Education portfolio from Prima Systems

Schools Direct
Helping to transform the learning environment
Prima
Integrated Facade Solutions

Prima Systems has been providing services to the Education sector for over 40 years. Our reputation has been built not only
on the quality and variety of our products but also on the value of the service, support and technical advice we provide to
our clients.
A wide range of complementary services are available when you choose Prima as your glazing and cladding contractor on your school
improvement programme so you can be assured of our continued support throughout the entire process - from assessments, reports and
surveys to support your bid application to working out of school hours to avoid disruption to the students and teaching staff.

Funding Support Direct - increasing the chances of success
The preparation of a funding application can be a challenging and daunting task. Prima are able to offer
a free or paid for consultation service aimed at helping you in the preparation of the technical aspects
of the funding application. Our experienced team will review the condition of the existing buildings and
provide a detailed assessment of the overall operating performance of the external façade including energy
calculations, ventilation surveys, health and safety assessments and compliance considerations.
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Full cost summary including building control, planning etc
Façade investigation report detailing current failings
Energy calculations to demonstrate expected improvements
Building 101 (ventilation in schools) survey
Full façade design drawings and specification documents
Full project overview including programme, deliverability, value for money
Facade Investigation Report - top marks for your funding application
A thorough technical assessment is conducted on the existing façade. This will highlight the current
failings of the existing buildings as well as our expectations of the improvements once the work
is complete. The report will feature an assessment of the following issues:
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Window operational performance
Glazing issues
Water penetration problems
Thermal performance
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Health & safety concerns
Ventilation issues
General appearance
Conclusion and recommendations
Work Direct - the ideal caretaker for your school improvement works
Prima Systems has a long and successful history of school improvement works. The knowledge and
experience we have gained over the years has allowed us to increase our service offering by developing
the Work Direct service for our Education clients.
By choosing Prima as the sole contractor for your glazing and façade improvement project you can bypass
the usual route of appointing a main contractor to oversee the project - saving you time, money and
resources.

The Abbey School, Faversham
Architect: Owen Shepherd Gee Contractor: Coombs (Canterbury) Ltd
Value: £850,000
Products: Rehau Total 70 windows, Senior Architectural Systems SCW+
curtain walling, Fundermax cladding

Before
After
Case study:
Prima’s value engineering solution gives The Abbey School in Faversham a new look
Programme & logistic solution
Following the appointment of Prima Systems as the façade contractor
for the project the team were keen to make progress as quickly as
possible mindful that the agreed completion date for the funding was
only 6 months away.
In order to avoid any delays it was agreed that the survey works would
be carried out using MEWP’s (Mobile Elevating Work Platforms) and
undertaken outside of school hours. This was a preferable solution to a
potential delay while scaffolding was erected.
The original plan had been for the work to be undertaken at night, as
with most large scale school works but planning application restrictions
prevented this. With the works now being carried out during the school
day it became apparent that the success of the project would rely on
impeccable project management and communication.
Correct scheduling was vital to enable the work to progress smoothly
and, more importantly, with minimum disruption to the day to day
running of the school.
Replacement works were undertaken from an external scaffold which
was enclosed to reduce noise pollution to the surrounding residential
areas as well as offering additional weathering to make sure the work
was not impeded or delayed.
Design solution
The original design proposal was to over clad the entire building
façade, however after further discussion it was clear that this option
far exceeded the project’s budget.
With the project in doubt, it was up to Prima’s experienced team to
develop an original solution. By retaining the existing structural steel
Crittall window mullions it was possible to insert a steel reinforced
PVCu double glazed curtain wall window system between the steel
mullions to form a new high performance building façade. This solution
ensured the project was completed on time and to the agreed budget.

Canterbury College
Architect: Archial Norr Contractor: Morgan Sindall
Value: £211,000
Products: Smarts Alitherm 700 windows, Senior Architectural Systems
SMR800 curtain walling

Canterbury Primary School
Architect: Ellis Williams Architects Contractor: Wates Construction
Value: £176,000
Products: Sapa Building Systems Dualframe 75 windows, Jack Aluminium
TD-68 doors, Sapa Elegance 52ST curtain walling

Hornbeam Primary School
Architect: Prima Systems (SE) Ltd Contractor: Prima Systems (SE) Ltd
Value: £30,000
Products: Bespoke glazed canopies

Laleham Gap School
Architect: Ellis Williams Architects Contractor: Wates Construction
Value: £320,000
Products: Sapa Building Systems Dualframe 75 windows, Jack Aluminium
TD-68 doors, Sapa Elegance 52ST curtain walling

Norton Knatchbull School
Architect: Roberts Limbrick Ltd Contractor: Kier Group plc
Value: £250,000
Products: Sapa Building Systems Dualframe 75 windows, Jack Aluminium
TD-68 doors, Sapa Elegance 52ST curtain walling

Repton Manor Primary School
Architect: Cattell Skinner Design Partnership Contractor: Apollo Education
Value: £317,000
Products: Sapa Dualframe 75SI windows, Sapa ST commercial doors,
Senior Architectural Systems SCW+ curtain walling,
Sunflex sliding doors

