School puts SMS top of the class
AN Aldermaston-based heating company has been praised by a leading independent school for its service and maintenance provision.
Leighton Park School in Reading has 20 commercial buildings and 32 staff residential properties set in 65 acres of parkland.
SMS (Southern Maintenance Solutions) started working with the school’s estates manager Alan Rumney in 2013.
At this stage, the work was limited to just the servicing and maintenance of the heating systems.
This has now evolved and expanded to include 24/7 breakdown response and servicing of all the gas appliances, annual gas safety checks for the heating systems and specialist requirements for the science department gas supplies.
It also incorporates the servicing and maintenance of all the air handling and air conditioning systems, breakdown and annual servicing of the building management systems, along with project management and installation of mechanical systems.
Mr Rumney said: “It is important to build a working relationship where both parties feel they can discuss works openly.
“This nurtures a feeling of inclusion with our outside contractor support network, of which SMS is a key part.”
There can also be specific problems when working in an education setting, as Mr Rumney explained: “These
may be as simple as arranging access during the school day or far more difficult, for example when providing breakdown cover to a boarding house when students or residents are sleeping and trying to minimise noise so as not to not disturb them.
“We also have a music building that requires a constant temperature and humidity to keep the pianos and other instruments in perfect condition.”
One of the more recent projects undertaken by the SMS team was the refurbishment of the gymnasium boiler room.
This involved the removal and disposal of the old gas boilers, stripping and restoring the floor, full redecoration and installing new, wall-mounted gas boilers.
Not only are the new boilers considerably more efficient but it has also freed up extra space in the room.
Leighton Park School has also had to contend with the extra restrictions and additional requirements of life during the Covid crisis.
“Throughout the pandemic, we were aware that the school had a requirement to meet all health and safety compliance requirements, even though this was more difficult;” said SMS contracts manager Terry Tarbox.
“Once the Government lifted its restrictions on onsite working we were swiftly back at the school to ensure that all equipment and systems that are our responsibility were serviced, maintained and in good working order, ready for the return of the students and staff.”
Mr Rumney said: “Their engineers were working in hot boiler rooms, wearing additional PPE to protect themselves and more importantly to protect the staff here at the school, and they never once complained.”