Braham Electrical is well-schooled at working on education projects. For almost 40 years the company has worked closely with local authorities, schools, academies, universities and nurseries to provide educational environments that positively impact and influence the learning future of children. Knowing the sector so well ensured a problem-free delivery of full electrical services to the brand new Braidside Integrated Primary School, Ballymena. The building (circa 2,500m2 including nursery and SMA) will cater for the long term educational needs of Braidside Integrated Primary School’s 440 pupils and replaces existing facilities at Fry’s Road, Ballymena.
Design input The design and build nature of the project played to Braham’s strengths in the sector. “It allowed us far greater input into the electrical design than on a normal job,” says Braham Electrical Director, Jason McQuaid.
“We worked alongside the consulting engineer, ISD, and the rest of the project team to specify all the equipment used, the type of light fittings and other specialist items that were installed. “It’s great to work collaboratively like this. Sharing our experience, knowledge and different perspectives with the team worked really well.
” The single-storey primary school includes 14 classrooms, main hall and dining hall, along with an adjacent standalone nursery school. Braham Electrical was tasked with the full electrical services, including data cabling, fire and CCTV and interactive touchscreens for each classroom, which were supplied by Synchronised Cabling Solutions. Braham Electrical went on site in July 2019. The original project handover date of Easter 2020 was delayed by the Covid 19 lockdown. “The lockdown came into effect a week before we were to finish, but it didn’t impact us dramatically. By the time the dust had settled and the site reopened we didn’t have much left to do to get it over the line for the handover in July.
“The job finished well and everyone involved was very happy. It’s always satisfying to complete a job on time and be able to say you put your heart into it. “The whole team, from the client, architect, the main contractor Glasgiven Contracts onwards, worked well together and did a great job. That’s satisfaction in itself,” says Jason. Personal approach Braham Electrical has been operating since 1972. A family-run business specialising in general contracting, response maintenance, street and floodlighting, inspection and testing across Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. Client satisfaction is key at Braham Electrical, with the team focused on delivering the highest standard of work across the educational, residential, industrial and public realm sectors.
Their personalised approach to clients has built friendly and long-lasting relationships. The company aim is to give every client certainty that their project will be delivered to their complete satisfaction, fulfilling their objectives on timing, quality and budget. Right across the board, Braham Electrical insists on the highest possible standard and ensures this is delivered and maintained by every member of staff. This attention to excellence and high skills has helped build the company’s solid reputation.
Project Team
Client: Trustees of Braidside Integrated Primary School
Main Contractor: Glasgiven Contracts
Architect: Isherwood and Ellis
Project Manager: Matt Beattie
Consulting Engineer: Integrated Services Design
Braham Electrical, 7a Charlotte Street, Warrenpoint, BT34 3LF
T: +44 (0) 28 4177 2989
E: info@brahamelectrical.com
www.brahamelectrical.com
Synchronised Cabling Solutions (SCS)
Interactive touch-screen displays provided by SCS Ltd…
County Antrim-based comms systems providers, Synchronised Cabling Solutions (SCS), are industry leaders in the design and installation of voice/data networks and audio/visual solutions across the UK and Ireland.
“Here at SCS Ltd, we understand that each school is unique. Braidside Integrated Primary School asked us to deliver an advanced and flexible classroom solution which directly addressed the needs of their teachers,” says Director Andrew Smyth.
Meetings, site visits and onsite demonstrations were conducted with the school to specify the perfect interactive whiteboard system.
The solution was the Promethean ActivPanel. “It delivers a natural writing experience, provides apps at your fingertips, has low running costs, enhanced interactivity, device mirroring and includes award-winning educational software,” says Andrew.
Sixteen Promethean ActivPanels were installed all with electrical height adjustment, one mobile system and on-site training.
Covid-19 has had a major impact on all businesses and working lives. SCS adapted to the changing circumstances by implementing a new safety method statement, ensuring the correct PPE is used and taking measures to allow social distancing.
Working closely with all contractors throughout the project ensured they hit deadlines in a constantly evolving situation due to Covid-19. The end result is a world-class teaching solution.
“It is richly satisfying for us to see schools deliver first-class lessons to their students using our latest technology,” said Business Development Manager Nigel Johnston. It was also great to work with Braham Electrical again having recently completed similar projects with them at Our Lady’s Grammar, Newry and Woodburn Primary.”
Synchronised Cabling Solutions (SCS),
Lodge House, 545 Doagh Road Newtownabbey,
Co. Antrim, BT36 5BT.
T: +44 (0)28 9083 2777
E: info@syncsolutions.co.uk
www.syncsolutions.co.uk
Wilson Electrical Wholesale
Wilson Electrical, based in Belfast, supplies a wide selection of electrical products to clients throughout Northern Ireland. The company supplied all the general containment: cables, wiring, switches etc, to the new facilities at Braidside Integrated PS and is proud to have been involved in such a worthwhile project. The school is just one of several projects that Wilson Electrical has partnered with Braham Electrical on over the years. Wilson Electrical is dedicated to supplying high quality, high-performance solutions to diverse projects around the country and also prides itself on the highest level of customer service. The company places great emphasis on only supplying the most innovative products from market-leading manufacturers and worked hard to ensure the cabling supplied to Braidside Integrated PS met these high standards.
“Wilson Electrical is dedicated to supplying high quality, high-performance solutions to diverse projects.”
Wilson Electrical Wholesale
T: +44 (0)28 9024 6666
E: info@wewholesale.co.uk
MGA Communications Ltd
MGA Communications Ltd’s expertise in delivering high quality and value for money AV systems for public sector projects meant they were the perfect choice to install Braidside Integrated Primary School’s TV, Data infrastructure, Sound and Telephone systems. As recognised AV experts, the team at MGA Communication Ltd has not only worked on prestigious education projects such as QUB, University of Ulster and recently Woodburn P.S, but also private sector jobs across Ireland and the UK. The scope of the company’s business is the supply, installation and commissioning of audiovisual and communication systems, providing sales and technical support during the life cycle of the system(s) provided. Established in 1994, the company comprises a team of highly competent, trained and dedicated professionals, technical field staff and office support personnel, working together to provide top quality solutions for the company’s many customers.
T: +44 (0)28 9756 5614
E: enquiries@mgacom.co.uk
www.mgacom.co.uk
