Aged Care/Health | CORE Consulting Engineers

Aged Care/Health, Commercial Office, Education, Government, Hospitality, Residential/Strata, Remedial, Strata, Structural

Structural – Awning Safety Inspections & Certification

Council Crack Down On Awning Safety

Following a tragic incident that occurred at Sydney’s Northern Beaches some years back, Councils have continued to crack down on ageing, unsafe awnings by implementing a ‘Awning Safety Program’ to addresses their potential failure or collapse.

The program has seen a significant number of Council notices issued to business owners, instructing them to have their street front awnings inspected and assessed by a registered professional engineer as a matter of urgency. Following the inspection, the engineer is required to submit a 5-year safety certificate certifying the structural integrity and safety of the awning.

Our Expertise

As a result, our team has recently seen an influx in Council stipulated requests and is providing this service to an array of clients – having recently completed awning assessments to 80 awnings for the City of Sydney.

CORE Consulting Engineers is a multi-disciplinary firm armed with the knowledge and expertise of the industry’s leading engineers. For more than 20 years, our team has delivered outstanding, 360°engineering solutions to a range of clients across all major property sectors Australia-wide.

An awning’s age along with recent weather conditions are some contributing factors to structural failures and can pose a significant public safety risk.

Awning inspections include a condition assessment and are then followed by a structural assessment to confirm the awnings are compliant for gravity, imposed and wind loadings. Sometimes, awnings need to be strengthened to comply with current codes of practise.

Having your awning inspected and assessed by a RegisteredProfessional Structural Engineer is critical to confirming that there are no underlying safety issues.

Typically, Councils require awnings to be reassessed every 5 years.

Key Process Stages

Where an awning is a closed structure, we undertake opening up works with the contractor, typically by lifting roof sheets at key locations to facilitate visual inspection of the internal framing to assess condition and measure up the members. CORE can engage a contractor to conduct opening up works under CORE’s direction and also facilitate access to the awning roof.
We then conduct a risk assessment of the awning to establish whether an awning can be accessed by the public, either via openable windows above the awning, from adjacent accessible awnings, by ladders from ground level or other means such as adjacent structures.
Awnings can be subject to high imposed loads due to unauthorised access by the public, such as the ‘Black Lives Matter’ protest in July 2021, when a large number of people climbed onto the Woolworths Building awning.
Australian Standards require varying application of imposed loading to an awning depending on its access risk level.
CORE then undertake a condition assessment and structural loading assessment to ascertain if any remedial works or strengthening works are required to achieve structural adequacy for load compliance and also ensure the awning is structurally sound.

If an awning is determined to be structurally adequate and does not require major repair, we will provide a structural certificate, valid for 3 to 5 years. Where strengthening or major remedial works are required, we can assist with the design and specification of any upgrade works before CORE undertake a final inspection and then provide final certification.

Aged Care/Health, Commercial Office, Education, Government, Hospitality, Residential/Strata, Electrical, Strata

Electrical – Switchboard Reviews & Upgrades

Our Expertise

CORE has been delivering switchboard upgrade consultancy services for an array of long-term partner portfolios such as: City of Sydney, MBM, Investa and AMP Capital and has also supported electrical upgrades for a broad host of clients across several industries and sectors.

Our team has extensive technical experience and an intimate understanding of the integration between the main switchboard (MSB) and other interfacing electrical elements and building services. Known for our expertise in existing buildings, our team have successfully implemented MSB upgrades for buildings of various ages and at different stages of their lifecycle for compliance and capacity purposes.

Our approach to all MSB upgrades is to ensure our recommendations align with future building plans, seeing us offer long-term value and MSB solutions that support each asset’s requirements for years to come.

Imperative to providing our clients with customised and cost-efficient solutions, CORE has developed a strong understanding of the extensive MSB and distribution board market and its suppliers.

From evaluating your building’s requirements through to sourcing optimal equipment and managing upgrade works all the way to completion, our engineers deliver a robust solution to switchboard upgrades.

