WSP engineers undertook a comprehensive condition survey and operational cost analysis of plant items installed at The Shires Shopping Centre, Leicester.
The first stage of the project identified the economic life expectancy of the existing M&E plant together with the costs associated with plant replacement until 2015. This included assessment of plant condition (ranked A to D) and priority for replacement (ranked 1 to 4). The survey covered all mechanical and electrical systems at the Centre including CCTV, BMS controls and fire system.
WSP involvement
The Shopping Centre is currently undergoing a major refurbishment and extension, a project started in 2005 and due for completion in 2007. Key aspects of the refurbishment include increased use of controlled natural ventilation in the Mall area and installation of a radiant heating system. The new scheme allows removal of air handling units, fan coil units, chilled water pumps and chillers. Other improvements include improved lighting control and more efficient lamps within the Mall common areas as well as improvements to the heating system and lift/escalator arrangement.
The cost of each improvement to the M&E services was previously quantified as part of the design works. However, the annual maintenance and energy costs associated with both the plant to be removed and the new installations was determined as part of this project. For example, there is a reduction in maintenance and energy costs due to the removal of the chillers, AHUs and fan coil units in the main part of the Shopping Centre.
This allowed a full comparison between costs with ‘no change’ to the plant i.e. before refurbishment, to those costs associated with the refurbishment. This will potentially affect the service charge paid by the tenants.
Benefits
The project showed annual operational cost savings of £70,000 as a result of the refurbishment and this helped inform the design decision making process. The comprehensive forward maintenance plan produced enhanced understanding of future service charges. Knowledge of the timing for future plant replacement will also improve budgeting, and future maintenance and energy costs will now be significantly lower - the latter being especially important when legislation requires building energy certificates to be displayed.
Project information
Client: Shires Shopping Centre
Project size: N/A
Project value: N/A
Status: Completed 2005