Digital Services, through the Audio-Visual Experience team, will be undertaking maintenance and the installation of a new AV system in the Rātā (Engineering Core) Atrium between June 25 and July 13, 2025.

Contractors will be working from mobile elevated work platform to access the high structural beams for the attachment of the screens. Due to the nature of this work a large portion of the Rāta Atrium, including Nuts & Bolts café, will be off limits and closed to foot traffic for the duration of the works. 

The lift will remain operational however access to several entry/exit points, including the staircase, will be restricted as indicated on the inset site plan:

1. North Staircase access to level 2
2. South Staircase access to level 2
3. North Staircase access to level 1
4. North Staircase access to level 1

Please plan your activities with closures in mind and use alternative routes where possible. Do not enter the cordoned off work area (as shown on site plan) and ensure that you adhere to all contractor signage and instruction.

Where the stairs are out of action for the works, and you need to change floors or enter or exit the building, use an alternative exit or the lift (if available) and follow usual evacuation procedures in the event of an emergency.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this period.

Direct any enquiries to fmassist@canterbury.ac.nz

Facilities Management

The Facilities Management Senior Building Surveyor will be completing Building Floor Plan Verification Inspections on the following listed buildings spaces between Tuesday 24 June and Friday 27 June.

Affected Buildings

• GS92 – Mech Eng Workshop – level 1
• AS12 – Angus Tait – Level 2
• EN03 – Civil & Natural Resources Engineering – Level 2
• EN06 – Chemical and Process Engineering – Level 2
• GS23 – Facilities Management Office – Level2
• EN35 – John Britten – Level 1
• SC01 – Len Lye – Level 2

The purpose of the building floor plan verification is to complete a visual inspection of all rooms in a building to record any differences to the floor plans that the University currently have on file. To do this the Building Surveyor will be accessing all spaces within an area, so please allow access – he will be very quiet!

Please direct any enquiries to FMassist@canterbury.ac.nz

Thank you for your consideration as we undertake these inspections.

Facilities Management

This is an urgent reminder, from the Facilities Management Fire Safety Manager, for all staff and students to check that furniture, and other flammable items are positioned at least one (1) metre away from heaters, and that all electric plug in heating devices are electrically tested and tagged with a current tag affixed.

This reminder comes after a report was received into ASSURA (the UC Health and Safety portal) advising of damage to a desktop, that had the potential to result in an outbreak of fire.

Fortunately, the damage was noticed during furniture movements and immediate action was taken to remove the desk, and other furniture was moved a safe distance away.

As the attached photos shows the desktop edging has been heat affected because the desk was positioned over a wall heater. The heat from an electric heater accumulates on furniture, clothing, and other belongings if they are too close and this is dangerous. If this had gone unnoticed it could have resulted in the plastic edge igniting and resulting in significant asset damage.

What you need to do

• Remember the “metre heater rule”.
• All staff and students are to check that all furniture, clothing, and belongings are at least one metre from an electric heater.
• Do not dry clothing and other articles over or on electric heaters.
• Check that all electric plug in heating devices are electrically tested and tagged, with a current tag affixed.

Facilities Management