Scope of Work: Lincoln Hospital, a district general hospital, serves the city of Lincoln and the wider North Lincolnshire area. It offers a comprehensive range of medical specialties and operates a 24-hour major accident and emergency service. As a crucial healthcare facility, maintaining its infrastructure while keeping services uninterrupted is vital. Recently, the hospital faced a structural challenge requiring urgent attention to ensure the safety and stability of its building.
During a structural assessment, it was identified that additional loads imposed on the existing framework had compromised the capacity of several concrete beams. These beams required reinforcement to accommodate the increased load demands and prevent potential failure. The situation was further complicated by the beams being located in confined, hard-to-reach areas within the operational hospital. Working within a live hospital environment, where patient safety and comfort are paramount, meant that traditional reinforcement methods were impractical due to the disruption they could cause to daily operations.
To address the problem, carbon fibre strengthening was selected as the optimal solution. This method was chosen for its remarkable properties: thinness, high strength, and rapid installation. Carbon fibre reinforcement is particularly well-suited for situations where space is limited, and traditional methods are too invasive. Its ability to strengthen beams for additional bending moments while minimising the need for extensive demolition or disruption made it the ideal choice for Lincoln Hospital.
The installation process was carefully planned to ensure minimal impact on the hospital’s operations. By applying carbon fibre to the concrete beams, the structural integrity of the beams was significantly enhanced, ensuring they could handle the increased load capacity.
In close collaboration with the main contractor and hospital staff, the reinforcement works were executed efficiently and with minimal disruption. The decision was made to carry out the installation during night shifts, reducing the impact on hospital activities and ensuring patient care was not affected. This approach allowed the work to proceed in a safe, controlled manner, with all safety and hygiene protocols being strictly followed.
The carbon fibre strengthening project was completed within the planned timeframe, effectively enhancing the load-bearing capacity of the beams without compromising the hospital’s daily operations. The successful completion of this project not only ensured the structural stability of Lincoln Hospital but also demonstrated the effectiveness of innovative solutions like carbon fibre reinforcement in challenging, live environments.
