Southmead Hospital – Bristol, UK

Bristol’s £430 million Southmead Hospital, designed by BDP Architects, has received a comprehensive protection solution package incorporating many of CS’ world renowned products.

The building is designed to achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating with a carbon footprint below government targets, making it one of the most sustainable major acute hospitals in the UK.

To meet the trust’s environmental targets, protect the Hospital’s walls from impact damage, and ensure ease of maintenance, CS supplied and installed robust, Acrovyn PVC-Free.

Acrovyn PVC-Free’s modified polyester formula contains no PBTs (persistent bioaccumulative toxins), no BPA (bisphenol A) or any halogenated fire-retardants to achieve its fire rating, making it the most environmentally friendly impact protection solution from CS.

The comprehensive Wall Protection package includes versatile Acrovyn PVC-Free sheet in both textured and smooth varieties, as well as corner guards, handrails and crashrails throughout the corridors, rooms and service areas in a selection of colours.

In total the wall protection package contains:

• 2,550,225 square metres (almost 1 square mile) of Acrovyn PVC-Free Sheet
• 11,555 metres (7.12 miles) of Acrovyn profiles (corner guards, handrails & crashrails)

Trapping dirt and moisture at the entrance of the hospital was of paramount importance, not just for ease of cleaning but for the safety of visiting patients, and to remove the possibility of external contaminants infecting patients or equipment.

To help combat the onslaught of shoe- and wheel-borne dirt and moisture, CS supplied a 3 zone entrance matting solution.

Zone 1 consisted of Six modular Pedigrid® systems incorporating brush inserts were installed at the exterior entrances. The combination of external brush inserts and the unique Pedigrid system provides superior scraping ability  – removing dirt, moisture and snow, allowing it to fall between the treads and into a drainable 44mm deep well below, before it enters the building.

For Zone 2 areas just inside the entrance, CS supplied 16 Pediluxe Entrance Mats with interior grade carpet inserts, offering an 80% moisture absorption area and additional brushing to remove any remaining dirt.

And finally in zone 3 reception and circulation areas away from the entrance, CS supplied Tetras Clean-off Carpet tiles to clean and dry the soles of shoes, further preventing dirt and moisture being tracked into the hospital.

This zonal entrance matting solution provides Southmead with comprehensive protection from shoe-borne dirt and moisture.

To top the project off, CS also supplied DGTR-300 and DGTRW-300 expansion joint covers for floors and walls, to allow the large footprint building to move without damaging itself.

The DGTR range of expansion joint covers has a 3.2mm deep recessed aluminium centre plate to allow a vinyl floor, bonded carpet or other insert to be installed between the two gaskets, helping to blend the expansion joint cover into the floor finish.

The comprehensive protection package from CS should ensure a clean and welcoming experience for patients and visitors and will allow Southmead Hospital to focus on patient care rather than regular, costly maintenance.

• Location: Bristol, UK
• Client: Carillion for North Bristol NHS Trust
• Architect: BDP
• Construction cost: £430m
• Completed: 2014
• CS Products Installed:
  • Acrovyn PVC-Free Interior Wall Protection – Handrails, Crashrails & Sheet
  • Pedisystems Entrance Matting – Pedigrid, Pediluxe, Tetras Carpet Tiles
  • Allway Expansion Joint Covers – DGTR-300 & DGTRW-300