b'28 Partner News Winter 2021EnterpriseNational Maritime Museum -A direct replacement would have required a complete electrical shut down for a significant period of time which would Electrical Infrastructure Upgrade not have been compatible with Museum requirements for continued operation.This called for innovative design to enable Jacques Beecher, Electrical Engineer with Eta Projects,the existing LV switchboard to remain functional for as long as possible, whilst reports on the recent upgrade and replacement of aa new switchboard was installed. key electrical switchboard at the National MaritimeEta Projects presented scheme designs to the Museum Estates teams including Museum at Greenwich, taking advantage of thethe Health and Safety manager. The Museum closures during the COVID-19 lockdown. agreed outcome enabled two adjacent staff locker rooms to be requisitioned and separate A&B LV switchboards installed with an inter-connector between both.This involved de-canting of key equipment Seldom have we the opportunity to take onForms of Separation within the panel.such as fire alarm panels, IT cabinet and a project in such a historic setting as theTherefore, the switchboard was renderedUPS systems supporting the security National Maritime Museum. These uniquenon-IP2X construction which madecontrol room. This enabled Internal walls buildings are situated with picture postcardmaintenance impossible without ato be demolished. The 2-new (A&B) views of the central London skyline tocomplete isolation which had seriousLV switchboards were assembled and the North across the river Thames andoperational ramifications for the Museum. subjected to intense testing prior to the rolling lush green parkland to the South. final replacement stage where all the The original building, known as the QueensThe only option was to replace the entireexisting services were transferred. House, was constructed almost 400East Wing LV Switchboard, ensuring thatThis allowed supplies to be migrated years ago, and the impressive traditionalall current electrical safety requirementsbetween two new switchboards, architecture is evident across all thewere met. It would also provide thehence limiting the disturbance Museums Grade 1 listed buildings on site. Museum with an electrical infrastructureexperienced by the museum.that would facilitate future growth and However, as is often the case with sitesenable development for years to come.Eta Projects utilised the Department of of this age, sections of existing electricalHealth HTM suite of Safety Documentation infrastructure were out-dated and in need ofThe primary challenge throughout thiswhich includes Limitation of Access, an upgrade to meet current standards. Theproject was to minimise disturbance to thePermission to Disconnect, Isolation and decision was made to give this 17th Centuryelectrical system during the upgrade works.Earthing Certificates, Permit to Works site, a 21st Century electrical make-over.This Switchboard supplied vital parts of thealong with Transfer of Control Certification. Museum site including the IT server rooms,The replacement/upgrade works proceeded The specialist power infrastructure projectsecurity offices and galleries and exhibits.in a timely manner without a hitch. was awarded to Eta Projects with aThis becomes even more relevant when brief to design and project manage theyou consider that the Museum is home toThe isolation works were undertaken by the upgrade/replacement of the East Winghistoric artefacts which must be protectedEta Projects specialist power team under Building electrical infrastructure. The worksat all times and in many cases, must be keptthe management of Rick Seymour (Director included the replacement of the outdatedin controlled atmospheric environments toof Authorising Engineer Services) with Air Circuit Breaker Protection Trip unitsavoid degradation of the items on display. the Authorised Person duties undertaken on the two incoming transformers in theby Alex Denes and Jacques Beecher.main Neptune Court Building as theseIn addition, the majority of these works were reported on the Energy Networkwould take place during our nationalThe outcome has been a high-quality Association (ENA) national Defect register.lock-down, a time when IT support andswitchboard (by AF Switchgear) internet access for remote working havewhich now provides additional The existing LV Switchboard supplying thebecome more important than ever. Thecapacity, resilience, redundancy and East Wing of the site had been expandedoperations of the Museum were now almostimportantly, maintainability to serve over the years as electrical supply demandsentirely dependant on the IT infrastructure,the Museum for many years to come.increased. This resulted in numerousand it was of paramount importance modifications to the electrical distributionthat any interruptions to these servicesIn summary, the success of this project was which created a confusing and congestedwere carefully controlled as they woulda result of a concise and effective design LV switch room with no spare capacity. undoubtedly have serious implications.and the development of a clearly defined In addition, the LV switchboard did notThe most challenging physical aspects ofshut-down strategy. The National Maritime meet current electrical safety guidelines,the project were the spatial constraintsMuseum now has an electrical infrastructure such as the need for appropriatewithin the existing LV switch-room. worthy of such a historical London landmark.'