Playfords was appointed by Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust to deliver a major upgrade of the emergency generator fuel oil infrastructure at St Thomas’ Hospital, enhancing the resilience, safety and reliability of the hospital’s critical standby power systems.
Delivered within a live healthcare environment, the project involved replacing ageing fuel storage, pumping, distribution and control systems while maintaining generator availability and uninterrupted support for essential clinical services. Extensive sections of new pipework were installed through restricted-access undercroft areas, requiring careful planning, specialist safety procedures and close coordination with hospital stakeholders.
Working collaboratively with the Trust’s Estates team, Playfords implemented a phased delivery strategy to minimise disruption and maintain operational continuity throughout the programme.
The works included:
Installation of two new 15,000-litre fire-rated fuel oil storage tanks,
Replacement of duty/standby fuel transfer pump systems,
Installation of a new double-walled stainless steel fuel distribution network with integrated leak detection.
Installation of a new ComAp control system with Building Management System (BMS) integration,
Removal of redundant infrastructure, testing and full system commissioning
Extensive risk management, quality assurance, testing and commissioning ensured compliance with NHS standards, fire safety requirements and environmental regulations.
The successful completion of this project highlights Playfords expertise in delivering complex critical infrastructure upgrades within live healthcare environments.
The new modern and compliant fuel oil system provides St Thomas’ Hospital with enhanced emergency power resilience and long-term reliability.
Key Outcomes:
Improved reliability of emergency generator fuel supplies,
Enhanced fire safety and environmental protection,
Continuous leak detection and monitoring capability,
Integrated control and BMS visibility,
Improved maintenance efficiency and long-term reliability,
Full compliance with NHS and statutory requirements
