Model workplace

The manufacture of healthcare products places specific demands on a building environment notably the need to maintain a clean environment. The entire production facility in the new Fisher & Paykel Healthcare building is air conditioned to close tolerances to meet this requirement.

The design of these services was carried out by building services consultant Stephenson & Turner. The company was also engaged by Fisher & Paykel to design the ventilation, electrical power, lighting, plumbing and drainage, fire services and fire engineering, security and data cabling services.

Director Michael Dixon says other challenges included the design of the fire protection.

"The warehouse has very high storage racking, so we introduced a system of early suppression fast response (ESFR) sprinklers to avoid the need for in-rack sprinklers," he says.

To provide maximum flexibility for Fisher & Paykel Healthcare's operation, the electrical system was designed so the facility can be easily altered as production requirements change.

Dixon says Stephenson & Turner's building services engineers have provided mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and fire engineering design on a variety of Fisher & Paykel projects over a period of more than 10 years.

"The firm has carried out extensive and complex building services work in Fisher & Paykel's East Tamaki industrial complex," he says. "As well as working on the Healthcare premises, we have been involved with the electronics, appliances, laundry and refrigeration divisions.

"The entire Fisher & Paykel complex is arguably the largest low-rise industrial office complex in New Zealand. The total area of the Fisher & Paykel Healthcare project alone is more than 50,000m²."

For further information on these services, contact Stephenson & Turner New Zealand, PO Box 1830, Auckland, phone (09) 303 1249. fax (09) 303 2554. Email: auckland@stephensonturner.com, website: www.stephensonturner.com.

Story by: Trendsideas