Project SLAM (Single Living Accommodation Modernisation), a Ministry of Defence initiative, has been underway since April 2003 and Phase 1 is expected to exceed an overall value of £600 million. Seventy one buildings have been completed to date by Debut Services, a Sutton Coldfield based consortium led by Bovis Lend Lease and Babcock Support Services. The project has 6100 bed-spaces in occupation, with a further 5000 in design and 3200 in construction.
Each building has been specified with Marley Plumbing and Drainage’s Deepflow gutter and 68mmcircular downpipes. Each specific installation was designed in house by Marley’s expert technical team to ensure that the configuration was suitable to deal with the rainfall relevant to each geographical location.
Marley Deepflow, launched originally in 1972, was updated in 2004 with the new Easyclip method of jointing. The Easyclip makes it very easy to joint the gutter and fitting, but it is also very simple to take apart if necessary. The clip is parallel to the gutter, which provides a greater degree of flexibility. The Easyclip also gives a positive ‘click’ when the joint is made. Deepflow can be installed as a ‘notched system’ which is particularly important for buildings where rafter arm or rise and fall fixing are used to support the gutter system. Deepflow is a semi-elliptical shaped gutter, meaning it has a very high capacity without being large and obtrusive against the roof edge.
In March 2006 Vimy Barracks, in Catterick, unveiled the latest single living accommodation complex accommodating nearly 540 single service personnel in three buildings. The new addition to the barracks has greatly improved living conditions. Initially, the plan was to provide 15,000 bed spaces on a five-year contract, however, the contract could potentially be extended to provide in excess of 20,000 units.