Some of our most recent switchboard upgrades include:

Coronation Hotel – Park St, Sydney
9 The Crescent – Annandale, Sydney
Bay St Depot – Ultimo, Sydney
Victoria Park Pool – Camperdown, Sydney
SDN Surry Hills Long Day Care Centre – Surry Hills, Sydney
Reginald Murphy Activity Club – Elizabeth Bay, Sydney
Rex Community Centre – Elizabeth Bay, Sydney

MSB impact on building safety and performance…

It’s important to know the age and condition of your main switchboard along with any supplementary distribution boards powering your building to ensure they comply with current BCA standards.

Non-compliant MSBs can restrict accessibility, limit the ability to carry out maintenance services and can also pose a significant safety hazard to users – carrying serious risks such as electrocution, particularly when the expected lifespan for circuit breakers is reached or close to expiry.

Switchboards that are newer to the market are equipped with ‘earth leakage detection’ safety mechanisms, enabling minor current leaks to be detected and trapping the circuit immediately.

When not upgraded, the MSB can also damage cables and other distribution boards having a costly, flow-on effect to other electrical components and in turn, impacting a building’s overall performance – an issue that can be managed and avoided.

When was your building’s last switchboard review?

It is recommended that an electrical assessment, visual inspection and subsequent report be completed every 5 years. This is especially important prior to any building services upgrades/maintenance being implemented as the impact on the MSB must be considered.

Approximately a 1-day engagement for inspection and reporting, CORE conducts visual evaluations of an asset’s electricals including but not limited to: power, lights and switchboards – evaluating their expected lifespan and notifying
Building Managers of all findings and any identified defects. A report is then provided, detailing item prioritisation and recommendations with indicative costs and information on whether further testing is needed to verify potential defects.

For what is a critical piece of infrastructure, that is often overlooked for inspection and maintenance, the switchboard inspection and testing process is a relatively quick, low-cost exercise that can prevent future faults or problems, and ensure your building and its people are well protected.

Aged Care/Health, Electrical, Fire Engineering & Fire Protection, Hydraulic, Mechanical, Structural

Next Practice Medical Centre, 20 Bridge St, Sydney, NSW

Next Practice Health aims to deliver a new level of healthcare, offering the very best in medical services and facilities in a modern, reimagined setting that has patient experience at the very heart of its vision.

With a mission to continually innovate the healthcare journey and extend services into Sydney’s CBD, Next Practice prepared to transform a prior office space at 20 Bridge St into what is now best described as a ‘clinic of the future’.

Timeline

8 weeks – design
10 months – construction

Engineering ‘clinics of the future’

Having strong experience in the Healthcare sector and in delivering high-end solutions for complex, live environments, CORE was engaged to deliver a 360 multi-disciplinary fitout solution that included the following engineering consultancy services:

Mechanical
Electrical
Hydraulic
Fire
Structural

Working closely with Next Practice to bring the client’s vision to reality, the CORE team engineered a meticulous combination of design and functionality for the space. Beyond a standard fitout, the project required several points of coordination and intrusion with base building services. Electrical requirements were unique for lighting and equipment specification for mechanical services was critical to achieving the client’s clinical ‘consulting pod’ concept.

Paramount to the project’s success, our team’s strong level of coordination, exceptional attention to detail and focus on collaboration and communication with key stakeholders has positioned CORE as the preferred partner for Next Practice Health’s national portfolio of clinics.

Aged Care/Health, Remedial

Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, NSW

Having successfully completed similar works at Westmead Hospital, CORE was engaged by Mostyn Copper to provide expert advice regarding failed waterproofing roof membrane at the Sydney Children’s Hospital.

Timeline

Stage 1: completed January 2020

Stage 2: currently in progress

Program expected to continue into 2024.

A People-First approach to engineering

Experiencing significant water ingress issues resulting in damages to valuable
equipment and impacting the Hospital’s patient capacity, CORE worked diligently to
deliver a long-term, 2000m2 technical waterproofing solution for our client.

Given the nature of the building and its occupants, along with the impact and
restrictions presented by COVID-19, CORE applied a ‘high priority’ Program of
Works that saw all technical inspections and onsite testing conducted in a safe,
timely and efficient manner.

Stage 1 of remedial works required CORE to strategically determine ideal project
phasing so that affected areas could return to full operational capacity promptly
and prevented further water ingress issues impacting the site.

