100% pluggable electrical installations for House of Arnhem flats
Tekst Lieke van Zuilekom | Beeld Isolectra
Since Isolectra introduced the Wieland GST18® system in the Netherlands, pluggable electrical installation has taken off. This is logical, as a pluggable electrical installation saves time and (failure) costs while increasing the flexibility of installation. Isolectra and Linthorst Techniek prove that the fitting method is not only ideally suited to utility projects, but also for transforming offices into homes in Arnhem, where the former ING office building on Velperweg is being transformed into 153 rental flats for young starters.
To make the building suitable for residential use, various structural and technical system changes are made. The building was stripped down to the shell and rearranged. Pleijsier Bouw is responsible for the realisation. In a building team with the Nijkerk contractor and developer Borghese Real Estate, Linthorst Techniek is providing the complete mechanical and electrical installations.
Sustainable and all-electric
“House of Arnhem must become a sustainable and all-electric building, with at least energy label A”, says Eddie Vleeming, Project Manager at Linthorst Techniek. “For heating, the building is connected to the heat and cold storage sources and heat pumps of the ‘Kruisgebouw’ building next door. Sustainable radiators were selected as the delivery system, which guarantee high heat output at low water temperatures. Because the rental flats – with the exception of the corner apartments – are largely identical, and in order to ensure a quick and cost-efficient installation, we explored the possibilities of pluggable installation for the electrical facilities. We invited several suppliers, including Isolectra, our partner in this project to realise 100% pluggable electrical installation.”
High-quality and proven system
Opting for Isolectra was a logical choice, according to Vleeming. “After all, Isolectra’s Wieland GST18® system is a high quality and proven system. And we also had a good click with account manager Frans van Loon. Together with our engineer and head of realisation, we discussed the installation technology and logistical options for this project. In addition, we made a 100% pluggable electrical specification for a single home, and had it prefabricated by Isolectra. Isolectra then submitted a quotation, after which we could get started.”
Seamless connection
Frans van Loon: “For each room, two pre-assembled junction boxes with Wieland cables and connectors are mounted above the suspended ceilings. From these junction boxes, the electrical installers can easily continue to plug in the light switches and/or wall sockets in the walls. Metal stud walls were chosen, making it easy for the electrical installers to lower their cords. The switchgear in this project is made by Jung and is supplied by Hateha. In the preliminary phase, we carefully coordinated with Hateha which cords and connectors we would use, to ensure seamless connection.”
Colour-coded in red and green for each room
In consultation with Linthorst Techniek, all junction boxes and connecting cables were fully coded and delivered to the project just in time in conveniently arranged room kits, says Van Loon. “The codes correspond exactly to the assembly drawings, enabling the electrical installers to install quickly and without errors. There is always a single metal stud wall separating the houses, where the Wieland cables of two houses meet, emphasises Vleeming. “In order to clearly distinguish between these homes and avoid connection errors, the connecting cables have been coded in consultation, in red (even room numbers) and green (odd room numbers) for each room.”
Minimal failure costs, short lead times
Meanwhile, the room installations are almost ready, says Vleeming. “Linthorst Techniek focuses mainly on hotels and non-residential building projects, but we’re somewhat less at home in residential development. And we do not yet have much experience with pluggable electrical installation concepts either. Our electrical installers had to get used to it, but thanks to the great delivery and clear coding, fitting went without a hitch. As no cords needed to be cut, waste on the construction site was kept to a minimum. Moreover, 100% pluggable electrical installation has saved us a lot of time. The House of Arnhem is not due to be completed until the end of the year.
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