About the Project

Meopham Secondary School Block B

Liam unlocked the scheme’s major technical challenge of fire safety compliance with a brace of solutions. The first issue was a lack of fire test data for the tendered superstructure design of a cross-laminated timber and steel frame. Concerned about the fire safety implications, he switched to a traditional steel frame.

Then came the discovery that the existing fire hydrant for the school’s live block had a water flow far below the mandatory requirement, let alone sufficient to serve a second hydrant for the new build. After a series of exhaustive and fruitless discussions with the statutory authority, Liam came up with a viable solution: the installation of two underground water storage tanks to supply the hydrants.

He then waltzed through the programme, focusing on quality. He had a sample room completed to set standards for supply chain partners, reducing the need for rework and simplifying snagging. He had the client’s team snag rooms before carpet was laid, so any defects could be resolved without collateral damage. And he brought in third-party specialists to inspect the quality of the facade and the MEP installation before handover