Terrapin Secure Solution For Prison Expansion

Terrapin's modular building expertise has provided a new cellblock for a North Nottinghamshire prison in a fraction of the time it would have taken using traditional construction methods.

Terrapin's Prospex custodial modular system was specified for a two-storey extension at HMP Ranby, a category C male adult training prison in Retford.

Thirty accommodation modules, creating 60 single cells, were manufactured and fitted out in factory-controlled conditions at Terrapin's production facility in Milton Keynes, and were delivered to site in just 10 working days.

Using Terrapin's offsite construction technology accelerated the building programme and reduced works and labour on site - a particular benefit in high security areas, where time needed for security screening can reduce the available working time each day.

The new cellblock at HMP Ranby was manufactured using Terrapin's Prospex double occupancy cell modules, fitted out to an exacting HM Prison Service specification ensuring safe and secure accommodation for occupants.

The steel-framed modules feature a double wall construction to enhance thermal efficiency and provide acoustic insulation between individual living spaces.

The exterior walls and cold pitched roof are finished with plastic-coated insulated panels.

All plant, including heating and air conditioning systems, is located in the roof void with accessible channels for MandE services housed between cell doors.

Terrapin's Sales Director, Richard Macdonald, points out that offsite prefabrication for extending or refurbishing custodial centres is even more time-efficient than on most other projects.

He says, "At Ranby, all plant and labour in secure areas has to be security checked in and out every day, which is time consuming and could extend the build schedule".

"By pre-engineering much of the building and services work offsite, we made a massive reduction to the time spent in security checks on site".

International consultancy, EC Harris, acted on behalf of the Ministry of Justice for all aspects of the project.

This ranged from day to day project and programme management to direct involvement and liaison with key establishment staff.

This ensured the continuous build of the new houseblock within a live Category C prison environment.

Tim Laycock, Senior Project Manager based at EC Harris' Leeds office comments, "Project managing the houseblock construction, whilst operating in a live prison environment, presented a number of challenges".

"By developing strong relationships with key project stakeholders we successfully delivered this tight build programme on time and within budget".

"Terrapin has extensive experience in providing efficient solutions for this specialist sector and their involvement from an early stage played a key role in the successful completion of the project." Terrapin's range of offsite construction options creates flexibility to design and build the most appropriate solution for each project.

Modular buildings can be purpose-designed to incorporate features such as anti-vandal protection, data networks and rainwater harvesting, and built to an agreed factory finish - thereby reducing the level of risk for contractors and end-users.

Fast-track construction also means shorter lead times without compromising the finished building's performance, making offsite construction a fast and flexible solution for all kinds of temporary and permanent building requirements in both the public and private sectors.

Terrapin is a privately owned company which has been expanding and promoting the potential of modern methods of offsite construction since the 1940s.

It grew with the development of modular classroom buildings throughout the baby boom and is now a leader in factory assembled building frames, panels and volumetric modules for projects such as hotels, prisons, hospitals, schools and apartments.

Terrapin is the first company to be accredited under Buildoffsite's new supplier registration scheme operated by Lloyd's Register.

The scheme standardises all aspects of the offsite process and ensures best practice, offering clients confidence in the assured levels of competence, methodology and safe working of the accredited supplier.

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