A pioneering project at a London hospital has set a new benchmark for innovation in healthcare design and delivery - and it’s all thanks to the transformation of a previously unused flat roof.
King’s College Hospital is believed to be the first with a fully operational outdoor Critical Care Unit, purpose-built on a 170m2 flat roof.
Intensive care bedhead services are installed in pods around the garden space, giving critically ill patients access to fresh air, sun, breeze and even light rain. Research has shown that exposure to nature can reduce anxiety and pain and improve recovery times.
Pedestal and substructure specialist Wallbarn formed part of the team which delivered the Building Regulations Approved Document B and NHS Health Technical Memoranda (HTM) compliant project. The Croydon-based company was involved at an early stage through partner AB Building Products, which supplied its Exadeck fire-rated deck boards.
Beneath Exadeck sits a Class A fire-rated Wallbarn substructure of MetalPad EX steel pedestals with Zintec 200 anti-corrosion coating, high-grade extruded aluminium rails/joists, and Class A-rated fixings and connectors. This heavy-duty, non-combustible solution provides strength, precise height control and long-term durability. It was installed by Wallbarn preferred installer ISW UK, a specialist contractor experienced in delivering complex, technically demanding projects.
Importantly, the suspended deck system allows medical infrastructure, including power, data and gases, to be safely accommodated with its void. Discreet access hatches support operational and maintenance requirements.
Specification
Refurbishing an existing rooftop rarely means working with a clear, empty space. Services, drainage, maintenance access and fire requirements all have to be considered, while conditions found on site may vary from original drawings. Specialist decking installer ISW UK recommended that the roof be surveyed prior to materials being ordered to ensure an accurate bill of quantities was drawn up.
A specification revision saw Wallbarn step in to supply its complete non-combustible fire-rated substructure system. Crucially, this change in specification did not impact the design, with the adjustable MetalPad EX pedestals delivering the required minimum void across the roof deck. Wallbarn supplied a layout plan through its MegaPro and SketchUp software systems to plot exactly the pedestal and rail substructure positions to make installation easy and quick.
“All the services for the medical gas units, power and data run underneath the deck,” said Malcolm Hankey, director of Blue Light Management and lead project manager on the scheme. “We had to maintain a minimum 150mm void in order to get these services in.
“The fact that Wallbarn was able to come in and go ‘we can replicate the way you’ve designed it so that there's no additional or re-design costs’ was fabulous,” added Malcolm. “The flexibility and speed of installation helped us massively in terms of delivering the programme. I have no hesitation in utilising the products again. It's all turned out beautifully and the speed of installation was a massive bonus.”
Read more about Wallbarn’s role in the project here.