Frimley Park Hospital Case Study
The PowerWorks with others were invited to tender to build a new computer room facility for Frimley Park Hospital. Due to an urgent requirement to expand the Accident and Emergency Department, the central computer room had to be moved to a new location within the hospital to make space for this expansion. The relocation of all the critical communications equipment was scheduled to take place over the weekend of 10th/11th November 2001 to meet operational and budgetary requirements.
The space allocated was a storeroom approximately 12.5m x 5m. The specification was to build a secure room with high levels of protection against fire, smoke and water (a boiler room in close proximity posing a particular threat of flooding). The room specification was based on the guidelines provided in the Turnbull Report on risk assessment (see Disaster Recovery Report).
The shell materials of the computer room were to meet or exceed BS476/22, maximise all available space, provide air conditioning and UPS (specification to be recommended as part of the tender document), internal fire suppression, environmental monitoring, door security, raised floor and all electrical works within the room plus full project management of build and services - with a single point of contact and responsibility.
A full site survey was carried out to assess the structural requirements plus power load of the hardware to be accommodated (allowing for expansion) in order to calculate the UPS and air conditioning requirements.
Air conditioning pipework and cables fixed to existing walls.
Floor channels laid and wall panels erected with A/C pipes and cables pulled through pre prepared duct. The duct is then sealed with intumescent material to maintain integrity of the room. Each panel is placed, locked and sealed to its adjacent panel. Panels can be cut to any size and fitted around pillars or any obstruction.Air conditioning pipework and cables fixed to existing walls.
Ceiling panels of the same construction as the walls are lifted into position, fixed to wall panels and sealed in the same way. This span (5m) required no additional support. However they can be fixed to the existing structure or new beams provided.
Ceiling panels are cut to fit round existing columns and columns are clad to maintain integrity of room. Existing lighting was left and power cut to them after construction.
Optional damp proof membrane was installed to protect from boiler room below. Optional steel sub floor completes the 6 sided box to provide EMP protection on all sides. Continuous earthing bar is fixed to base of walls and connected to floor plates.
UPS fitted with LCD control panel and maintenance bypass switch. Management software allows viewing of UPS across network and controlled unattended shutdown of servers.
Double goods entry door with emergency push bar and external ramp to raised floor level. Base door seal drops as door closes. Single and double doors provide 1 hour fire and heat protection with smoke seals all round.
Scheduled Completion Date Computer Room completed and handed over to IT Department
All hardware moved from existing computer room to new facility.
Client Comments "Very pleased with the decision to award the contract to The PowerWorks" "Excellent quality of build" "Good working relationship with a single point of contact for all works" "Impressed by the speed of implementation" "Would certainly invite The PowerWorks to tender for forthcoming additional computer room and recommend our service to other potential clients." All hardware moved from existing computer room to new facility.