St Vincent’s University
Hospital
Project: Cystic Fibrosis Ward Block, St Vincent’s Campus, Elm Park D4
Area: 10,700 sq metres
Beds: 120 Bed
Start Date: November 2011
Completion Date: May 2012
Value range: €100K - €500K
Mech Contractor: Rotary Group
Consultant: Homan O’Brien and Associates
Main Contractor: John Paul Construction
BMS Platform: Elesta
Description
The CF ward block was constructed to meet the requirements of the CF sufferers in Ireland, Ireland having a higher per capita ration of sufferers than the worldwide average.
The Block is a seven story block with 20 dedicated isolation rooms with supporting wards and sundries. It also contains 2 dedicated Heamcon Isolation rooms and ward.
Specific Challenges
- Control Platform selection - Existing Control Platform - V - Elesta?
- Panel Assembly - Large panel in a enclosed rooftop platform
- Program
- Fire Alarm Strategy
Details
McCool Cool Controls were employed by Rotary group to design, supply and commission of the BMS for the site. Rotary and McCool’s have a long fruitful trading relationship together and this combined with the fact with McCool’s being the incumbent maintenance BMS contractor and our experience in delivering large complex projects made us the ideal choice.
Our first challenge was to decide the controls platform for the project. McCool’s are longstanding partners with the SVUH facilities team in maintaining and developing the site BMS. We have a proactive relationship were we work in tandem in designing and implementing the best controls and energy management solution for the hospital. We took the same approach on this project and reviewed the options with the client – proceed with the existing controls platform on campus or consider an alternative(s).
After consideration a decision was made to use the Elesta Controls platform. The main benefits for the site being:
- BACnet protocol as standard making the system future proof for future campus integration
- Web browser as standard feature of the Elesta RCO View BMS operating software allowing remote access from multiple PCs either on or off campus
- Panel Mounted BMS Graphic User Interface mimicking the Front End Pages
- Manual Override Facility on Controllers allowing easy end user override of valves etc in emergency situations. An excellent maintenance feature on such a critical site.
The building has 2 Motor Control centres and 3 Outstations distributed throughout the site. One of the particular challenges was to design, supply and install the Main MCC for the Ventilation plant to an enclosed rooftop platform within a tight program. As McCool’s have our own in house panel building facility with 20 years experience we were uniquely positioned to deliver this large panel in sections, attend the crane lifts and reassemble and retest within the dimensions available to us.
As the site caters for critically ill people, the fire alarm strategy is meticulously planned to minimise disruption to affected areas and to maintain areas to critical areas such as isolation rooms for the maximum time achievable. MC3E worked as part of a team to deliver an intricate solution with 15 controls circuits to achieve this.
MC3E and our Partners in Elesta are proud to be part of this critical project of national importance on a prestigious healthcare provider campus.
