Guide To Specifying

Specifier Guide

Disguising or hiding perimeter services at skirting level, such as pipes, cables and other M & E services, can prove to be problematic, particularly if the building interior requires a high aesthetic finish and needs to harmonise with other internal features, fittings and furniture.

Pendock services casing system is manufactured from pre-formed and pre-finished plywood and finished in a choice of materials including high pressure laminates and durable melamine.

Specifying these systems is uncomplicated and a range of specification information is available from the company's own technical handbooks and through NBS Plus.

• Consider the use of contrasting colour schemes for skirting level services casings as an alternative to matching exactly the finish of other internal components. The use of contrast can be used to add to the impression of space or add emphasis to other interior features if a neutral finish is chosen, for example.
• Where services casing is used to conceal hot water pipes, a ventilated casing option can be specified to allow additional heating into the room.
• Casings are fixed to softwood battens, available as part of the system. When determining the size of the casing it is important to take into account the size and positioning of the battens.
• A multi compartment trunking casing option has the facility to incorporate cabling or voice cable management systems, at skirting or dado level. All systems accept integral socket outlets, so consider how the management of cables is planned and whether it is simpler and more flexible to incorporate it within the casing system or as a separate routing.
• As a range of casing shapes and dimensions are available, including symmetrical and asymmetric 'L' sections, 'U' sections and angled profiles, in standard lengths of either 2.5 metres or 3.0 metres, the key specification details required for skirting level applications are height, depth from the wall, length of run and shape of profile.
• Pre-formed and pre-finished butt joints, internal and external corners and stop end accessories also form part of the system and should be considered when specifying for ease of installation and aesthetics. Also shadow-gap strips may need to be specified, which provide discrete fixing when using black screws.