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Bin etc Enclosures

• Description: Bin etc Enclosure

• Supplier: To contractors choice
• Colour: Timber to be stained
• Material: Galvanized steel frame. Vertical timber cladding 2450mm x 140mm x 26mm

• Description: Litter bins

• Supplier: UWE to supply and fix to bases provided as part of building/landscape design

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Cycle storage

• Description: Cycle stand

• Product: s71 Cycle stand
• Supplier: Omos Ltd (Tel: 353 [0]45 899802)
• Size: H 875mm, W 950mm, dia. 48mm
• Colour: None Material: 316 grade stainless steel frame with extended tubes for root
fixing.

• Description: Cycle shelter

• Product: Wardale Compound (Comprising of two shelters, doors to either end and roof
panel)
• Supplier: Broxap (Tel: 01782 571660) Size: H 2100mm, W 5600mm, L 8200 Colour:
Galvanised Material: Galvanised frame.

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Planters

• Description: Timber Planter

• Size: Can be supplied to any specific size.
• Material: 125mm x 250mm section timber sleepers
• Finish: Stain to timber
• Accessories: Watering reservoir, and tanking where necessary.

Retaining elements

• Description: Faced Gabion baskets

• Product: Weld mesh gabions
• Suppliers: HY-TEN Ltd (Tel: 01902 712200) Facing
stone Hardscape Ltd (Tel: 01204 590666)
• Size: To vary depending on location
• Colour: N/a
• Finish: PVC-Zinc coated wire basket
• Installation: To engineers specifications & details

Bollards

• Description: Bollards
• Product: Square profile timber bollard
• Supplier: Woodscape Ltd (Tel: 01254 383322)
• Size: H 1100mm, W 300mm
• Colour: None
• Material: Hardwood timber bollard.
• Accessories: Reflective band where necessary

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7.3.5 Assessment Tool

Design teams should follow guidance set out in the Wayfinding Guide in the context of the
wider aspirations for the Campus as set out in the Masterplan. This assessment tool should
be used to describe and justify the design approach taken with reference to the
fundamental principles described in the guide. Questions are prompts for consideration by
designers when preparing a response to each of the main headings.

Evaluation Criteria Design Team Management /

Response Maintenance
Designers are required to identify how their
proposals will address the key issues listed in
the headings below and make reference to
best practice.
Site Circulation Design Team Management /
1
Response Maintenance
How does the design proposal contribute to
1.1
improved access to and from the Campus
facilities and to the student experience?
Where relevant describe the provision within
1.2
the design for future public transport.
How does the proposed route clearly and
1.3
effectively link spaces in line with the
masterplan?
How are the pedestrian and cycle zones
1.4
differentiated along routes where both share
space?
Identify what maximum distances and
1.5
gradients along routes are required to deliver
an inclusive environment, accessible to all.
Identify how the design embraces the
1.6
restricted palette of materials
How does the proposed route providing
1.7
respite for pedestrians?
Nodes and Intersections Design Team Management /
2
Response Maintenance
Identify how inter-connections between the
2.1
“route design” and the wider aspirations of the
masterplan have been addressed.
How are intersects with other primary, and
2.2
secondary and tertiary routes resolved?
How are small congregation or resting/respite
2.3
space embraced within the proposal to
maximise the use of quiet spaces away from
the active spaces?
How do the proposals clearly define priority
2.4
movement of pedestrians at intersections?
How do the proposals make use of contrasting
2.5
surface materials, features and landscape
design elements to provoke a navigation
decision?
Describe the provision of respite areas at
2.6
nodes and intersections to facilitate the needs

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of the campus population.

