Cable management solution for engineering innovation centre

Founded in 1828, the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) is one of the UK’s largest, with the student and staff headcount approaching 38,000. As part of its continuing efforts to shape the future of its students, the university is currently building the Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC). 

Supporting the future of engineering skills development within the North West, the EIC will be a facility located on the Preston campus. Exploiting the location of the university, the EIC will be at the centre of one of the most active engineering and manufacturing areas in the UK, and will establish UCLan as a leader in engineering innovation. 

It was decided that larger than standard Cat 6a copper clad aluminium data cables would be used throughout the EIC. As such, Sean Chaplin, site engineer for NG Bailey, required a cable management solution that would not only achieve a sleek, professional finish, but also be durable and large enough to house the chosen data cables. 

After onsite discussions with Dave Burt, National Contract and Sustainability Manager for Marshall-Tufflex, Sean specified the PVC-U XL dado trunking system to be placed in various classrooms, engineering workshops and flight simulator rooms. 

As the students would be using the rooms for a range of engineering courses, including aerospace, mechanical and robotics, cables needed to be protected by a robust solution that would prevent any data from being compromised. Able to house all cables up to Cat 7a, the versatile trunking is easy to install and was supplied with Charcoal accessory boxes, to ensure compliance with Part M. 

In addition, an Inscreed Underfloor to desk system was also specified, including floor boxes and junction boxes to accommodate the large data cables. This was to ensure health and safety within the centre as no cables would be loose in the engineering rooms. 

Chaplin said: “NG Bailey installed the products whilst I oversaw the project. This is a prestigious project, and with the centre expected to experience high volumes of traffic on a regular basis, we required a high-end cable management system that would stand up to the day to day knocks from a busy environment. 

“In line with the EIC’s state of the art facility, the product also needed to look good too. We were able to install the dado trunking incredibly easily, and the product’s gloss finish looks fantastic in the classrooms.” 

The Marshall-Tufflex PVC-U XL dado trunking also comes with the additional benefit that the profiles have been manufactured from 70% recycled material. This is in line with the company’s commitment to responsible manufacturing. 

Burt added: “We’re thrilled to see our work become part of an innovative centre at the heart of an esteemed university. It is our vision that by 2028, all PVC-U products installed in buildings should be manufactured using at least 50% recycled material, and being part of this build we can continue to promote that message. 

“Our PVC-U products are manufactured using PVC-U from post-industrial windows - meaning the trunking is incredibly robust as the raw material was designed to withstand external elements. This ensures a quality product that is environmentally beneficial.”