Ipswich Hospital

The Ipswich Hospital Expansion (PDP, SD, GCS, DD & CD all disciplines)

• The Ipswich Hospital Expansion was a new building and the redevelopment of the existing hospital, providing a range of health services in addition to the emergency department.
• The key outcome is that the client is satisfied that they are receiving a design that provides a design solution that is compliant with the relevant standards, codes and requirements of the contract, a design that meets their requirements, value for money, evidence based design process had been undertaken, fit for purpose, and that adequate due diligence has occurred throughout the design process.
• We believe we provided valuable support for the client, and based on our observations, recommendations additional reports assisted in ensuring a better outcome for the project.
• Reviewed all the design documentation during each of the design stages, including the GCS, for compliance with Australian standards, other regulation and guidelines as included in the contract and the signed off base documents. The documents included drawings, reports for each of the design stages, specifications, supporting design information etc.
• As the independent clients representative we attended all meetings, design, user group meetings, client meetings, managing contractor meetings etc.
• Provided reports at each design stage with our observations of any non-compliances with the standards, codes, agreed scope etc as per the contract, provided alternative design solutions and or recommendations where we thought it would benefit the client.
• Following the issue of each report there would be a number of meetings with the design team and or the managing contractor depending on the design stage where the observations were discussed and depending on the discussions an outcome would be agreed.

The Ipswich Hospital Expansion, End of Defects Liability Period Inspections (all disciplines)

• Twelve months after the construction of the Ipswich Hospital Expansion we undertook the end of defects liability inspections over a number of stages which reflected the staged practical completion of the project.
• In our reporting we identify all defects in a spreadsheet that is a living document that shows each stage of the discussion phase with the client and the design team/managing contractor. Photographs are provided showing the defects identified or multiple defects depending on the situation.
• The inspections included checking that all the defects from our end of construction inspections had been rectified and any new defects or non-compliances that had occurred during the past twelve months.
• The areas inspected included:
  • Within the plantrooms
  • Within the ceiling/roof spaces
  • The occupied floor
• The services included:
  • Mechanical services, checking the air conditioning, ductwork distribution, integrity of insulation, air handling checks, exhaust systems, chilled water, condensate waste, fire systems, MSSBs, segregation etc
  • Medical gases, checking pipework, outlets, supports, segregation from other services etc
  • BMS, checking that BMS was completed, any control issues etc
  • Electrical services, checking medical service panels, electrical switch boards, electrical cabling, fire services cabling, lighting, segregation etc
  • Comms, checking comms rooms, cable installations, segregation etc
  • Fire systems, checking sprinkler pump room, FIPs, fire cabling installation, segregation etc
  • Hydraulics, checking pipework, extent of insulation on hot water, valves, segregation etc
  • Fire penetrations, checking that all penetrations previously identified and installed within the twelve months had been sealed, adequately certified, photographed and recorded in the fire penetration register and recorded on the As Installed drawings.
• We found many instances where the defects previously identified as documentation shortfalls or non-compliances had not been rectified over the previous twelve months.
• Check that the building envelope insulation had been sealed, this is critical in reducing the extent of infiltration. The roof space based on our observations are a concern.

• Investigate and provide detailed reports on the air balance requirements for the Operating Theatres and associated areas and systems
• Investigate and provide detailed reports on the compliance and condition of all the existing eleven Isolation Rooms and associated systems
• Investigate and provide detailed reports on the compliance and condition of the existing seven Operating Theatres and associated areas and systems