Managing Construction on Live School Sites

Managing Construction on Live School Sites

This contract was for the design, installation, and commissioning of solar PV at Swansea University. This multi-site project required close collaboration with the client to deliver installations on 7 University buildings across 2 University sites:

Bay Campus installation

• Engineering Central 250 panels, 93.8kW system
• Bay Library 279 panels, 104.6kW system 

Singleton Campus installation 

• Fulton House 184 panels, 69kW system 
• Glyndwr Building 432 panels, 162kW system 
• Singleton Library 222 panels, 83.3kW system
• Talbot Building 218 panels, 81.8kW system
• Union House 72 panels, 27kW system

Principle Designer 

As principal designer, we had full responsibility for the technical performance of the system and its ongoing safety. This included:

• Layout designs in Helioscope software including the anticipated generation performance 
• Layout drawings in CAD for Fulton House’s planning application to obtain Council sign-off for the installation
• Specification of materials, including PV Modules, Inverters Optimizers and mounting systems 
• Electrical schematics, including string layouts, single-line diagrams and electrical load calculations
• Structural engineering assessments to determine suitability of the roof loading, including invasive surveys 
• Ecological and environmental assessments 
• Pre-start meetings and client/stakeholder engagement at University and individual building levels

Principle Contractor

As principal contractor, we had full CDM responsibilities on live school sites during term time with pupils and staff onsite. The health and safety plan included segregation of works, safety barriers, arrangement of site compounds, signage and road traffic planning. Our construction phase plans and RAMS covered all installation works, including supervision, procurement, and safe management of all labour and materials.

Onsite procedures included:

• Safe working at height, including TG20-compliant designs and bespoke method statements for scaffolds, loading bays, telehandlers, and scissor lifts. As Fulton House is a listed building, a crane was utilised.
• Preparation and issuing of testing, certification and project completion documentation 
• Project management and client engagement, throughout  
  Snagging and site assessments 
• Commissioning and defect-free handover 
• Aftercare support

Due to grid restrictions, all sites of the installation were zero export. CorEnergy was able to manage the solar system to prevent any export back to the grid through the use of the Solis Export Power Manager.
The key challenge of the project was working on a live campus. CorEnergy marshalled all plant movements and planned the installation around times of less footfall (e.g. early mornings or outside of term time). While the crane lift was only used out of term time, road closures were still necessary. Storage compounds were located in the main campus car park and material movements had to be carefully planned to avoid inconveniencing car park users.