An upgrade to the hospital’s electrical infrastructure, this project saw Playfords carry out the Principal Contractor duties employing a number of specialist supply chain partners along with several of the hospital’s incumbent suppliers to ensure project specifications were adhered to.
An upgrade to the hospital’s electrical infrastructure, this project saw Playfords carry out the Principal Contractor duties employing a number of specialist supply chain partners along with several of the hospital’s incumbent suppliers to ensure project specifications were adhered to. Playfords successfully carried out a HV/LV infrastructure system upgrade at Watford General Hospital whilst acting as the Principal Contractor carrying responsibility throughout the entire project duration inclusive of Health, Safety, Environmental and Quality responsibilities. Part of the hospital’s existing network was without N+1 capabilities and required upgrading in order to comply with HTM guidelines. The existing substation distribution included one HV ring main unit, an 800KVA transformer, and an existing LV switchboard. The project scope required installation of an additional ring main unit, 800KVA transformer and LV switchboard which were interlinked with the existing switchgear.
Both new switchboards came with mobile generator capability and were then interlinked with each other with a busbar-trunking to allow one to support the other if there was a point of power failure. Before the main works could commence an element of enabling works were required. The existing HV ring main unit was housed in a GRP substation just outside the hospital’s main building and builder’s work was required to replace the existing GRP enclosure with a new larger GR. This included extending the below ground concrete foundations and the installation of new steelwork to position the new electrical equipment on to.
The new GRP housing delivered and built with the installation of the new ring main unit and 800KVA transformer then seeing completion. Further enabling works were required to convert a redundant LV generator room into a new LV switch room. An old generator set and fuel tank were removed and builders work carried out to extend the existing room and make space for a new additional LV switchboard. Within the existing LV switch room, two temporary panel boards were installed to support migration of outgoing services away from the existing switchboard. This allowed for the removal of this switchboard to make way for the new replacement switchboard. Commissioning was carried out and then all outgoing services were migrated back onto the new LV switchboards. All migrations were carefully planned with the trust’s estates team to ensure minimal disruptions to critical supplies was seen throughout.
Other works carried out included commissioning of the switchgear ComAp controller, new BMS outstations and marshalling boxes, installation of DC battery chargertrip unit for the switchgear, installation of new HV-LV earth nest, and new lighting commissioned onto the hospital’s lighting system upon completion. The final part of our works upon completion included all necessary training and explanation of the installed services and the required Operation and Maintenance information issued to the client team on site.