South Wilts Ski Club
It’s not quite access control in the Andes or handles in the Himalayas, but you can now discover your own little piece of Mont Blanc in Bapton, Wiltshire. Clip in, choose a line, and carve your way through this case study to discover how we negotiated such a unique project.
An off-piste project
If you make a point of knowing about local South West contractors, you’d be surprised to find Moulding on such a site. Typified by their portfolio of large scale, long term, high end private residential projects, they’ve demonstrated their adaptability and breadth of skillsets on this public sports facility.
Transforming an existing barn on an unsuspecting farm in Bapton into Wiltshire’s first ski experience centre wasn’t going to be an A to B journey. No one wanted this to be a slalom, having to swiftly and deftly avoid obstacles when, with the right amount of pre-planning, this could be a blue run from start to finish.
With our specification team geared up and ready to go, as soon as the floor plans landed the conversations began as to how best to negotiate everyone safely to a well earned apres-ski, snag free completion.
Avoiding avalanches
Navigating the pitfalls of public areas and staff-only spaces, working within an existing structure, modernization, and compliance all contributed to a fast-paced, engaging process from specification to supply and on-going support.
Functionality. It had to start there. No matter how it looks, if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. And this was hardly a project where users had any incentive to take care when using door hardware.
Users pre-slope excitement and post-ski adrenaline comedown dictated robust, easy-to-operate hardware. Open to the public, accessibility was a key consideration too. Add in the non-standard overall purpose of the building – skiing facilities – there was a fine line to tread with providing hardware that was:
• Clear to use
• Heavy duty in use
• Fire door compliant
• Secure yet accessible
• Safe for the public
• Clean, modern design
• Long-lasting finish
With so many varied considerations and a short deadline, our team worked closely with the Moulding site team to ensure that the ironmongery specification and supply ticked all of the boxes with the project requirements, including a timely delivery to site, boxed in clear, individual doorsets to facilitate swift, hassle-free installation.
Now, let’s get into the detail.
From barn to brilliance
This was never going to a project that could be freestyled. There was no free lift pass in sight. Instead, this was going to need a keen eye and careful traversing. Our specification addressed the very specific needs of the facility and its users, whether staff or those looking for a day of excitement on the Infinity ski slope.
Public access
From the first step through the entranceway to the final exit through one of many possible doorways, the user journey and experience for paid customers had to be considered. Bringing together the new layout, existing features, and compliance with various building regulations, standards and legislation, we made sure to include:
• Panic hardware – Exidor panic bars certified to European Standard EN 1125 that feature the Certifire quality mark and CE marking secured final exit doors. They provide the single action egress required, are easy to install, and most importantly, are easy to operate in case of emergency. Suitable for commercial applications, these panic escape bars were paired with Exidor outside access devices operated by cylinders on a new master key suite.
• Final exit signage – Ticking the box of being clear to use, operational signage and fire exit signage accompanied the panic hardware, ensuring users know where to go in an emergency situation, and how to use the door hardware they encounter. Alongside the OADs on these final exit doors, Fire Exit Keep Clear signage was specified to the external face.
• Inclusivity – Assumptions are made that skiing is the reserve of the elite, of sporty types, younger people, and that may or may not be the case, but this indoor facility had to be accessible for all. Our team made sure that all WC doors were furnished with BS 8300-2 accessible thumbturns, allowing for independent use of the facilities by all visitors.
Design and style
Long-lasting finish with a clean, modern design. The client’s prerequisite allowed for some interpretation but when accommodating all other aspects of the build, there was one stand-out route - G316 stainless steel. Not just for doors but for windows too. Carlisle Brass window hardware in a tubular design perfectly complemented the door furniture, which we discuss more next.
Marine grade 316 ironmongery, from CE marked Enduro hinges to pull handles and escutcheons, succeeded in providing the style but also ease of maintenance, additional corrosion protection, and longevity desired in high use public spaces.
Heavy duty hardware
We’ve mentioned stainless steel, which not only provides the required contemporary aesthetic but delivers the durability of finish needed. Due to the planned use of the building, pull handles were settled upon for the majority of operating furniture instead of lever door handles.
In the few instances where levers were specified, they were EN 1906 Grade 4. A screw on rose, not press on, provided the finishing detail to these robust handles.
The finishing touches were kickplates which were a must for door protection in such an intensely used environment. The additional height, each plate being 200mm deep, screened more of the door from damage from foot traffic, equipment and belongings banging into them through daily use.
Fire door safety
Anyone in the wider construction industry cannot help but be aware of the increasing importance and education around passive fire safety measures whether that’s for new build domestic properties or refurbished or repurposed retrofit projects.
Fire door signage and intumescent protection for door hardware always features on our specifications. No detail is too small when it comes to these life safety products. Operating leaves of pairs of doors had fire door “keep shut” signage with “keep locked” on the second leaf, which were secured in place with flush bolts, locking into easy clean floor sockets.
Security and accessibility
As pull handles were the main feature, staff area doors were secured with deadlocks, delivering on the client’s security requirements without compromising functionality. An Access2 restricted profile master key system was allowed throughout – from the aforementioned outside access devices to the entrance and internal locking doors. Door-specific cylinder sizes and keying were discussed with site prior to supply, supplied door numbered with a key chart for complete clarity, accessibility for all parties, and for quick installation and securing of the facility.
Part of our specification service always includes on-going support of the master key system. This covers additional and replacement cylinders, differ keys and master keys.
Top of the leader board
Bill Spurdle, the site manager from Moulding, had this to say:
“I have been working with Door Controls Direct for about 40 years, I have worked with Rob all these years on many projects. My experience has always been excellent dealing with all staff and good service throughout my dealings.
I have always recommended Door Controls Direct to many people and still will, when a delivery is promised it arrives on time. My favourite thing about yourselves has always been the personal touch helping me with unusual items.”
Thank you to Bill and the Moulding team - a ringing endorsement that we couldn’t be more pleased with.
Wylye Valley to the Valberg
Over 700 miles from both the French Alps and the Pyrenees, the uniquely placed South Wilts Ski Club was certainly something out of the ordinary from our usual specification projects.
Transforming a surplus-to-requirements agricultural barn into the South West’s destination ski experience was fast-paced, full-on, and required a lot of focus but it was worth it to deliver against the key requirements:
• Clear to use hardware
• Heavy duty usage
• Fire door compliant
• Secure yet accessible
• Safe for the public
• Clean, modern design
• Long-lasting finish
Don’t take our word for how well the hardware blends in with the considered remodeling work carried out by the contractor – anyone can book into this special facility and see for themselves.
What everyone has taken away from this project is that there is always a solution, even when faced with a distinctly unusual change of use, plus a raft of requirements from the contractor, client, and end users. Clear, frequent, and inclusive communication with all involved, coupled with the knowledge and experience of our team delivered this over the finish line in record breaking time.
What’s next? Other than a thrilling new local destination for staff events, at Door Controls Direct we retain records of each specification project supplied. Should clients, maintenance staff, or external facilities management companies need to replace hardware as part of on-going maintenance, if doors change use, or the site is expanded, we have the precise details on hand for the exact make and model of each item of door hardware supplied to each and every door and window. This streamlines the process of future building maintenance from identification to order and supply. And, as mentioned, we’re here to provide master key support, including new or replacement cylinders, and additional differ and master keys.
No, this isn’t a snow-induced hallucination, this is the high level of service you can expect from our team. Get in touch with them today at [email protected] to ensure every detail of your project is duly considered, fit-for-purpose compliant goods feature on every door, and your site team have a seamless experience from start to finish.