Identify how the proposals create a visual
2.7
onward connection to the next destination
building, space or facility.
Access and Inclusive design Design Team Management /
3
Response Maintenance
Provide explanation of the design approach in
3.1
relation to the following inclusive design
criteria:
Logistics: The necessity to plan ones
3.2
movement to avoid protracted or problematic
routes to destinations.
Legibility: The necessity to achieve clear,
3.3
logical and efficient navigation through an
Environment.
Clarity: The necessity to make sense of the
3.4
visual and audible information available within
an environment.
Tranquillity: The need to find alternatives to
3.5
places of high sensory or social intensity.
Ergonomics: The need for taking account of
3.6
differing dexterity, size, ability and / or need
when incorporating any physical feature.
Desirable: The need to arrive at equitable
3.7
solutions evident as a result of devising
elegant solutions that include provision for
people’s different needs.
Enjoyable: The aim of designing and
3.8
implementing a scheme design so that
enjoyment can be experienced by everyone.
Rationalisation of Furniture & Features Design Team Management /
4
Response Maintenance
How is the street furniture arranged within the
4.1
proposals to benefit inclusive communal
activity?
Identify how the proposals improve visual
4.2
connections along routes, within busy external
spaces and routes into buildings?
How lighting, CCTV, event boards,
4.3
promotional flags etc can be installed to
reduce site clutter?
Legibility & Circulation Design Team Management /
5
Response Maintenance
How does Street furniture and planting
5.1
designs complement and enhance the
essential way-finding principles of the guide.
Identify how the proposals maximise
5.2
pedestrian movement and minimise
opportunist circulation through landscape
areas.
Identify how the proposals improve visual
5.3
connections along routes, within busy external

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spaces and routes into buildings?

How have conflicts in use with servicing and

5.4
vehicles and erosion of the soft landscape
been resolved in the proposals.
How do the proposals creating a sense of
5.5
“here and there” to draws people from one
space to another?
Describe how framed and glimpsed views are
5.6
promoted within the proposals creating
opportunity for informal wayfinding and
subconscious reference points.
Describe how the principle of shared surface
5.7
design has been embraced within the
proposal to prioritise pedestrian movement.
How is the division of cycle and pedestrian
5.8
circulation achieved within the proposals?
Sustainability Design Team Management /
6
Response Maintenance
How are site materials used to positively
6.1
contribute to the campus environment through
considered design?
Demonstrate how site soil is managed
6.2
avoiding the need for imported materials.
What materials in the proposal are locally
6.3
sourced?
How do the proposals minimise energy use in
6.4
its design, installation and maintenance?
Ecology Design Team Management /
7
Response Maintenance
Describe how valuable ecological habitats are
7.1
proposed for retention.
Identify how habitats are to be enhanced and
7.2
created within the commission to maximise
benefits to ecology for the campus.
Site lighting Design Team Management /
8
Response Maintenance
Identify the range of lighting within the
8.1
proposals and its intended performance.
Confirm the proposals lighting provisions and
8.2
relate to latest BS standards and best practice
guidance.
Identify how the lighting design considers
8.3
sustainability
How is the lighting incorporated within the
8.4
proposals to ensure ease of maintenance?
How is feature lighting being used within the
8.5
proposals to facilitate Wayfinding and create a
sense of place?
Site Furniture Design Team Management /
9
Response Maintenance

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Identify the piece of street furniture to be used

9.1
and how they comply with the guide.
Describe the use and distribution of site
9.2
furniture products within the proposals.
Identify the maintenance and replacement
9.3
strategy for furniture proposed.
Identify the finishes to handrails and railings.
9.4
How are surfaces surrounding site furniture
9.5
detailed to minimise maintenance and
replacement costs?
Identify where materials are sourced and
9.6
describe how a sustainable approach design
and procurement is used.
Surfacing Materials Design Team Management /
10
Response Maintenance
How are the materials from the restrictive
10.1
palettes used to provide distinctive detail
design solutions?
How will replacements for any bespoke
10.2
materials used in proposals be secured for
future remedial works?
Identify the maintenance strategy for selected
10.3
materials.
How is the use of hazard warning surfacing
10.4
integrated within the proposals to achieve best
practice and an integrated design solution?
How are surface materials coordinated with
10.5
service corridors for future servicing and
associated remedial works?
Cycle storage provision Design Team Management /
11
Response Maintenance
Describe the cycle storage provision in the
11.1
proposals and its relationship to the site wide
strategy for cycle storage.
How is security of cycles addressed within the
11.2
proposals?
Signage - Formal Wayfinding Design Team Management /
12
Response Maintenance
Describe the integration of the UWE “branded”
12.1
signage details within the proposals.
How is rationalisation of directional signage
12.2
achieved within the proposals?
Confirm the use and type of traditional formal
12.3
Wayfinding elements used and how they are
dynamic, exciting and functional.
How are proposed signage elements
12.4
positioned in relation to surrounding
landscape elements at key decision making
locations?
Informal Wayfinding Design Team Management /
13
Response Maintenance