Trinity School
Architect: Prima Systems (SE) Ltd Contractor: Prima Systems (SE) Ltd
Value: £453,000
Products: Sapa Building Systems Dualframe 75Si windows

Case study:
Trinity School transformed during Summer holidays
Programme & logistic solution
Following the completion of the 6th Form Centre in 2011 it was a
reflection of Prima’s commitment to be invited to undertake the
replacement of the existing windows on the front elevation as well
as designing and installing a glazed partition for new CNC machinery
within the woodworking lab.
The survey was carried out from a cherry picker in order to avoid
unnecessary and costly extended scaffold hire. The replacement
window work was undertaken from a full scaffold which was alarmed in
order to conform to the insurance requirements.
Design solution
The ground floor windows on the front elevation had previously been
replaced using Schuco so it was agreed that Prima would match these
to keep a consistent appearance. The low level top hung openers
were operated via folding cam-stays providing both a durable and
permanent restriction while the high level openers were operated via
manual teleflex which were painted to match the framing.
The glazing element consisted of highly insulated sealed units with
SGG Cool-Lite SKN174ii to the external pane to reduce heat build up
whilst maintaining the light levels. Due to the building design it was
necessary to design aluminium pressings for the external head cill and
side jambs to enable the window to interface into the building structure
correctly.
With Phase 2 on a different elevation it was agreed to use the Sapa
Dualframe 75Si window system resulting in a substantial saving for the
work whilst providing equal performance and visual appearance.
Both phases of the work successfully achieved the requirements for the
reduction of heat loss and noise levels as well as solar gain, ventilation
and durability.
Following the success of the replacement works Prima was appointed
to undertake further work to the value of over £100k the following
summer. Due to the building design and subsequent high cost of the
scaffold hire in the previous works Prima developed an alternative
access method using MEWP’s which saved over £5k for the school.

Wilmington Girls School
Architect: Lee Evans Partnership Contractor: Coombs (Canterbury) Ltd
Value: £357,000
Products: Rehau Total 70 windows and doors

Case study:
Prima’s value engineering solution gives Wilmington Girls School a new look
Programme & logistic solution
Although initial design issues were successfully resolved the time taken
had eaten into the project time frame meaning the works could not
be completed without major disruption and upheaval to the running of
the school. The school was at risk of losing their funding if the deadline
could not be met.
The solution was for the work to be undertaken at night. As it was not
possible to complete a classroom in one session internal partitions
were erected prior to the main works to enable the classrooms to stay
fully functional regardless of the replacement façade works.
All works were undertaken from an external scaffold which was
enclosed to reduce noise and light pollution to the surrounding
residential areas as well as offering additional weathering to ensure
the work was not impeded or delayed.
Working closely with the school a high level of planning was
undertaken in the preparation and upkeep of the programme of works,
correct scheduling was key to ensuring that the works progressed
smoothly and more importantly with minimum disruption to the day to
day running of the school
Design solution
The original design proposal was to over clad the entire building
façade however after further discussion it was clear that this option far
exceeded the project’s budget.
With the project in doubt it was up to Prima’s experienced team to
develop a solution. By retaining the existing structural steel Crittall
window mullions it was possible to insert a steel reinforced PVCu
double glazed curtain wall window system between the steel mullions
to form a new high performance building façade.
The steel mullions were then over clad to improve the overall thermal
and visual performance of the façade. The over swing windows
offered the perfect solution to the ventilation requirements whilst also
providing the robustness required in a school environment, the flush
sight line externally increased the modern feel to the finished façade.

St George’s Centre, Canterbury
Student accommodation
Architect: BDP Architects LLP Contractor: Cardy Construction Ltd
Value: £273,000
Products: Sapa Building Systems Dualframe 75Si windows
Sapa Building Systems 202 doors
Senior Architectural Systems SCW+ curtain walling

Medway Halls, Chatham
Student accommodation
Architect: GDM Architects Contractor: Provian Construction
Value: £192,000
Products: Sapa Dualframe 75 windows, Sapa Dualframe 75 doors,
Glostal 202 doors

I would like to thank you and your team for the excellent work that has been undertaken. Your careful
planning and the excellent management of the teams of staff completing the work has meant that the disruption
to the school has been kept to a minimum. The resulting windows have transformed the classrooms by making
them appear more modern and also by ensuring that the heat loss has been reduced.
“Mrs Maggie Bolton (Head Teacher), Wilmington Grammar School for Girls
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This project was a mix of new-build, re-model and refurbishment works all conducted within a live
school on an extremely challenging site both logistically and geographically. At all stages of the works
- from the intensive and unwavering design input and resolution of issues, the robust logistics planning
and execution, meeting programme deadlines, working with and alongside other trades, quality of
workmanship and positive, solid support - I cannot praise Prima Systems highly enough. Extremely good
relationships were built and maintained and I would have no hesitation at all in using Prima Systems on
the next project in which I am involved and recommending them to other contractors.
Ben Fletcher (Project Manager), St Aloysius College - Balfour Beatty
Prima Systems (SE) Ltd
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The Old Malt House, Easole Street
Nonington, Dover, Kent CT15 4HF
T: 01304 842999
www.primasystems.co.uk
enquiries@primasystems.co.uk
Prima
Integrated Facade Solutions