One of the UK’s leading mechanical and electrical contractors has completed a complex project on a Grade-I listed crematorium.
Greater Manchester-based Ash Integrated Services worked under strict conservation conditions at the Haltemprice Crematorium in Hull, with the electrical team on site for 20 weeks.
Activity across the chapel and crematorium included full rewiring of lighting and power as well as the installation of a fire safety system.
Ash, which delivers fully integrated mechanical and electrical solutions, was appointed by Dignity PLC, which owns and operates the site, as part of a scheme to revamp the building following a fire which caused significant damage in October 2020.
Antony Grace, co-founder and director at Ash, said: “It’s been a very challenging job, as you would expect working on a Grade-I listed building.
“Due to the limitations, which included only drilling into mortar joints and not creating any new holes in the brickwork, everything takes that little bit longer. However, the attention to detail shown by our team on site meant the project ran smoothly.
“It was a technical challenge to run wires and cables from point to point and we worked closely with all parties to ensure any proposed work was acceptable under the conditions.
“While all wiring except for the three cartwheel lights is hidden in the chapel, we were able to utilise the industrial space of the crematorium to provide the wiring within galvanised conduit and trunking providing a clean, neat and tidy installation for the power, lighting and new safety circuits.”
Haltemprice Crematorium opened in 1998 following an extensive refurbishment of the former De la Pole Hospital chapel.
Much of the chapel’s original features have been retained with traditional craftsmanship blended with new features, including seasoned roof timbers and mellow brickwork.
Funeral services restarted earlier in 2021 at a temporary chapel while the revamp of the permanent building was completed.
Antony added: “We installed new power supplies to the crematorium for elements including heating, lighting, machinery, and safety circuits complete with emergency stop buttons, while also linking it to the ventilation systems.
“This means if there is a fire, the ventilation cuts out so the fire isn’t fuelled by oxygen, which mitigates the chance of another significant fire.
“In addition, we installed power and cables to allow for funeral services to be streamed across the world.”
Sarah Learmont, business development project manager at The Crematorium and Memorial Group, said: “With the installation of the new C Bus system, supplied and fitted by Ash Integrated Services, we are now able to offer our families another way to personalise their loved one’s funeral service with atmospheric lighting, thus creating the ambience they require.
“These, as well as all back of house electrical installation and some work in our grounds has been professionally carried out with attention to detail.
“A huge thank you to Ash for helping us to re-open and the team should feel proud of what we have achieved together to restore the chapel and give the families of Hull somewhere very special to hold their cremation.”
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