Alperton Bus Depot is a mixed-use new development which includes commercial space aimed at supporting start-ups alongside 461 new homes, of which 40 percent will be affordable in the London Borough of Brent. The former Metroline bus garage is being transformed into three blocks, one of which is 27-storey, linked at the ground and first floors for community use and industrial floorspace. The development is due to be completed mid 2025.
Tight project turnarounds need a versatile solution
Mechanical & electrical contractor I-MEX (M&E) Ltd was looking for a drainage stack solution which was both good quality and quick to install within a six-month project deadline.
Other challenges for the installation team included the fact that the development sits on the corner of a busy dual carriageway meaning limited space on site for deliveries and cranes. This meant a delivery schedule which staggered product delivery to tie into work on each level was essential.
The project requirements
Robert Bruce, Polypipe Building Services Technical Sales Manager for London, said:
"We met with I-MEX (M&E) Ltd on October 6th and the order was placed for Block A of the building by the end of October.
"The essential aspect for them was the fast turnaround to keep up with the build schedule. This made Terrain FUZE Stax ideal, as products are kept in stock with our distributors for projects like this. This is supported by flexible delivery options, so the products for different phases of work can be delivered at intervals, for example, so many floors worth at a time.
"Versatility was also important, and I-MEX (M&E) Ltd liked that Stax offers two four-way bosses on the same stack and can be used in multiple situations. The fact that they come in two parts means logistically moving them around site is easier and the pieces are more versatile compared to traditional three metre long pieces of fabrication which I-MEX (M&E) Ltd have previously used."
“Prefabrication is at the forefront of what I-MEX (M&E) Ltd have been doing over the last seven years, and the introduction of Polypipe FUZE Stax came at the perfect time for us to be able to utilise it on this project."
Minimising time-consuming repetitive work
Terrain FUZE Stax helps reduce installation times because typically large-scale drainage stack projects involve repeating similar configurations of loose components across floors. This means significant time is spent on
repetitive cutting and welding jobs. The Terrain FUZE Stax range removes a lot of this time-consuming work by offering prefabricated products in the most common configurations covering kitchens, bathrooms, and utility rooms.
Robert adds: “I-MEX (M&E) Ltd installed Stax so quickly at a level per day that we’ve adjusted their delivery schedule. Our Advantage team was also able to support in adapting the Stax being used in the bathrooms, so they have a ring seal already fitted on one of the outlets as requested by Telford Homes.
“We also gave their installation team complete peace of mind by visiting site and producing an installation report for them to present to Telford Homes. This proves the installation has been carried out correctly, which was something they really valued us being able to do for them.”
“We have previously worked alongside Polypipe Building Services to complete traditional prefabrication pieces on other projects using their standard drainage stacks and had adjusted them to make installation easier, but moving forward we will continue to use the two-part FUZE Stax on all of our sites.”
