Prefabricated Drainage by PIPEKIT for Dowds Group at St Edmund Hall, Oxford.

Project Overview

St  Edmund Hall is developing new student accommodation at 17 Norham Gardens, Oxford, providing 126 bedrooms with ensuite facilities. Dowds Group is responsible for the mechanical services on this scheme, which started in December 2024 and is due for completion in March 2026. Around 300 prefabricated pieces of pipework are required to service the bedrooms and kitchens.

Why Prefabricated Drainage?

Dowds chose prefabricated drainage stacks for this project to simplify installation and keep the programme on track. Prefabricated drainage systems are built off‑site in controlled conditions and delivered ready to install, which reduces on‑site installation time and labour costs. Factory assembly also ensures consistent quality: joints are pre‑tested and the risk of leaks or errors are eliminated. Using prefabrication therefore allowed the team to standardise rising stacks across the building and avoid the complexity of constructing them in confined riser shafts.

Selecting PIPEKIT

Dowds approached several suppliers during the tender stage. Pipekit was appointed because it offered the best combination of value and technical support. The prefabricated stacks supplied met specification, and Pipekit’s engineers responded promptly to queries.
Throughout the installation there have been no issues with the products, which reinforced the decision to use prefabricated drainage on this scheme.

Pipekit fabricated the HDPE drainage stacks at its off‑site facilities at Pipekit HQ using branded pipes. The company’s prefabrication team is experienced in producing riser stacks; each
drainage stack was tested prior to despatch and delivered according to the build schedule on Pipekit’s low‑emission vehicles which in turn reduced the need for material storage on site.

Barry McAleese, Mechanical supervisor at Dowds, said that using prefabricated drainage stacks made installation quicker and safer. Because the stacks were manufactured and tested off‑site, they arrived ready to install, which eliminated delays and improved quality. McAleese also praised Pipekit’s responsive support and on‑time deliveries, noting that the partnership helped the team stay on schedule and achieve a high‑quality finish.

Outcomes

By switching to prefabricated drainage instead of traditional loose fit, Dowds was able to:

· Streamline installation - ready‑made stacks reduced site labour and helped maintain the
programme.

· Maintain quality - factory‑built components delivered consistent, leak‑free joints.

· Simplify logistics - standardised modules made riser installation more efficient.

The combination of off‑site fabrication and Pipekit’s support has contributed to smooth delivery of the Norham St Edmund project.

Summing up the partnership, Rob Rowlands, Commercial Director said: "Working closely with Dowds meant we could tweak the drawings as site feedback came in, improving the stack design along the way. That made each level quicker and easier to deliver.

The changes were small but timely - giving site the flexibility it needs, while still keeping quality tightly controlled in the factory."