Commercial Plumbing Installation – Case Study

Vitality at Stockport Exchange

361 Degrees Ltd were appointed to deliver the mechanical engineering services for Vitality's new offices at 3 Stockport Exchange in Stockport town centre, they required a commercial plumbing contractor capable of delivering a full plumbing installation across four floors of high-specification office space.

Lacey Plumbing & Heating were appointed to carry out the commercial plumbing installation, supporting the delivery of a modern, multi-floor working environment for Vitality, the well-known insurance and health business.

As with every commercial project we deliver, the works were priced and managed by a dedicated project manager, the same person who reviewed the drawings and produced the quotation also coordinated the installation on site, managed variations, liaised with 361 Degrees and the principal fit-out contractor, and saw the job through to commissioning. One point of contact from first enquiry to handover.

This project involved fitting out four full floors of a live commercial building including:

- Open plan office floors and meeting rooms

- Tea points, breakout areas and refreshment zones

- Prep kitchen and food preparation areas

- Washrooms and wash hand basin areas across multiple floors

- Plant room and hot water generation cupboard

- Vending machine and boiling tap supplies

Working as part of the wider construction team, our engineers delivered the plumbing infrastructure required to support a busy, modern commercial occupier across every floor of the building.

As Gas Safe registered and SafeContractor accredited commercial plumbing engineers based in Bury, Greater Manchester, all works were delivered in line with programme, specification and commercial standards.

For our team, this project stood out because of the scale of it and the live, evolving nature of the design. Four full floors of commercial fit-out plumbing, with drawings and details still developing in places, meant our engineers had to think on their feet and adapt as the project moved forward. Coordinating waste runs around the existing structure to achieve the correct falls, working through joinery details, fitting an acoustic waste drop to keep the floors below quiet, and pressure testing the whole installation floor by floor.

Commercial plumbing scope for this office fit-out 

This Vitality fit-out required a complete commercial plumbing installation across the full four-floor floorplate.

Our role as the commercial plumbing contractor included:

From the initial enquiry through to completion, we worked closely with 361 Degrees and the wider project team to ensure smooth delivery of the plumbing package, while keeping pace with a live, evolving design. Our project manager held the full picture of the works, pricing, programme, variations and site coordination, so that 361 Degrees only ever had one Lacey’s contact to deal with.

Who This Office Fit-Out Project Was Delivered For

This commercial plumbing installation was delivered for 361 Degrees Ltd, the mechanical engineering contractor responsible for delivering the plumbing and mechanical services package for Vitality's new offices.

361 Degrees required a commercial plumbing contractor in Greater Manchester who could:

We worked closely with the 361 Degrees project management and design team throughout the programme. From pre-start drawing reviews and site meetings, through every variation and design change, to final pressure testing and certification.

How Our Commercial Plumbing Expertise Benefited the Project

Working as a trusted service partner allowed 361 Degrees to focus on delivering the wider mechanical package and managing the client relationship, while we managed the plumbing installation on site.

A Dedicated Project Manager from Quote to Completion

Every commercial project at Lacey’s is run by a dedicated project manager. The same person who reviews the drawings, prices the works and produces the quotation also coordinates the installation on site, manages variations, attends progress meetings and signs the job off at the end. For 361 Degrees, that meant one phone number, one email address and one decision-maker from the day they sent through the tender drawings to the day every floor was tested and signed off. Pricing assumptions, programme commitments and site decisions all stayed connected to the same person,  which is why variations were priced quickly, queries were answered the same day and nothing fell between the gaps.

Early Engagement & Practical Drawing Reviews

We supported the project from the early stages, reviewing the drawings and mechanical specifications and flagging questions back to the design team before mobilising. Where the original drainage layout couldn't achieve the right fall on Level 1, our engineers proposed an alternative route through the corridor, toilet area and riser duct, which the design team agreed was a better approach. That kind of early input avoids problems on site.

Adaptability During Evolving Design

As layouts and details developed throughout the project, our engineers adjusted pipe routes, drainage arrangements and installation methods to keep things moving. Drawings were revised more than once during the programme, including changes to builder's holes and amendments to waste and cold feed routes, and we kept the works progressing without disrupting the wider construction sequence.

Drainage Solutions Within an Existing Structure

On Level 4, the original drainage arrangement couldn't achieve the slope needed to serve a wash hand basin set out by the fit-out contractor. Our engineers identified the only workable solution, creating a new hole and routing the new drainage into the 4-inch drop serving Level 3, and delivered the work to keep the floor on track.

