Aug 16 2005
An extensive range of pipework has been installed into a new University Hospital development in Coventry.
Pipe and fittings from the Durapipe ABS range and the Vulcathene Chemical Drainage System, have been installed into facilities within the £334 million project, which has seen Walsgrave, Coventry and Warwickshire hospitals consolidated into a single, state of the art development for University Hospitals Coventry, and Warwickshire NHS Trust.
Durapipe ABS pipework in sizes ranging from 140mm through to 315mm was installed into the plant room of the Acute Hospital to cater for the requirements of the chilled water system. In addition, Durapipe PVC-C headers in 200mm were specified for the hot and cold pipework needs.
The plant room houses a large amount of equipment, leaving limited space and making the installation of pipework a complex procedure. As a result, main contractors Skanska requested that the chosen pipework was pre-fabricated and we manufactured pre-fabricated Durapipe ABS systems for sub contractors Axima, to address the space restrictions and allow for ease of handling during the installation process.
The lightweight properties of the ABS material added to the on-site benefits, helping to reduce labour time and costs. Life-cycle costings were also imperative for the NHS Trust and by selecting the highly durable Durapipe ABS system, this could be addressed. Durapipe ABS offers exceptional impact strength, making it more resistant to damage and combined with its non-corrodible nature and resistance to limescale build-up, ABS can reduce the maintenance and replacement requirements of the pipework over its lifetime and as a result, help to considerably reduce life-cycle costings for the hospital. Skanska also specified our world renowned Vulcathene Chemical Drainage System to address the high performance drainage requirements of the Clinical Sciences Centre.
One of the largest and most modern healthcare education facilities in Europe, the Clinical Sciences Centre combines teaching facilities, including a mock operating theatre, research laboratories and a state of the art library, with one of its main functions to provide a facility for Warwick and Leicester University to undertake medical research. The centre required a safe drainage system to transport the various chemicals used in the investigative processes at the centre.
Skanska specified Vulcathene, as the crystalline polymer material of the system offers very high resistance to attack, providing a completely corrosion resistant drainage system, to meet the various chemical drainage requirements of Walsgrave Hospital. Offering a one-stop-shop for all laboratory drainage requirements, the Vulcathene system provides laboratory bench items such as wastes, sinks and drip cups, anti-siphon traps and expansion joints, in addition to a comprehensive range of pipe and fittings from 38mm up to 152mm.
The four year project, due for completion in 2006, will house a number of facilities including, an inpatient and day care hospice, a purpose built children’s day nursery, a clinical sciences building and a 130 bed mental health unit.