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Urgent challenge

Mechanical and Electrical Systems

Mechanical and electrical systems

Services and offices across the Palace of Westminster all share the same water, electric, sewage and gas system. Most of these services are interconnected across the building, meaning if a pipe or cable breaks you need to switch off the water or electrics in one area, you have to shut it down across the Palace.  Crumbing stonework, cracking ceilings, and extensive water damage are the visible problems. There are also hundreds of miles of rusting pipework, obsolete electrical cables and gas pipes, and the giant, inefficient Victorian steam heating, all of which need replacing. 

Half the mechanical and electrical plant is at an unacceptably high risk of failure.

Half the mechanical and electrical plant is at an unacceptably high risk of failure.

Steam pipes run alongside electrical cables and the sewage ejector systems date back to 1888.

Steam pipes run alongside electrical cables and the sewage ejector systems date back to 1888.