To replace an aging and failing steam system in a space-constrained area of the hospital which was surrounded by live wards. The design and installation had to work for both the current – and future – hospital footprint, with some areas seeing level changes of many meters. In addition to this COVID struck during week two of the project, with the UK put on full lockdown. After a short delay it was decided, that due to the critical nature of the work, it must proceed with additional safety measures in place to protect the project team and patients from infection.
PPSL worked with FES Group and its consultants Hulley & Kirkwood for four months before work started to produce very detailed drawings for two phases of pipework. We coordinated all known existing services with potential future services as well as current and future ground levels. The installation and logistics plan was devised to minimise any disruption to the hospital and its operations. To prevent the risk of COVID infections, we worked to stringent Health and Safety measures to prevent close contact between all team members.
Both phases of this project were delivered successfully and ahead of the deadline – which was crucial for such a critical project. The level of accuracy in the detailed coordinated designs ensured trenches could be excavated as planned, with very few surprises found along the way. Through this detailed upfront planning we were able to install 12m long pipes weighing 650kg each in restricted spaces and in deep trenches. This was achieved with the added constraints of the PPSL team having to remain at least 3m apart from each other at all times during phase one.
PPSL was appointed the sub-contractor on Phase One of our Energy Infrastructure Project in Edinburgh’s Western General Hospital. From the beginning they understood that working on live healthcare projects would present significant logistical and operational challenges and I have been delighted with PPSL’s proactive approach and how they embraced our team ethic onsite. PPSL joined our project team as part of the pre-construction phase and worked alongside our consulting engineers to plan and design the route, provide both flat plan and long section construction drawings to navigate the service challenges of both existing and future hospital developments. As a result of their performance on Phase One we have invited them to Tender for Phase Two and commence with the concept design. The works involve the replacement of an ageing steam network with a new district heating system and will require them to continue working in the same collaborative manner with our wider site team of management and sub-contractors. The phasing and route were adapted throughout to accommodate onsite challenges that only became apparent as trenching progressed. The PPSL team were flexible and adapted to the requirements of the project to ensure the works were completed on time and in a professional manner, providing a fault free system with leak detection monitoring. As Operations Manager and project lead for this signature project I am delighted to have Ben Leach and his team at PPSL as partners on board to support us as we continue through the various stages of this project.
Barry Mc Fadden
Senior Project Manager at FES Group
