The Northern Ireland Advanced Composites and Engineering Centre (NIACE) is a new 3,700 sqm 3-storey purpose-built facility. The Centre comprises a collaborative office environment, a composites research laboratory, materials analysis laboratories, meeting rooms lecture theatres, and a sophisticated comms room to link the facility to other similar organisations worldwide.
Specialist M&E installations included the HVAC system with heat recovery to the main occupied spaces. Other industrial type spaces are heated by a LPHW Radiator system with fresh air ventilation and heat recovery.
High levels of extraction with close control were provided to the 3D weaving loom, creel room and polymer recycling facility due to the high levels of carbon particles which could short circuit sensitive electronic equipment. An hydraulic ring main system was provided to the materials test lab with liquid nitrogen bulk storage and distribution for lab testing.
The electrical infrastructure services included HV mains supply, LV distribution, uninterruptible power supply, emergency lighting, telecommunications, public address/sound amplification, access control, security detection & alarm and CCTV, fire detection and alarm and lightning protection.
