Chailey Heritage Foundation, Sussex, is a charitable special school for children and young adults, aged three to 19, with complex and multiple disabilities. A recent conversion saw the former parish poor house made into a life skills centre for young adults with multiple needs.
All students have access to clinical and therapeutic input from the Foundation’s onsite NHS colleagues. The teachers and hands-on staff are trained to work with young people with complex needs.
As part of a refurbishment of the Grade II listed Grace Kimmins House, Freeman Beesley, a local building consultancy, recommended UPS Systems plc to the Foundation as specialists in standby power provision. UPS Systems plc was asked to ensure that the Foundation’s two lifts could remain in use in event of an emergency or power failure. The lifts are essential to the students’ safety and day-to-day activities. Without them, students and visitors would be unable to use many of the facilities. Many visitors to Grace Kimmins House are in wheelchairs. To use the IT suite and craft room, on the first floor, they need continued access to the lift – it is an essential piece of equipment, used daily, as well as in emergencies.
Chailey Heritage had no existing uninterruptible power supply (UPS) in place; Grace Kimmins House was derelict before refurbishment. The Foundation needed to install a UPS to ensure that the Grace Kimmins building was fit for purpose, guaranteeing the students’ safety. Without this emergency provision, the skills centre would be unable to allow disabled people access to the first floor.
Working alongside Freeman Beesley and the project’s main contractor, Sunninghill Construction, UPS Systems plc installed two separate bespoke UPS units, one per lift. Each UPS unit has a remote, flush-mounted indicator light, encased within a stainless steel faceplate. In an emergency evacuation, or when the public power supply fails, an authorised person controls the UPS from the externally installed switch, using a remote control key.
Once activated, the emergency power switch controls the lift hoisting system from its internal inverter and batteries independent of the mains power supply. The emergency power button at the control point illuminates, signalling when power is being provided to the lift traction system by the UPS. To house the UPS systems, bespoke battery cabinets were constructed and installed to fit the irregular spaces available within the listed building.
This type of power system is the product company claims suited for applications where equipment may be sensitive to power fluctuations or at risk of malfunctioning. UPS Systems plc says that it’s distinct from product manufacturers and resellers, who propose solutions based on a limited product range the firm claims.
In the case of Grace Kimmins House, UPS Systems plc installed a bespoke system, while the firm adds remaining sympathetic to the building’s heritage. The UPS systems have been designed so that, in the event of a power outage, they can support each lift for a prescribed number of complete journeys from the ground to the first floor and back.
Duncan Elliott, maintenance manager for Chailey Heritage Foundation said: “The smooth-running of the building’s lifts ensures that students can participate within a full range of activities on a daily basis. If the lifts are not working, the Foundation is unable to offer the experiences promised to students. UPS Systems plc has given us peace of mind. In the unlikely event of an emergency, we can now rely on a trustworthy standby power system, safeguarding our students in the process. We were delighted with UPS Systems plc’s expert service and ability to provide a bespoke system to meet our specific requirements.” Visit www.upssystems.co.uk.