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How are informal wayfinding opportunities

13.1
embraced in the proposals through the use of
expressive design elements to perform and
facilitate way-finding.
How can existing built elements on site be
13.2
used as informal Wayfinding opportunities as
part of a coordinated strategy?
Tree Planting Strategy Design Team Management /
14
Response Maintenance
How do the proposals interface with existing
14.1
trees on site and, what is the provision for tree
protection?
How does the proposed tree planting
14.2
contribute to the green infrastructure and
ecology of the Campus?
Identify how the tree planting and specification
14.3
contributes to Wayfinding?
How does tree planting affect the microclimate
14.4
of adjacent spaces and buildings?
How is tree planting arranged within the
14.4
proposals to promote successful
establishment and minimise maintenance?
What measures are in place to protect existing
14.5
and proposed services from future root
growth?
Servicing Design Team Management /
15
Response Maintenance
Describe how the containment of bins/skips
15.1
could integrate with the proposals and
coordinate with a UWE refuge strategy.
How is the conflict between pedestrian
15.2
circulation and servicing of the campus
achieved in the proposals?
Demonstrate how waste storage facilities and
15.3
collection routes are coordinated.
How do the proposals achieve secure and
15.4
easily maintained compounds which are
received in the landscape?
Microclimate Design Team Management /
16
Response Maintenance
Identify how the proposals focus the user in
16.1
areas of natural comfort.
How is microclimate enhanced for the comfort
16.2
of the pedestrian in the proposals?
Earth works and land forms Design Team Management /
17
Response Maintenance
How are significant level changes addressed
17.1
and what methods of retaining levels are
proposed.
How are banks and bunds integrated in the
17.2
proposals to maintain views and legibility of
space?

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What gradient and finish is specified in the

17.3
proposals to eliminate health and safety
issues?
Security fencing and walls Design Team Management /
18
Response Maintenance
How are secure boundary fences integrated
18.1
within the proposals to avoid a hostile
environment.
How are barriers designing out within public
18.2
realm?
How are dwarf walls for incidental seating
18.3
incorporated in the proposals?
How are blank walls and building elevations
18.4
used for informal wayfinding and
advertisement?
Secure by design: Design Team Management /
19
Response Maintenance
Describe design measures in the landscape
19.1
which improve security of public and property
whist maintaining a quality landscape
environment.
How is hedging in car park areas specified to
19.2
maintain views for orientation and passive
surveillance required for personal safety?
What provision is made within the proposal to
19.3
defined exits and aid escape?
What measures are taken within the proposals
19.4
and landscape design to reduce anti social
and criminal behaviour?

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7.4 External Signage Guidelines 2011

7.4.1 Introduction / Purpose:

The signage guidelines have been produced with the purpose of creating a consistent
image across the University for all visitors to the campus. By providing improvements to
wayfinding information and introducing a variety of signage formats, UWE can improve the
support and overall experience for people visiting the University, making them feel welcome
and comfortable whilst reducing stress. The key benefits include:

• Improved wayfinding signage and information will reinforce the character and attraction
of the campus and add to the community feel.
• Communicates a new pedestrian network of routes through the campus.
• A systematic approach ensures continuity, simplicity and cost efficiency when
specifying and procuring new or replacement signage.
• Maintenance and replacement costs can be minimised through the consistent use of a
limited but long lasting range of products and design detail.
• This also enables an opportunity for the University’s ‘corporate identity’ and brand to be
clearly distinguished and visually communicated throughout the campus.

7.4.2 External Vehicular Signage:

This signage has to meet the needs of the vehicular–borne user, and so needs to be clearly
readable while moving along a road (albeit at 20 miles per hour). Therefore, the key
objective of this type of sign is to identify any area where a vehicle might travel and park,
(e.g. car park, Centre for Sport, student village, i.e. a zone). It is not intended to highlight a
specific building or venue. (These are covered by pedestrian way finding material which
guides the visitor from their car park to their wend destination).

