Since the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew’s Herbarium, Library, Art and
Archives was first founded in 1852, much has changed in the world of
plant classification. Until a few decades ago only the physical
appearance of plants guided how taxonomists classified species.
Today, genetic analysis enables scientists to reassess ideas of
relatedness of plants, and also to deduce the order in which groups
of plants diverged from each other as they evolved.
Kew’s Herbariumis expanding during the United Nation’s International
Year of Biodiversity with a new state-of-the-art 5000m² extension.
Kew will take advantage of the additional space provided by the new
wing to reorganise its collection of plant specimens to conform to
the DNA-based Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG) system of
classification.
Designed by Edward Cullinan Architects, the new wing was carefully
designed to complement the existing building and go on to say “The
concept for the building is generated by juxtaposing the vault-like,
climate-controlled archive (that keeps the specimens at a constant
15°) with airy, day-lit research spaces. These glass and timber
research areas undulate around the 3 storey, brick-clad archive
enabling scientists to work in close proximity to the collection.”
To ensure that the research spaces within the new wing are kept well
ventilated, adaptive natural ventilation specialists SE Controls
were specified to provide automation to the windows and roof vents.
Adaptive natural ventilation is a solution offering the best air
circulation with much lower energy input compared to mechanical
ventilation plant. In its basic form it involves the installation of
windows or vents in a building envelope that open and shut
automatically according to set parameters for the space within the
building. These parameters are usually based on indoor air quality,
and temperatures, correct levels being essential to maximise
concentration levels and thus productivity of occupants.
Adaptive natural ventilation is often coupled with smoke detection
systems in modern buildings using the same vents and windows
offering a positive saving on building costs. Natural ventilation
systems are not just for new buildings. Many existing buildings can
easily be automated with little modification, offering huge savings
in energy costs whilst improving building comfort.
There are two main principles of naturally driven ventilation in
buildings: the wind effect and the buoyancy or stack effect. Wind
driven ventilation utilises wind pressures on an external elevation
of a building to push fresh air inside. The buoyancy or stack effect
is that of warm air rising drawing with it stale air and leaving a
low pressure zone which in turn draws in fresh air through low level
open windows and dampers. Adaptive natural ventilation responds to
internal and external conditions of a building using sensors &
controls, and adjusting vent positions accordingly to maintain
optimum conditions, thus adding value to the building by improving
the productivity of the occupants, which in real terms means a
higher return on labour. Further interfaces with other building
systems such as heating ensure energy losses are minimised, also
giving cost savings during the life of the building.
Opening windows are designed into buildings to provide light, offer
ventilation and give occupants a view out of buildings, as well as
maybe providing smoke ventilation in the event of a fire. Windows
may also be hard to reach or in a larger quantities too impractical
to operate by hand. By motorising each window, a bank of windows can
easily be operated from one place at one time.
To get the best possible natural ventilation solution it is best to
design window automation during the facade design either as a full
natural ventilation system or as a combined smoke and natural
ventilation system. Well planned natural ventilation designs can
offer significant energy savings and therefore reduce a client’s
carbon footprint.
The importance of getting a specialist on board at an early design
stage cannot be over stressed. By careful design at the early stages
of building design, adaptive natural ventilation solutions will be
more effective in use and more cost efficient overall, at
contracting and operational stages.
Natural smoke ventilation utilises the inherent buoyancy of hot
smoke, letting it rise and escape from the building whilst allowing
cooler, heavier air, to enter at low level into escape routes to
allow safe exit for occupants or to aid in the fire services entry
into the building to the possible effected area. This is achieved by
introducing automatic vents at high level that open upon detection
of smoke, allowing the smoke to escape into the atmosphere.
Automatic opening inlet vents and windows at low level maintain the
smoke reservoir at a safe level above head height to increase
occupant’s visibility and ensure sufficient fresh air to survive
during escape from a building.
On the new wing at Kew, SE Controls worked in partnership with the
glazing specialist, Melayway Glass Assemblies Ltd. Schüco AWS
systems were specified for the windows and doors, with FW60+ Curtain
wall. All external finishes were specified and anodised by LHT to
Uncol Anolok 541 ‘Pale Umber’. Internal finishes were specified in
RAL 8080 matt powder coating.
For the roof lights, 24 no. ‘TGCO 24 20’, 250 mm stoke, chain
actuators were fitted on bespoke brackets to provide both smoke
control and natural ventilation. Operated by a 24 volt supply, these
actuators are provided with a battery backed controller connected to
a fireman’s override switch and to the fire alarm system, as well as
the BMS.
Opening vents in the windows and curtain wall areas were fitted with
SCCO 24 30 concealed actuators, approved for use with Schüco’s AWS
102 SK windows tested to EN12101-2 smoke ventilation regulations,
again offering both smoke control and natural ventilation via the
fire alarm and BMS. In order to provide manual override each zone of
actuators have been provided with local open/close switches.
By working closely with the installer SE Controls have ensured that
all power supply cables have been neatly concealed inside the
aluminium curtain wall transoms and mullions. Cables are then
gathered under the suspended floor void and then follow cable ducts
to the control units. In total 24 independently controlled zones, or
banks of automatic opening windows, are served by SE Controls
equipment and are operated by a single control panel, complete with
battery back-up.
Once installed, checked and commissioned, the installed system needs
little maintenance, unlike mechanical air conditioning systems.
Preventative maintenance is recommended at 6 monthly intervals to
ensure that smoke control systems are fully operable in case of
emergency, and can be combined with the glazing manufacturers’
recommended maintenance visits for windows, thus reducing overall
maintenance costs. SE Controls Maintenance Division has been
providing building owners with such services for nearly 30 years.
The original Kew Herbarium building has been extended six times,
starting in 1877. The new wing extends the capacity of the
Herbarium, Library, Art and Archives by about 40 years, providing
climate-controlled storage and adjacent research areas. As well as
housing hundreds of thousands of plant specimens, it provides new,
state-of-the-art space for the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew’s
outstanding Library, Art and Archives Collection. Scientists from
other institutions and amateur botanists will get greater access to
the collections when the new wing opens as part of the Royal Botanic
Gardens, Kew’s year-long celebrations to mark the UN’s International
Year of Biodiversity.
The project engineers on the new Herbarium, wing are Buro Happold
and construction services were provided by Willmot Dixon.
SE Controls offer a complete service of design, installation,
commissioning and maintenance of smoke and adaptive natural
ventilation control systems for any building.
|
E-mail SE Controls |