The frustration of a ‘not so’ moveable wall!
2022-01-24
With working from home likely to remain the norm, adaptable workspace is more valuable than ever - ensuring that when employees do venture in, they can be assured of the necessary facilities from which to achieve their goals.
This means that a single area might need to be used for a large collaborative gathering in the morning, with rooms for smaller brainstorming sessions and quiet, solo endeavours demanded for the afternoon.
Many modern offices have moveable wall systems installed, helping provide just this level of flexibility. However, as part of the structure of the building, they can often be overlooked when it comes to service and maintenance, leading to unnecessary downtime when things do go wrong, dramatically disrupting working life.
With a nominal commitment to scheduled maintenance checks, money can be saved both in the short term, in ensuring everyone has the necessary space to carry out their job effectively, and in the long term, by protecting the original capital investment.
“When choosing a moveable wall service and repair provider, it’s really important to ensure they have the authority from the manufacturer to maintain your system, as well as the expertise,” said Andy Gibson, Style’s director for the North
“For example, an appropriate level of competence might be CITB approved in-house training. Additionally, engineers should also hold an NVQ Level Two Operable Wall Installer certificate and have the necessary training for access equipment, such as PASMA and IPAF. In addition, for fully and semi automatic systems, the engineers must have certified manufacturer’s training and fault detection software and hardware on board the service van.
“It’s also best to look for a service provider with a team of engineers who are directly employed, rather than sub-contracted, as this helps maintain quality management systems by ensuring continuity of care over a period of years. If the moveable wall is integral to smooth operations, then an emergency call-out arrangement is essential.”
Contracts offering a ‘due diligence’ visual inspection may not satisfy PUWER health and safety obligations. A comprehensive examination should include:
• Checking of all seals
• Cleaning / lubrication of track and fixings
• Alignment of panels and tracking system
• Full check of all electrical components (motor, key switches, push buttons, panel contacts, controls etc)
“Through Style’s national service and repair team, we find that a well-maintained moveable wall can operate safely and efficiently for 25 years plus, delivering excellent acoustic separation and privacy between areas,” concluded Andy, “and key to that is having a good relationship with a reputable servicing partner.”