The adaptation of current signage has, for the most part used vinyl in order to re-use
existing system a D end support posts painted black (Figure 1). For further signage
installations a suitable system has been specified.

a) Post & Plank Signage Specification

Use Spandex Infopanel System or equivalent.
Contact Details for Spandex:
Spandex Ltd
1600 Park Avenue, Aztec West
Almondsbury, Bristol, BS32 4UA
Tel: 01454 616 444
b) Posts
Sign pole 80mm “D” Section posts to be used powder coated Satin Black with
Aluminium caps.
c) Planks
For horizontal panels use Spandex double sided Infopanel powder coated white.
Plank depths should normally be 200mm (although some re-used planks measure
300mm).
The lengths used should be 1200mm.
d) Text

The efficiency of this sign system relies heavily on the ability of the user to detect, recognise
and read the sign. Therefore contrast between letters, symbols and their background is
essential.

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 • The typeface used should always be ‘Frutiger 65 Bold’. To improve legibility, type will
always be upper and lower case, with capitals (100mm) used for the start of each main
word followed by lower case (80mm).
• The range of type sixes used in the system should be kept to a minimum. If smaller
type face is needed to include information, sizes are 80mm capitals and 60mm lower
case.
• Colour will always be bold black on white following the principles of the Highway
commission.
• The texts should be grouped for each direction with a single arrow for each destination.
• Directional information will be listed in an order governed by the destination hierarchy,
the nearest being the first.

7.4.3 External Pedestrian Signage

The primary purpose of the pedestrian monolith (Figure 2) is to provide direction and
location information to assist visitors, students and staff to find their way around the campus
easily and confidently. The monoliths construction is designed to be very robust and long
lasting on the campus environment, whilst retaining the flexibility to be moved around the
site. It also represents a consistent interpretation of UWE’s corporate image and is in line
with current DDA best practice thinking.

• The signs offer a double sided information panel showing an overview of the campus
buildings and 4 primary routes across the campus.
• Finger boards are also used at the top of the monolith as directional indicators which
are colour coded according to the relevant route. (Detailed parameters are included
below).
• Exact installation details and specifications are shown on the following pages.

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7.4.4 Maps
• The maps displayed on the information panels at entry points show the whole campus
in both two-dimension and a three-dimensional artists impression of the site, together
with a legend which also includes useful contact information and walk time. A bold ‘You
are Here’ red flash is included.
• As the pedestrian progresses towards the interior of the campus, there is a zoom-in
map for each area to provide more detailed information using pictograms as much as
possible. It is accompanied by a small image of the whole campus (showing routes and
building identification only with a ‘you are here’ to allow the pedestrian to stay in
perspective of their location and overall context).
• Each panel has been custom designed – so additional panels will require new artwork
design. However all information about the campus is held on the master campus map
held by Marketing & Communications, who have agreed to make necessary
amendments to the panel maps once a year (June/July).
• The map and legend is printed onto vinyl for flexible and cost effective replacement.
• The main campus maps contain key information such as accessible and standard
toilets at ground level (or ‘up one level’), main entrances to buildings, refreshment
opportunities, main reception, student’s union, library and any venue which is deemed
to e external facing in terms of use. A ‘Faculty entrance’ has been agreed for each of
the four faculties. No other information regarding individual departments should be
included.
• The first phase of 12 information panels and appropriate stand alone finger posts
populated the main areas. Further locations have been identified and 14 panels and
finger posts will be installed in Spring 2011. A tender process has been undertaken for
a total order of 40 by end 2012. The successful supplier is ‘Create’.
• It is anticipated that each panel will require updating each year. A replacement price of
£38 per map panel has been agreed.

7.4.5 Finger Boards

The aim of the fingerboards (Figure 3) is to reassure orientation and direction of travel and
secondly to highlight key services in the immediate proximity including toilets and
refreshment outlets.

• Finger boards can only be positioned on one of the eight compass points. Positioning
of new finger posts should be as near a possible to the direction of travel.
• Main reception and main services e.g. library and student’s union to be marked on
every monolith.
• All destinations that fall on a route will be marked with the route colour.
• Main food outlets including the One Zone and restaurant can be seen as a main
service. Local cafes and food outlets can be marked either by name or pictogram.
• Signing blocks and buildings should be avoided unless they are standalone or if their
main entrance falls off a main pedestrian route.
• Faculty entrances should be marked with a numbered star logo.
• Main and visitor car parks should be marked when approach is nearer.
• Pictograms should be used where possible.
• Layout is detailed below.

