Oval Village,
London,
United Kingdom

Oval Village is a multi-phase mixed use development by Berkeley in the Oval area of Lambeth in central London. When completed, Oval Village will provide 1360 homes including 35% affordable homes, 2.5 acres of public realm, and 170000 sq ft of commercial space.
 
Uponor Uni-Pipe PLUS multilayer composite pipe (MLCP) and S-Press PLUS press fittings have been used extensively in the first phase of the residential development, known as Phoenix Court. The versatile Uponor MLCP has been used for all the domestic hot and cold water supply and heating pipework installed in the apartments. The Uponor MLCP and press fittings were also integrated into the off-site constructed modular bathroom pods that the project utilises.
 
MLCP is constructed from an aluminium core with internal and external layers of polyethylene. This construction gives the pipework strength and durability as well as flexibility. Uponor Uni-Pipe PLUS MLCP is available in coils of up to 500 metres, making it highly suitable for large-scale projects.
 
During the planning stages of the project, the Berkeley team undertook an evaluation of the different options for the pipework, including traditional copper with press fittings and the Uponor MLCP. During this process, Uponor provided a demonstration of the product and installation process to showcase the benefits. This demonstration combined with the successful use of Uponor MLCP on previous Berkeley Group projects resulted in Uni-Pipe PLUS and S-Press PLUS fittings being specified.
 
Pawel Markowski, Senior MEP Manager at Berkeley Group explained the decision: “The features of the Uponor system, including the inspection window and press indicator, gave us confidence in the reliability of the install process. Uponor MLCP was chosen over copper on this project as the flexibility made it easier to work with in the small installation spaces in the apartments. Ultimately, it was chosen to ensure a quicker, easier and more consistent installation.”
 
The inspection window on the Uponor S-Press PLUS makes it simple to check the pipe has been inserted to the correct depth. The unique press indicator feature consists of a specially designed foil around the sleeve to clearly show if the pressing has been completed correctly. The foil is removable as soon as the connection is safe.
 
Reliability of testing was also an important factor on the project, as any inadvertently unpressed connections could cause leaks that would have a serious impact. The Uponor S-Press PLUS fittings are designed to leak immediately and obviously during testing if it has not been pressed properly, even at a very low pressure level.
 
Gary Mills, MEP Project Manager at Malcolm Building Services, which carried out the installation within the building commented: “The use of the Uponor system has really helped to streamline the work. This is not only due to the easy press fitting process, but also the much longer lengths possible with the MLCP, which means fewer joints. The fact the Uponor Uni-Pipe PLUS is supplied pre-insulated further reduces the work required on site.”
 
In addition to its use on site, Uponor MLCP and press fittings were also used for the pipework within the bathroom pods. These offsite manufactured modules include all elements of the bathroom, including the fixtures and finishes, and are delivered to site and simply craned into place and connected to the rest of the apartment’s pipework.
 
Furthermore, Uponor provided full technical and product support throughout the project. This began in the early stages with input on the design to optimise the pipework. The Uponor team also participated in regular meetings with other project stakeholders and helped to solve any issues that impacted this element of construction.
 
To help ensure the benefits of the system were maximised and that installation best practice was achieved, Uponor delivered training to all the installation operatives. This was followed by regular observations and checks of the installed pipework to ensure the highest level of quality was maintained.
 
For more information about the Uponor products and support services, visit www.uponor.com.