Marshall-Tufflex has provided a cable management solution for a new Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC) at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).
Supporting the future of engineering skills development within the North West, the EIC will be a state-of-the-art facility located on the Preston campus.
Contractor NG Bailey required a durable trunking system that would have the capacity to accommodate large data cables. After discussions with Marshall-Tufflex, a high-quality PVC-U solution was specified.
It was decided that larger than standard Cat 6a copper clad aluminium data cables would be used throughout the EIC. As such, Sean Chaplin, site engineer for NG Bailey, required a cable management solution that would not only achieve a professional finish, but also be durable and large enough to house the chosen data cables.
After on-site discussions with Dave Burt, national contract and sustainability manager for Marshall-Tufflex, Chaplin specified the PVC-U XL dado trunking system to be placed in various classrooms, engineering workshops and flight simulator rooms.
As the students would be using the rooms for a range of engineering courses, including aerospace, mechanical and robotics, cables needed to be protected by a robust solution that would prevent any data from being compromised. Able to house all cables up to Cat 7a, the trunking was easy to install and was supplied with charcoal accessory boxes, to ensure compliance with Part M.
In addition, an Inscreed underfloor to desk system was also specified, including floor boxes and junction boxes to accommodate the large data cables. This was to ensure health and safety within the centre as no cables would be loose in the engineering rooms.
“NG Bailey installed the products whilst I oversaw the project,” said Chaplin. “This is a prestigious project, and with the centre expected to experience high volumes of traffic on a regular basis, we required a high-end cable management system that would stand up to the day to day knocks from a busy environment. In line with the EIC’s state of the art facility, the product also needed to look good too.
“We were able to install the dado trunking incredibly easily, and the product’s gloss finish looks fantastic in the classrooms.”
The profiles for the Marshall-Tufflex PVC-U XL dado trunking were also manufactured from 70% recycled material. Dave Burt said, “We’re thrilled to see our work become part of an innovative centre at the heart of an esteemed university. It is our vision that by 2028, all PVC-U products installed in buildings should be manufactured using at least 50% recycled material, and being part of this build we can continue to promote that message.
“Our PVC-U products are manufactured using PVC-U from post-industrial windows – meaning the trunking is incredibly robust as the raw material was designed to withstand external elements.
“This ensures a quality product that is environmentally beneficial.”