MEP Designs for the RSPCA’s Stubbington Ark

Lavender Lane is a single-story building containing 20 cat pods, a kitchen, storage and plant rooms, meeting rooms, WC facilities, and a staff shower/changing room. Each pod consists of an internal or external exercise area and a separate sleeping area. The sleeping areas also include underfloor heating, supply and extract ventilation, and a circadian lighting control system that mimics daylight levels during the day.

Appointed directly by The Ark, our team worked closely with their team and Snug Architects to design RIBA Stages 4-6, in accordance with the criteria outlined in the 'Standards and Licensing Conditions for Cats in RSPCA Animal Centres'. We also provided the Part L BRUKL compliance report, which proves that the building achieved an EPC rating of A.

MECHANICAL DESIGN

Understanding the challenges:

• Air quality: To ensure optimal air quality and maintain suitable air exchange rates within the cattery facility. It was essential to implement effective ventilation systems that support both the health and well-being of the cats that would occupy the building.
• Design temperatures: Ensuring that each cattery pod in the facility maintains a comfortable, stable temperature is crucial to the well-being of the animals. This involves closely monitoring and regulating temperature levels to align with the specific requirements outlined in the RSPCA standards.
• Sustainability: Designing energy-efficient Mechanical and Plumbing services that prioritise low-carbon energy sources is essential for reducing the building's environmental impact and achieving an 'A' EPC rating.
• Regulatory compliance: The design had to ensure full compliance with all relevant British standards as well as the specific guidelines set by the RSPCA to guarantee the highest level of safety, welfare, and environmental sustainability for the animals.

Overcoming the challenges:

• A Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) system was installed to ensure that sufficient, pre-filtered, and pre-heated fresh air was available to each pod. The MVHR system also maximised energy efficiency by reducing ventilation heat losses within the space via its integral heat exchanger. Each pod was supplied with fresh air to the sleeping areas and extracted air from the internal exercise areas.
• A high-performance wall-mounted dehumidifier was installed at a high level in the main cattery corridor. The unit’s operation ensured relative humidity levels did not exceed 70%, in line with RSPCA standards.
• Wet underfloor heating (UFH) was installed as the primary heat emitter to uniformly heat the cattery, maximise internal space, and utilise the lower flow and return temperatures associated with an ASHP installation.
• Mitsubishi Ecodan Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs) were installed as the primary source of low-carbon heat. The ASHP provided both space heating and water heating, with a Seasonal Coefficient of Performance (SCOP) of 3.34.

ELECTRICAL DESIGN

Understanding the challenges:

• Lighting and illumination: Creating a lighting design that provides optimal illumination levels for animal welfare and staff/visitor needs while minimising energy consumption.
• Emergency lighting and fire safety: Ensuring adequate emergency lighting, fire alarms, and detection systems to meet safety regulations and provide rapid response measures in case of an emergency.
• Renewable energy integration: Integrating renewable energy solutions to reduce the building’s carbon footprint further and support sustainable operation.
• Regulatory compliance: Ensuring that all electrical installations meet relevant British Standards and Building Regulations for safety and efficiency.

Overcoming the challenges:

Lighting and illumination: LED lighting was installed throughout the facility, with motion and photocell sensor controls to minimise energy use. This system enables lighting to adapt to the specific needs of each space while maintaining low consumption.

The lighting in the cattery's sleeping and exercise areas complies with the RSPCA's standards & Licensing Conditions for Cats. An automatic circadian lighting control system that mimics daylight levels during the day has been provided.

The cat pod lighting also features a manual override facility, allowing staff to turn it on only during designated activity times. Meanwhile, the corridor is controlled by PIR sensors, and the external wall lights are controlled via photocells. The combination of these methods lowers energy consumption within the building.

The standalone emergency lights are wall-mounted in the internal corridor area due to the presence of roof lights. A bi-directional uplight/downlight wall-mounted fitting provides a warm glow within the internal corridor.

Emergency lighting and fire system: Implementation of a robust emergency lighting system along with fire alarms and smoke detectors. These systems fully comply with BS 5266 and BS 5839 Part 1, ensuring safety and readiness in the event of an emergency.

Regulatory compliance: All electrical systems were installed in accordance with British Standards, Building Regulations and the RSPCA standards.

RSPCA’s Stubbington Ark is a testament to what can be achieved when dedication meets expertise. The new cattery not only provides a safe and comfortable environment for animals but also sets a benchmark in sustainable and compliant Mechanical & Electrical design. RHB’s contributions have significantly enhanced the facility, ensuring it meets high standards of welfare and efficiency.