The background
Keeping disturbance and environmental impact to a minimum was a priority for the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital as it undertook a project to construct a new building at its site at Wonford. It was to be built over the top of existing underground foul sewage and storm water lines, which needed to be moved to enable the development to take place.
Following a site survey the contractor, Morgan Sindall, instructed Selwood’s pump rental solution team to carry out the overpumping operation so that the pipework could be relocated. Selwood’s team turned their attention to finding a sensitive solution that met the requirements of the Trust.
The challenge
The site of the development was next to active hospital wards, near the Intensive Care Unit and on a blue-light ambulance route where 24/7 access was required. In addition, the job needed to be carried out at a busy time for the hospital during the Covid pandemic.
The pump diverting water from the storm lines was only activated when required, but the foul pump for sewage needed to run around the clock.
Patient comfort and safety were the highest priority for Selwood’s teams in developing a solution which needed to overcome the challenge of providing an effective overpumping solution while keep noise, vibration and diesel emissions to the absolute minimum.
The solution
Selwood recently became the first UK rental company to offer pumps that can be fuelled by Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO). This followed extensive testing of HVO in Selwood’s fleet of pumps, which proved that HVO is completely interchangeable with diesel with no negative effect on performance.
HVO is made from renewable raw materials and can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90% while also reducing nitrogen oxide and particulate matter from emissions. The S150 and D150 super silent pumps were chosen for the project as they could be used with HVO fuel. The combined effect of HVO fuel and super silent pumping met the requirements of the client and Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust. This is because the super silent canopies reduced noise level whilst the HVO fuel is odorless and reduces emissions. Deliveries and installation to site were carefully planned for times when vehicles could be safely parked out of the way, ensuring there was no obstruction of the vital blue light route into the hospital.
The result
Selwood’s solution was delivered on time and in a way that was 100% compliant with Covid safety measures including the wearing of masks and strict social distancing. Morgan Sindall, and the Trust both expressed satisfaction with the solution and the professionalism of Selwood’s teams in making sure this important work could be carried out with minimal pollution and disruption.