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7.4.6 Entrance Fixed Signage:
• Each faculty has nominated one entrance that will be highlighted on the main map.
This entrance will have a major ‘branded’ sign that contains the name f the faculty and
its departments. 900mm x 700mm.

• All other entrances to buildings will contain the name of the building i.e. the letter of the
block (DVC directive). These signs will have UWE branded background with white
VAG lettering. Internal-Anti-reflective acrylic panel with reverse applied digital print 600
x 300

• If the sign is to be fitted to glazing a vinyl sticker should be used.

• If masonry fixing is required a powder coated aluminium tray system should be used.

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7.5 Internal Signage

PLEASE SEE ‘UWE INTERNAL SIGNAGE GUIDLIENES 2013’ AVAILABLE DEC 2013

Coordinating with the external sign system, this improved way-finding signage system will re-inforce
the character and attraction of the campus and add to the community feel. The aim of the signage
system is to ensure that internal building signs meet quality standards of aesthetic appeal, uniformity
and simplicity, as well as being highly functional in providing the way-finding information necessary for
visitors to navigate successfully around the campus.The signs adhere to the University’s branding in
terms of text, colour and overall styling, whilst complying with accessibility regulations. These
guidelines and their related sign type templates are managed by Facilities Estates who ensure
consistency and cost efficiency when implementing new or replacing outdated or
damaged ones. Signing of individual departments, faculties and services is discouraged due to
continual change. Navigation should be via the Block, Level and room number hierarchy, only key
facilities should be highlighted.

7.5.1 Directory Signs -600mm x 990mm

Floor plans should be located in a highly visible, appropriate place, near to the
main entrance doors of blocks and near to lift exits and stairwells on each level
within a block. Templates for each level include pictograms to show the locations of important
facilities such as toilets, lifts, stairs, cafés and information points. There is a ‘You Are Here’
indicator on each template, clearly marked in red, that can be repositioned to work with all
required plans. All teaching room numbers are shown and main entrances and exits are
marked
with arrows. A smaller overview plan indicates the relevant block position in
relation to the overall building.

Wall mounted floor plans should be reproduced using

3mm anti-reflective acrylic panels with reverse applied digital print. Panels fitted to 5mm cast
acrylic in Black to the overall size of the panels leaving a 3mm gap between face panels. Face

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 panel bonded to Backing Acrylic using proprietary tape. Sign assembly fitted to 10mm Foamex
panel with dimensions 40mm smaller than overall size of sign. Signs are screw fixed. The map
section itself is easily replaceable to enable updates.
7.5.2 Room Identification Sign

These signs relate to the University’s room numbering system. Signs for identifying teaching
rooms clearly show the room number in the top section, with the room function name(s) below.
The room function name(s) section should use a generic ‘Teaching Room’ name in one grey
section, if there is nothing more specific to display.

Room Door Sign – Curved A5 Landscape 210mmx150mm to hold paper insert with grey end
caps.

7.5.3 Flat room sign

Flat room sign (toilets) Anti-reflective acrylic panel with reverse applied digital print. 210mm x
210mm
Door signs that are not teaching rooms such as a toilet or an information point have a reference
number, much smaller in size than room number signs, positioned in the top right hand corner.
This is to assist location by University maintenance staff

For certain key rooms and locations it is necessary to use projecting signs for greater visibility
and ease of finding a destination from a distance. This particularly applies to locating toilets,
lifts and information points in long, narrow corridors.

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 7.5.4 Wall Mounted Directional

Wall mounted signs are placed in appropriate wall spaces or corridor corners where supplementary
information might be necessary.

Wall mounted panel 600mm x 400mm.

3mm anti reflective acrylic panels with reverse applied digital print. Panels fitted to 5mm cast acrylic in
Black to the overall size of the panels leaving a 3mm gap between face panels. Face panel bonded to
Backing Acrylic using proprietary tape. Sign assembly fitted to 10mm Foamex panel with dimensions
40mm smaller than overall size of sign. Signs are screw fixed.

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