The challenge
The timespan from Preferred Bidder status (end of October 2009) to Financial Close (end of February 2010) was the quickest appointment period for a PFI hospital to date in the UK.
The Financial Close was brought forward six months to ensure sign off by the Government before the impending general election.
The challenging timescale called for a complete review of the design process, with the instigation of a fully integrated programme. This was also agreed with the client’s team to ensure all parties were aware and understood the links and implications of all of the RDD, 1:50, C sheet, specialist medical equipment and Schedule 10 processes. This ensured a complete and collaborative relationship.
With the programme squeeze, CHt also had to re-assess the construction fit out programme and by separating the project into managable sectors, achieved a fit out rate twice that which was previously achieved on other PFI hospital schemes.
CHt was also required to provide, six months prior to financial close, a number of key 'Beneficial Access' areas to the trust, which were critical for the project in becoming a live hospital at handover. This included full environmental control.
Our approach
Our construction management role started as part of the Carillion Bid Team & the PQQ submission in July 2007.
We were responsible for the engagement of not just the MEP design team, but also the architectural, structural & specialist designers. We were an integral part of the delivery team from the outset, looking at all aspects through design, procurement, delivery and installation, commissioning and facilities management.
Our key focus at the start of the programme was the commissioning and compliance required at the end, as this would be our driver and starting point when assessing each of the aspects above.
By segmenting the project into small working construction zones, we ensured that the system designs reflected these zones, in particular electrical distribution, water and air systems – all with early setting to work in mind.
The engineering behind our delivery
- 24 theatres - 16 of which were UCV
- 880 beds of which 75% are single beds
- Seven MRI / CT scanners
- Pharmacy with robotic facilities & full aseptic suite
- Renal ward
- Cardiac ward
- 48 bed CCU
- Full A&E department
- Hydrotherapy pool
CHt managed the design, procurement, installation, setting to work and commissioning of the following systems:
- 160 air handling units
- 20 specialist extraction systems
- 12 smoke extraction systems
- One 1.6 MW biomass boiler
- Three- 3.6 MW dual fuel LTHW boilers
- Six 1.3 MW chillers
- Two 1.0 MW steam generators- CSSD
- Three 1.3 MVA HV generators
- Four main HV Sub Stations
- Four major UPS plantrooms
- Full IPS provision
- Full sprinkler systems
- Full RO water systems (64Bed) including media panels
- 54 station pneumatic tube system
- Medical & surgical air, oxygen, entonox, vacuum, AGSS
- AGV system
- Atrium smoke extraction system
- Skirtless UCV canopies – the first in the UK to use a UCV canopy with the drop glass
- Completely serviced bathroom PODS
- Innovative SMART wall bedhead facilities
- Nitrogen testing of all water systems to 7 bar – avoiding risk of water laying dormant in systems for long periods, followed by use of treated water only on initial fill and thereafter plus side stream filtration units avoiding huge water wastage
- Innovative HWS system design in particular around the wards
- Stainless steel pipe work – delivering substantial reductions in time required for system clean & flush
- Plantroom valve modules including BMS services individually linked to each AHU – allowed early power & commissioning
- Fully prewired LV departmental distribution boards split into small power, lighting ,equipment power sections and a commissioning circuit for each board – allowing early 'power on'.