School Canopy Case Study Peak School Objective School Business Manager Hilary Gilbody, at The Peak School in High Peak, Derbyshire, contacted Living Space regarding a canopy for an unusually shaped courtyard area in the school. This would create a safe and sheltered outdoor learning and play area for the school's residents. Free Site Survey & Detailed Quotation Our Surveyor visited the site to establish a working solution which would enable this difficult area to be covered. As Living Space canopies are bespoke structures, they can be fabricated to ensure an exact fit for each location. Peak School already had two Living Space canopies which were a shade of green so quotations were finalised to include powder coating of the new canopy to match. The Challenge Not only was the area large, some 10.5m x 9.0m projection but also very complex. There were a multitude of obstructions with many doors and windows to avoid and varying roof levels to negotiate. The canopy would cover the whole exposed courtyard so issues of access for cleaning the roof were to be considered. The school is situated within the picturesque Peak District National Park and therefore the canopy needed to adhere to strict planning regulations in respect of design and colour. In addition, the high altitude of the school required the Living Space designers to work closely with their consultant structural engineers to ensure that the proposed canopy structure was robust enough for the high winds and snow falls of the Peak District. All Living Space school canopies are individually assessed by a structural engineer in terms of their location to establish site specific wind and snow loadings. All design parameters are then checked to ensure they fall in line with these loadings to give complete peace of mind. Health and safety aspects for the installation process needed to be considered very carefully as the pupils at the school had a range of special needs. Difficult access issues also had to be overcome. The Solution The courtyard would be covered by a canopy with a gable shaped roof. This would lift the height of the roof to give a light and airy feel to what could have become a stuffy area. A green coloured canopy frame complied with planning advice and matched their two other canopies. Living Space suggested a white roof which was more cost effective and deemed acceptable as the top of the roof could not be seen externally due to the enclosed location. Opal roof sheeting offered the ideal amount of shade and 98% effective UV protection whilst still allowing light into the classrooms around the courtyard. A series of bespoke roof vents solved the problem of access for cleaning and also offered a way of reducing any possible heat build up in the summer months. Double height padded post protectors were chosen in a complimentary shade of green to create a safe yet cheery environment for the children. When Hilary and her team were entirely happy with the planned design, an order was placed. Final design drawings and full structural calculations were then produced for the school to help with their planning and building control applications. Design, Manufacture, Delivery Installation and Final Inspection Health & Safety All pre-qualification Health and Safety paperwork was forwarded to the school in advance to help them plan the project. Living Space are registered with CHAS (Construction Health & Safety Scheme) and all Health and Safety standards are adhered to in the design of the structure, the preparation for the installation of the canopy and all the work carried out on site by our installers. The aim is to provide a safe working environment which will allow for a smooth and efficient canopy installation. Living Space liaised directly with the building inspector from the local authority in order that his on-site checks could be made. Installation The fitting team worked long hours despite difficult weather conditions to ensure a minimum of disruption for the school. Because of the lack of access to the area, all components and equipment had to be carried into the site by hand and concrete for foundations was hand mixed. Final Inspection & Quality Guarantee The Living Space Contracts Manager visited the site to carry out a final inspection and ensure that Peak School were delighted with their canopy and its installation. Living Space offer a Ten Year Guarantee with all of their school canopies giving the assurance that their high quality, robust canopy would give the school many benefits for years to come. Testimonial The School Business Manager was very pleased with the canopy and the new area it created for the pupils. She sent the following testimonial to Living Space to recognise a difficult job well done... "Peak School is delighted with their 3rd new canopy from Living Space. This is both aesthetically pleasing and has provided a much needed outdoor area which can be used most of the time as an outside learning area, an extension of the classroom. The canopy has made a huge difference to the stakeholders of the school; the Early Years Class and their awkward specialist equipment. Taxi drivers and their escorts no longer have to wait in the rain and snow. The installation team were very polite, helpful and understanding of our children's needs. The structure is so solid it is instantly recognisable by visitors to the school from Derbyshire County Council as a LIVING SPACE canopy!"
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