Staff Visit

We had a visit from Orion Preschool Staff #002 and Staff #003 today to check on the progress of the renovation works (#001 is reserved). Mrs Poh has visited a couple of times previously, but today is the first time that Aunty Chai Hong has the opportunity to view the inside of the premises.

Of greatest concern to Aunty Chai Hong is the kitchen, which will be where she spends most of the day preparing delicious meals for the children and teachers. After sweating for 23 years in the tight and stuffy confines of the kitchens of our old premises, we hope that the spacious kitchen here will meet with her approval. Mrs Poh, on the other hand, will now go home and dream of the layout for her classroom.

But our focus this week is getting the premises ready for fire safety certification. This means that the fire hosereel must be tested, and work on the fire escape staircase must be completed.

Yesterday, the workers finished up the fire hosereel installation by adding the hosereel box, thus completing the full works.

So today, under the watchful eyes of our architect, we conducted a test of the fire hosereel to verify that the water jet is able to meet the requirements laid down by SCDF. Success!

On Monday, the parts of the fire escape staircase were finally delivered to site. The metalwork people immediately proceeded to put them all together.

The upper section of the staircase is hoisted up inch by inch using a pulley.

The lower section is then carried over to its location by brute force.

Lots of alignment and welding later, we have a respectable-looking staircase with railings done up, and the staircase is more than halfway completed. Now the guys will just have to fix up the roofing overhead, and we can then get the entire premises certified for fire safety compliance.

Let there be light

Last week, the carpentry people brought in the parts of the kitchen cabinet, and promptly proceeded to set it all up. In one afternoon, what was just four bare walls became recognisable as a kitchen, although still incomplete.

The parts of the kitchen cabinet, like a gigantic puzzle, awaiting asembly.

Within a few short hours, the cabinets have all been installed. The carpentry people then gave the surfaces a good wipedown.

 

And with the  lighting in place, the kitchen is starting to look warm and cosy. Now we have to wait for the delivery of the kitchen hob, hood and oven. We have left a void for the placing of the dishwasher machine, which we will acquire later when enrolment picks up.

The electricians have been busy installing the light fittings on the 1st storey, and we've finally reached a stage on Friday evening when we can admire the results of their work.

Here's the main entrance into the school, lit by a series of downlights. With the furniture in place, we hope it will become a welcoming space for children and parents every morning.

With the internal works nearing completion, we will begin the process of obtaining the statutory clearances. The first clearance that we need to obtain is the Fire Safety Certificate. The installations pertaining to fire safety are almost completed, but we're awaiting the arrival of the fire ecape staircase structure, which was held up in the galvanising workshop. It is slated to arrive on Monday this week, upon which the metalwork people will proceed with the installation.

The exit lights are part of the fire safety features within the facility.

The fire hosereel on the 2nd storey. In addition, there are also a number of fire extinguishers placed at various locations around the premises.