Major upgrade for heating and hot water

Main image: New heating expansion vessels and pressurisation unit

Singleton Hospital’s heating and hot water systems are undergoing a major upgrade.

Existing plant room equipment is being replaced with technology that uses less energy, is more efficient and is easier to maintain.

Estates officer Gareth Morris said the project also benefits the Hospital Sterilisation and Decontamination Unit (HSDU), which cleans equipment used in theatres and in some community services such as dentists.

We are highlighting this work as part of our campaign celebrating our capital planning and estates teams.

“The public, and most staff, don’t see these parts of our hospitals, but they are just as important to the delivery of health services as the parts they will come into contact with,” said Gareth.

“On occasion the work may mean we have to shut down some systems temporarily, so we work very closely with theatres and other departments to ensure they can make plans to limit the disruption it could cause.”

He said work in the basement plant room of the HSDU and theatre block includes swapping new pumps with old and replacing old steam pipework, and heat generating equipment - which needed removing, refitting and inspection every two years - with new type steam plate heat exchangers which are far more efficient at heating the hot water.

Gareth added: “As well as the plant, we are upgrading pipe work, valves and controls.

“All of the work is improving the efficiency of the site’s estates and plant going forward.”