Managing Variations Cleanly

Several variations were instructed during the project, including chlorination points added to each floor, an additional water feed for vending machines on Level 4 routed from the boiling tap, and additional pipework extensions to suit revised joinery details. Each variation was priced by our project manager, agreed in writing and delivered without disrupting the rest of the programme.

Working in tight spaces

A key element of this commercial plumbing installation was the hot water generation system, centred on a calorifier housed in a dedicated cupboard serving the building.

Each element of the plant installation required:

- Accurate sizing and selection of the calorifier in line with the mechanical design schedule.

- Coordination with the principal fit-out contractor over cupboard depth to ensure access for maintenance.

- First and second fix pipework distributing hot water across four floors.

- Installation of a secondary return circuit to maintain consistent hot water performance at outlets.

When the original calorifier cupboard came back at 600mm deep, our engineers flagged the issue early. The cupboard was redesigned 100mm larger by the principal contractor before any pipework went in, avoiding a problem that would have been very difficult to undo later.

Our engineers ensured all plant services were installed accurately while maintaining accessibility for future maintenance, an essential consideration in any commercial building that will be operated long-term.

Full Testing, Chlorination & Commissioning

Our engineers completed pressure testing on every floor with certificates issued progressively as each floor was ready. Full chlorination was carried out across all four floors at the right stage of the programme, and all systems were commissioned ready for handover.


Working with Mechanical Contractors on office fit-out

Our engineers installed the hot water calorifier and distribution pipework, secondary return circulation to maintain consistent hot water performance at outlets, point-of-use water heaters serving local areas, solenoid valves for leak detection in line with the mechanical design, and full hot and cold service pipework feeding every floor of the building.

This ensured reliable performance across all areas. From the prep kitchen and tea points, through to the washrooms, the boiling tap supply and the vending machine feeds on Level 4.

Commercial office fit-out projects of this nature, involve multiple contractors working in parallel within a tight construction programme, particularly where the building is being delivered against a fixed occupation date for the end client.

On this project, our project manager worked closely with:

- The 361 Degrees Project Manager and design team.

- The principal fit-out contractor on site.

- The site management team and site foreman.

- Joinery contractors, kitchen fitters and other specialist trades.

Our team maintained clear communication throughout, flagging issues early, signing in and out through the site app each day, providing RAMS up front, and keeping the design team informed as variations and design queries came up. That collaborative approach, backed by a single point of contact on the Lacey side, kept the commercial plumbing installation tracking alongside the wider construction programme.

Delivering Confidence and Reliability on Commercial Projects

At Lacey Plumbing & Heating we understand that reliability is critical on commercial construction projects. Mechanical engineering contractors need to know that the plumbing package will be delivered on time, to specification, and without disruption to the wider construction programme, particularly on a project of this scale, where the end client has firm occupation deadlines.

For this Vitality fit-out, 361 Degrees had confidence that the commercial plumbing installation would be delivered professionally across all four floors and signed off floor by floor, with a single Lacey’s project manager owning the quote, the programme and the day-to-day coordination.

Our engineers successfully installed, tested and commissioned all plumbing, drainage and water systems required for the space to operate efficiently from day one.

We also offer ongoing support and maintenance, ensuring our commercial customers have peace of mind long after project completion.

What Does a Commercial Plumbing Installation Project Cost?

Every commercial office fit-out is different and costs depend on the size and number of floors, the complexity of the drainage and hot water systems, the number of specialist outlets such as boiling taps and vending feeds, and the level of coordination required with other trades.

If you're planning a commercial office fit-out or refurbishment in Stockport, Manchester or anywhere across Greater Manchester and the North West, you can send your drawings and project requirements to:

office@laceyplumbing.co.uk

Our project manager will review your drawings, produce a clear quotation, and if appointed, coordinate every element of the works through to handover.

Why Choose Lacey Plumbing & Heating for Commercial Plumbing Projects?

With over 20 years of experience delivering commercial plumbing and heating installations across Greater Manchester and the North West, we work closely with:

We are Gas Safe registered, SafeContractor accredited and SSIP assessed — giving our commercial customers confidence that health, safety and compliance standards are met on every project.

Whether it’s a restaurant refurbishment, office fit-out, plant room installation or washroom refurbishment, we provide the expertise required to deliver commercial projects successfully.


Planning a commercial plumbing and heating project?

Contact us at office@laceyplumbing.co.uk or call 0161 884 1109.

You can also connect with us on LinkedIn.

Together we’ll help ensure your commercial plumbing, heating and mechanical elements of your project are delivered professionally and efficiently.