AET cool M & S Belfast

The Nesite Raised Access Floor which forms part of Hiross FlexibleSpace underfloor air-conditioning system, has been installed by Bletchingley-based Advanced Ergonomic Technologies at the new Marks and Spencer store at Newton Breda near Belfast. The store opened in late 1998 and overall construction costs were in excess of £6m. The contract value to AET was £200k.

The specially developed Hiross raised floor creates a plenum through which cold air is retrieved from the store as it spills from the refrigerated display cabinets and is ultimately returned to the main air conditioning system so reducing the load on chillers and saving significant amounts of energy.

As with any sector, retail stores are continually seeking to save energy but air conditioning demands remain high given the need for extensive lighting, high occupation levels, and continuously opening wide doors. Traditional ceiling based air-conditioning creates the familiar forest of pipes and dummy columns which are needed to house air retrieval ducts. By taking air through the floor, the Hiross system allows retail stores to minimise energy usage while maximising layout flexibility, keeping displays and walkways attractive and producing the optimum visual and climatic environment in which to shop.

The Hiross system has been installed over 1375 sq. ms at Newton Breda. It was supplied and fitted in less than three weeks so helping to reduce construction times and minimise disruption to other trades during the fit-out.

The turnkey civil engineering contractor for the project was John Laing. Much of the fitting out was managed by Belfast-based McLaughlin and Harvey. Mr Colm O'Hare, a Quantity Surveyor with McLaughlin and Harvey comments: "With so many services already in the ceiling void it was decided to install a floor plenum as well. AET were able to install their system ahead of a very demanding schedule and the client is delighted with its functionality."

He continues: "The modular nature of the Hiross product provided exceptional flexibility and will allow Marks and Spencer to change displays according to season and fashion. Even at the initial design stage, provision was made for another 300 sq. ms. of food display areas. With traditional displacement systems the cost of structural changes associated with such developments is often prohibitive."

Another significant advantage of the Hiross system is the ability to claim capital allowances of 25-40 per cent (subject to agreement) per year on the U.K. mainland and 100 per cent in Northern Ireland as a writing down allowance. Most businesses think of capital allowances as relating to machinery and traditional items of plant. However, use of floor voids as an air plenum changes the status of underfloor air retrieval systems from "fixture" to "plant and equipment". In addition, anything that is placed on the floor such as air-conditioning Fantiles and demountable partitions and the like also qualify for capital allowances.

 
Previous Press Release on Marks and Spencer

 
For technical information contact:
Glan Blake Thomas at AET on
Tel: 01883 744860 Fax: 01883 741 866
Web Site: www.FlexibleSpace.com
Email: AET@FlexibleSpace.com