This project focused on upgrading the hospital’s electrical infrastructure to ensure reliable and efficient power distribution. The work included significant enhancements to the low-voltage (LV) network, which is crucial for maintaining the hospital’s operations and supporting its healthcare services.
Playfords successfully upgraded an LV switchboard within G-North plant room within the Royal Free Hospital which replaced end of life equipment.
Initial enabling work was required with the need to remove the existing aged switchboard to make way for the new switchboard.
Many of the circuits emanating from the existing switchboard were feeding services in constant use within the hospital with minimal interruption to many of these critical. Therefore, Playfords installed two new panels boards to allow migration of all circuits and services away from the existing switchboard leaving it redundant. The migrations of these services were carefully planned and organised with the input of the hospital trust’s estates team members.
Once these migrations had been completed in full the exiting switchboard was removed, and the new fully compliant switchboard installed and commissioned. The completed installation was connected with a Mains supply ACB section and interlink ACB section to provide alternative mains supply option in line with project specifications. The new switchboard also saw connection to an existing ASCO panel to provide generator support in case of mains power failure. This ASCO panel was decommissioned and disconnected to allow for the replacement of undersized and outdated cables prior to re-connection and commissioning.
Our final phase of work required us to migrate outgoing services from the temporary installed panel boards back onto the new switchboard. Again, this was carefully planned and organised to minimise interruptions to hospital services with regular planning meetings taking place with client team members.
Other projects work included the installation of additional switchgear including a new ‘Generator-to-ASCO isolator panel’ which was installed to provide local isolation of the generator supply, and four new local distributions boards to replace existing out of date equipment.
New lighting was installed in the vicinity of the switchgear area and commissioned onto the hospital’s lighting control system and fencing was built around the perimeter of the switchgear to prevent unauthorised access.
Works were carried out in a live plant room environment with Playfords undertaking the role of Main Contractor carefully managing the site co-ordination and health and safety responsibilities. A successful handover to the client team upon completion which included all necessary training and explanation of the required Operation and Maintenance information.