Branch cabling system cuts costs and time on a central London refurbishment and expansion project.
Hills Electrical & Mechanical has completed a branch cabling installation at the Grade II-listed Victoria House in Bloomsbury Square, London. The original seven-storey neo-classical building was built in stages over a ten-year period from 1924. The refurbishment included a four-storey extension upwards to provide 20 000 m2 of office and retail space in an 11-storey scheme.

Modular Wiring Systems’ cabling products have been specified in two sizes – 630 and 150 mm2 – to provide rising mains distribution of 1000 and 400 A capacity respectively. The risers are located up to 100 m away from the lv switchroom, so the cabling was supplied in continuous lengths on reels wound in the direction of the installation to dramatically reduce the installation time.

Branches were provided at varying centres to cater for the different slab-to-slab heights in the building. The prefabricated cabling system was used in preference to a busbar system because it dramatically reduced material costs and installation times.