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Category Archives: Construction

Kao Data and JCA shortlisted for ‘Design Team of the Year’ DCD Award

Leading design and build contractor in the data centre industry, JCA, is proud to announce that, working with Kao Data, we have been shortlisted in the ‘Design Team of the Year’ category at the global DCD Awards 2018.

The category recognises the achievements of the architects, engineers and contractors that design and build data centres. Tom Absalom, Managing Director at JCA, said: “We are delighted to be shortlisted with Kao Data in this prestigious category. Kao Data London One data centre is a showcase for our full design and construction capability, as well as demonstrating our innovative and collaborative approach to critical infrastructure projects, working closely with both client and supply chain partners to achieve the highest levels of operational and sustainable delivery.”

Kao Data and JCA undertook a truly collaborative, open approach to enable the free-flowing of ideas, high levels of project dynamism and problem solving to achieve Kao Data’s objectives of delivering on time and on budget.

For Kao Data, the driving force for the project was to create a product that was market leading in terms of quality, efficiency and innovation and to be able to offer state-of-the-art carrier neutral data centre space at a strategic location just outside London and in doing so form one of the largest data centre campuses in the UK.

Jan Daan Luycks, CEO of Kao Data, said: “The collective experience of Kao Data’s senior management team allied with JCA’s building engineering expertise has delivered a facility of the highest standard in the areas of efficiency, resilience, operational sustainability and connectivity. The design and construction of the data centre follows the innovative principles of the Open Compute Project and as such is one of the first carrier neutral wholesale data centres to do so.”

JCA’s focus on delivering the highest levels of sustainability has also resulted in Kao Data London One achieving BREEAM Excellent Certification.

The overarching principle of collaborative engagement and an engineering led approach to the design and construction has enabled Kao Data to achieve its objective and the business now operates one of the most advanced data centres anywhere in the world.

All entries have been reviewed by an independent panel of industry experts and the awards will be presented at a gala dinner on Thursday 6th December in London.

 

To find out more about DCD Awards 2018, visit https://www.dcdawards.global/ 

To find out more about JCA’s services, visit https://jca.co.uk/what-we-do/ 

 

 

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BIM Level 2 Accreditation

JCA Engineering is accredited with a BIM Level 2 Business Systems Certification from Lloyd’s Register for Project Delivery Provider (Business Systems) – Tier 2 M&E Consultant scope of work.  

BIM Level 2 accreditation scheme is an independent public statement of compliance with the PAS 1192 series of standards, BS 11000, the collaborative standard, and the Lloyd’s Register BIM Accreditation Guidance document which introduces another level of risk management. 

The British Standards Institution (BSI) describes BIM Level 2 maturity a series of domain and collaborative federated models. The models, consisting of both 3D geometrical and non-graphical data, are prepared by different parties during the project life-cycle within the context of a common data environment. Using information exchange process between various systems, project participants can provide defined and validated outputs via digital transactions in a structured and reusable form. 

BIM Level 2 requires all project and asset information, documentation and data to be electronic, which supports efficient delivery at the design and construction phases of the project. At the design stage, designers, clients and end users can work together to develop the most suited design and test it on the computer before it is built. During construction BIM enables the supply chain to efficiently share precise information about components which reduces the risk of errors and waste. 

The accreditation is valid for three years, during which time the BIM provider is under a surveillance program.

To find out how JCA is using BIM to support building lifecycle management, view our recent blog post > Blog – BIM: The technical interface into the lifecycle of a building

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Blog – BIM: The technical interface into the lifecycle of a building

Leading engineering services-led principal contractor, JCA, explores how Building Information Modelling or ‘BIM’ is supporting building lifecycle management for the benefit of owners and tenants.

Now well established in the construction sector, Building Information Modelling or ‘BIM’ has transformed architecture, building engineering and construction. BIM is a process that utilises intelligent 3D models to capture, explore and maintain consistent and coordinated planning, design, construction and operational data.  As a result, BIM provides a wealth of information such as detailed insights for controlling costs, project scheduling and ensuring ‘constructability’ during the design process.

Beyond the design and construction phase, BIM-based technology is now being adopted as the new digital process for the entire building lifecycle, providing building owners and tenants with accurate, timely and relevant information on all aspects of a building’s operations.

‘Lifecycle BIM’ acts as the primary information channel for the gathering, co-ordination and enrichment of data, which supports a building’s lifecycle.  This entails the creation and utilisation of information to manage the operations and maintenance of buildings at every stage of its life.  The approach commences during the onset of the design process, where BIM provides realistic three-dimensional representation, including detailed renderings of sophisticated mechanical and electrical systems and ‘walkthroughs’ for design clarity to avoid clashes during construction.  In addition, BIM is also being increasingly combined with building automation systems to provide real-time monitoring in order to maximise environmental performance.

As a result, BIM provides facilities managers with the opportunity to maximise value across a building’s operation, which benefits from the enhanced detail and data contained within BIM.  These include space management, where area and room-related information in BIM models can provide detailed insights into how space is used.  As a result, facilities managers can reduce vacant space and ultimately reduce property expenses.  The lifecycle aspects of BIM also enable building owners to illustrate to tenants exactly how a building should appear at the commencement and conclusion of their lease, encouraging collaboration and helping to prevent disagreements.

By providing the technical interface into the lifecycle of a building, BIM also supports the drive to streamline building maintenance by providing the detailed information that allows effective upkeep schedules to be planned and implemented.  For example, product information and manufacturer-specific content stored in the BIM at the design stage provides managers with a wealth of data when a building goes live, enabling them to create planned preventative maintenance programmes and forecast the cost of ongoing capital expenditure.

BIM also enhances the lifecycle management of a building by providing manufacturer data on the life expectancy and replacement costs of specific systems and components. As a result, building owners gain an understanding of the benefits of particular materials or systems that may require higher initial capital investment but represent a cost saving over time, in areas such as energy consumption.  Furthermore, by linking with Computer Aided Facilities Management (CAFM) systems that enable live data on systems and components to be accessed and updated by field-based engineers, BIM is enabling professionals to interrogate real-time information and make informed planned maintenance decisions.

It is evident that the benefits of BIM in the operational phase of a building’s lifecycle are being recognised in the property sector as building owners constantly seek to reduce costs and improve the management of their facilities.  Through its use, Lifecycle BIM makes important building information available to all stakeholders, reducing the time consumed and associate costs in its operation.

As an engineering services-led construction and managed services business, JCA has fully embraced BIM, which supports the company’s ethos of collaboration.  JCA employs BIM within its Professional Services division and has Tier 2 BIM Level 2 accreditation in accordance with the BS1192 Production of Information and PAS119-2 Sharing of Information standards, as part of its ongoing digital transformation programme.

Chris Fitzer, JCA’s CAD Manager and BIM Lead, explains: “JCA is engaged in many high technology, innovative and challenging projects that demand a high level of collaboration with our clients, suppliers and subcontractors to ensure we deliver quality and value throughout the entire building lifecycle.  Already used extensively in the design and build phase, BIM is now transforming the operational phase of a building’s lifecycle, supporting the drive to maximise efficiency and streamline building maintenance.”

Click here for more information on our professional services capabilities.

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