Eastbourne District General Hospital was originally constructed in 1977 and has undergone several major repairs throughout its lifespan. Recently, the aging roof required significant attention, prompting the decision to embark on a refurbishment project.

The impetus for the refurbishment came from Eastbourne District General Hospital being granted funding by The Carbon and Energy Fund (CEF) through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) for affordable, low-carbon energy efficiency upgrades for the trust. Taking a whole building approach, the project used a wide range of energy upgrades to target carbon savings of 4,129 tonnes.

Collaborating with Veolia UK and Clarke Roofing Ltd on the refurbishment project, Bauder addressed critical issues particularly, the original roof's poor performance and the lack of insulation, with a specific focus on achieving the environmental goal of carbon reduction to meet the project requirements.

The specification

Bauderflex bituminous waterproofing was specified for the refurbishment solution. In alignment with the project's environmental objectives, the CEF-funded refurbishment targeted the roof's insulation, which was previously non-existent. The insulation was upgraded with 120mm BauderPIR FA-TE flatboard insulation across the roof, achieving 0.18 U-value. Working closely with Clarke Roofing and Veolia, a comprehensive package was developed, including core samples, survey reports, U-value calculations, carbon saving reports, specifications, and solar PV designs, to form a crucial part of Veolia's bid to secure the project.

Project challenges

The design challenges were multifaceted, requiring innovative solutions to ensure functionality. One major issue was ponding water in the gutters. To mitigate this, tapered gutters were installed, allowing for better water flow and drainage. Additionally, the project demanded the creation of bespoke lead slates for breather vents through the upstands. These custom-made components were necessary to ensure optimal performance, preventing moisture build-up and ensuring adequate ventilation. Furthermore, the design had to accommodate areas where plant could either not be raised or only be raised for a period of time. This required the team to develop bespoke details that seamlessly integrated these raised areas into the overall design.

During the installation process, on-site challenges arose with unexpected issues such as being unable to use a de-chipper to remove the asphalt chippings on the large roof as the use of the equipment would disrupt normal operations of the hospital, which was insupportable. This demanded rapid adjustments to the specification, involving the use of a recovery board over the chippings.

Additionally, there were logistical constraints, including limited crane availability which required precise timings and regular communication for the direct material deliveries from Germany to accommodate Clarke Roofing's installation schedule.

Bauderflex Bituminous Waterproofing System

The result

The completed project provides a 20-year guarantee for both product and workmanship. Throughout the process, project management and workmanship were closely monitored, with over 30 interim inspections and numerous site meetings held in collaboration with Bauder, Clarke Roofing, Veolia, and other contractors.

The roof system delivers a significantly improved thermal efficiency for the building, thereby reducing heating bills and carbon emissions to achieve the project requirements of improving energy efficiency and reducing the hospital’s carbon footprint.

The successful project collaboration from all parties not only met the environmental goals set by the CEF, but also ensured there was minimal disruption to the hospital's operations, showcasing the effectiveness of careful planning, adaptability, and collaboration in complex refurbishment projects.

Testimonial

Senior Site Manager, Veolia UK:
“As Veolia, can we take this chance to thank Clarke Roofing and Bauder for all their hard work on the Eastbourne project.

Matt Moore, area technical manager, and Andy Smith, site technician, from Bauder were a pleasure to work alongside, their knowledge and attention to detail meant that the project was able to run as smoothly as possible and any challenges faced were overcome with ease.

Clarke Roofing was a pleasure to work with as they are professional from the management down to the labourers. The collaboration and working relationship between themselves and Bauder ensured the project was delivered efficiently and to an extremely high standard.

Josh Clarke supported all safety issues and backed Veolia when required and was supportive throughout the project. Rob Finnigan and Stuart Mitchell are a credit to Clarkes and were always on hand to close out any issues and kept the site in great order. The whole of the site team were a credit to Clarke Roofing.

Throughout the project, the Clarke and Bauder team was excellent.”