Electrical Connection Summer 2016

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www. e l e c t r i c a l c o n n e c t i o n . c om . a u 29
and experiences of RAN servicemen and
women will be remembered and shared
with future generations.
“We are well aware of the significance
that this building holds within the
community. Over half a million people,
including 50,000 school children, visit the
pavilion each year to learn about the role
of the RAN during and following World
War I,” he says.
“The pavilion has become a permanent
tribute to the men and women of the RAN.”
The project itself was rife with
challenges, Josh says, including the
necessity of having a team working
under the wharf; planning around the
tidal conditions of the harbour; working
between the wharf and the vessels
to connect services; extending fibre
optic cabling and mains cabling under
the wharf; using boats to complete
installations; and, installing lightning
conductors in the water.
“When electing which of our team
members would work on this project,
we had to be certain of their abilities
and commitment to the project because
many of the installation components
were considered ‘high risk’. Suppliers
were also heavily scrutinised as any
delay in the supply of material could
prove detrimental to the completion
of the project.
“Safety was the main focus for the
Kerfoot team. Condition monitoring
and knowledge of the tides was
required for all works under the wharf
and on the water while integration with
the vessels took place.
“The Kerfoot team had to plan months
in advance with the vessel crew to
complete disconnects, alterations and
reconnects to the vessel services.”
Working from boats to install large
submains, lightning conductors and under-
wharf reticulation also required careful
planning and management as some of
the tidal conditions only allowed work
to be completed under the wharf for a
maximum of four hours a day.
“Further, Kerfoot was not the only trade
to carry out works under the wharf and
therefore coordination between trades
was a necessity.
“The busy nature of the harbour also
posed a challenge as passing ferries and
boats could cause large waves. To manage
and overcome this challenge works were
booked weeks in advance and planned
with great precision.”
Due to the inherent difficulties of
working on and near the water, the
Kerfoot team undertook CPR and
lifesaving training to ensure all team
members were aware of the risks involved
with the situation and how to respond to
an emergency.
“Large sections of the works were
completed using boats and special
working platforms elevated over the
harbour; but, the project was delivered on
time, with no safety incidents and minimal
disruption to the visitors and client.”
Technically speaking, given that the
vessels were not a permanent fixture
of the museum, disconnection from the
pavilion needed to be a simple process for
staff, Josh says.
“These vessels required 415V power,
structured cabling and a fire detection
system to be connected. The submarine
alone also required a 110V DC supply.
“The Kerfoot team engineered a
quick connection box for both vessels.
This quick connection box contained
plug-in modules for all of these services
allowing the vessels to be relocated for
maintenance and cleaning without a
major electrical shutdown.
“These boxes were designed to be
concealed in the ceiling void located just
under the gangways on the vessels.”
The brief also called for the installation
of a lightning protection system to
protect the building’s delicate facade.
Kerfoot worked with the architect to
conceal all lighting protection components
while maintaining compliance with
Australian Standards.
“Stainless steel hand railings and small
fins connected to the building were used
as lightning conductors, to minimise the
visible components. The footings were
also part of this system, which let us hide
the conductors below the deck of the
existing wharf. This made the installation
almost invisible.”
Another important aspect of the project
was to ensure that all works undertaken
on the water had no impact on the
environment. This posed a challenge when
drilling and cutting into the wharf as all
dust and debris had to be contained.
As a result, Kerfoot worked closely with
the Environment Protection Agency (EPA).
“On completion of the project the
EPA signed off on all works, meaning
that we had had no effect on the
environment,” Josh says.
In September, Kerfoot won the
Commercial – Small Project category at
the 2016 NECA NSW Excellence Awards
for its work at the pavilion.
“For Kerfoot to be recognised as a
winner not only reflects the high standard
of work our dedicated team can produce,
it also confirms our position as a top
electrical contracting and management
company within the industry,” Josh says.
“This shows our ability to adapt to any
of our client’s requirements, overcoming
environmental boundaries, however
difficult they may be.”
> Kerfoot
“Thepavilionhas become apermanent tribute to themen
andwomenof theRoyal AustralianNavy.”