GLC Projects’ Strategic Demolition and Decontamination Success
As part of our ongoing commitment to creating safer, more efficient environments, GLC Projects recently undertook a complex decontamination and demolition project at the Darlington Memorial Hospital. Appointed as Principal Contractor for this significant project, we managed the delicate process of dismantling eight large heavy fuel oil tanks and two plant rooms on the hospital estate, in collaboration with the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust. This project highlighted our ability to deliver meticulous work even in challenging, high-stakes environments adjacent to essential hospital infrastructure.
Project Scope and Strategic Challenges
GLC Projects’ work at Darlington Memorial Hospital involved more than just demolition; it required careful diversion of essential utilities. High voltage mains, cold water mains, steam and condensate lines and fire systems had to be permanently diverted from a dilapidated service tunnel directly beneath the tanks and plant rooms. This critical service infrastructure, crucial to the hospital’s operation, demanded an approach that minimised risk while ensuring uninterrupted access for hospital facilities teams.
To ensure structural stability and safety during demolition, our team conducted a detailed point cloud survey – a digital mapping process that allowed precise location of the service tunnel relative to the structures above. This allowed us to control vibration and load transfer to the tunnel, reducing any risk to the live utilities it housed. The survey was instrumental in enabling safe, efficient manoeuvring of demolition equipment, allowing our team to proceed with confidence and precision.
Handling Hazardous Materials with Expertise
A major part of this project involved the safe removal of asbestos-containing materials from various areas, including the tanks, plant rooms, and adjacent mechanical boiler plant and generators. During demolition, we discovered additional asbestos containing materials and debris within underground ducts beneath the large boiler plant. This unexpected discovery required a phased and highly controlled approach, prioritising safety and compliance.
Our team implemented a step-by-step process to remove asbestos while keeping ducts clean and safeguarding the live high-voltage cables within them. With our systematic asbestos removal and remediation plan, we ensured that these hazardous materials were managed safely, in line with strict health and environmental standards.
Minimising Impact on Hospital Operations
As with any project on a hospital estate, it was essential to minimise disruption to the surrounding facilities, particularly where finance and maintenance teams were working nearby. Our team maintained constant communication with the hospital’s estates management, ensuring that all operations adhered to strict noise and dust control measures in line with infection control protocols. We also took careful consideration for Legionella and airborne particles due to nearby departments caring for patients with immune-deficient conditions. This approach was critical to delivering a seamless experience for both the hospital’s staff and patients, allowing their essential work to continue without significant impact from our activities.
Our Commitment to Excellence in Complex Demolition Projects
The Darlington Memorial Hospital project demonstrates GLC Projects’ expertise in delivering complex decontamination and demolition works within sensitive environments. Our team brought extensive experience in adjacent hospital infrastructure work, adhering to strict permit-to-work procedures, and dismantling complex structures safely. Waste management and recycling were integral to our approach, reflecting our commitment to environmental responsibility and efficient resource use. We are pleased to report that 100% of hardcore waste was recycled and used in other local projects, while 100% of timber was recycled and processed for biomass energy.
By controlling noise, dust, and vibration to protect the wellbeing of nearby workers and patients, GLC Projects successfully delivered a challenging project that exemplifies our values: safety, precision, and respect for those we work alongside. We’re proud to contribute to a safer, more sustainable infrastructure for Darlington Memorial Hospital and look forward to more successful collaborations with healthcare facilities across the region.
GLC Projects are based in Teesside and provide demolition, civil engineering and asbestos removal services for local authorities, businesses and private clients throughout the UK. For more information don’t hesitate to get in touch.