CORE recommended and designed a 360º cost-effective and sustainable
solution using a premium, innovative waterproofing membrane that could be
installed over existing materials – resulting in a significant decrease to project
time and costs, while minimising wastage.

With key stakeholders and the impact on end-users front of mind, CORE
placed a strong focus on exceptional communication throughout the project,
ensuring all parties were well informed throughout the process.

Stage 2 of the project is currently underway with works expected to reach
completion in 2024.

Aged Care/Health, Electrical, Fire Engineering & Fire Protection, Hydraulic, Mechanical

Griffith Base Hospital Redevelopment, NSW

CORE was engaged by Project Coordination to support the delivery of NSW Health Infrastructure’s $10+ million upgrade to Griffith Hospital, NSW.

The project involved the construction of a new Ambulatory Care Hub as well as extensions to the hospital’s Critical Care and Inpatient Units to increase patient capacity, enhance service functionality and welcome the addition of new support areas.
The plan also required improvements to existing car park facilities along with other external works.

Timeline

6 months – design
12 months – construction

Our Approach: achieving a detailed understanding of the client’s needs

When working within the Health sector, dedicating the necessary time to listen and develop a strong understanding of a client’s needs is more critical than ever.

From the initial consultation stage, the CORE team ensured that the right amount of time was spent upfront in order to deliver a better long-term result.

As always, strong, open lines of communication played a key role in determining project success and saw CORE working alongside on-site teams as well as the hospital board to ensure proposed solutions aligned with the hospital’s operational requirements.

The Outcome: delivering optimal design, reducing time and costs

The redevelopment of Griffith Base Hospital was a multi-layered, complex project with a clear objective to significantly enhance the hospital precinct, its processes and operations.

CORE’s detailed and thorough approach to the project’s design phase was invaluable.

Our 3D modelling capabilities enabled key stakeholders to seamlessly visualise the proposed solutions and facilitated critical conversations during the early stages of the project – saving significant amounts of time and money during the construction phase.

The 12-month construction stage was delivered to scope, on time and to budget with the hospital remaining fully operational throughout the period.

Aged Care/Health, Electrical, Fire Engineering & Fire Protection, Mechanical, Structural

Cooma Hospital Redevelopment, NSW

NSW Health Infrastructure were redeveloping the Cooma Hospital to deliver enhanced services, facilities and care to Cooma and surrounding communities.

With an investment of over $24 million, the project involved a staged extension and refurbishment of two adjacent blocks at the hospital campus. The upgrades saw the development of a new Maternity Ward as well as an expanded and improved Emergency Department and relocation of Ambulatory Care, Pathology and Medical Imaging.

The CORE advantage: collaborative and integrated solutions

Having strong experience in the Aged Care/Health sector, and in delivering solutions for complex, live environments, CORE was engaged to deliver a multi-disciplinary project solution that included the following services:

Structural
Civil
Mechanical
Electrical
Fire
Hydraulics

Working closely with Project Coordination over a 2-year design and construction period, CORE delivered flexible, cost-effective engineering for Cooma Hospital that required seamless communication and integration across all stakeholders and services – ensuring the best possible solutions and outcomes were achieved along the way.

Critically, the rollout of our strategies and services enabled Cooma Hospital to remain fully operational throughout the project period.

Aged Care/Health, Electrical, Fire Engineering & Fire Protection, Hydraulic, Mechanical, Structural

Shoalhaven Hospital Multi-Deck Carpark, NSW

In a major milestone for communities of Shoalhaven and surrounds, Health Infrastructure recognised the need for additional car parking spaces to accommodate the growing use of Shoalhaven Hospital -improving connectivity and allowing easier and more convenient access for patients and visitors.

Timeline

12 months – design
12 months – construction

The Challenge: finding the best solution

Project Coordination engaged CORE for the demolition and development of the new multi-deck car park and security room.
The design stage was critical to ensuring the new car park capacity was optimised and would visually integrate and align with the hospital’s masterplan. Complex, existing issues on site needed to be overcome which saw CORE working closely with builders and clients to alleviate concerns safely and with timely and cost efficient solutions.

CORE’s key areas of focus were: capacity requirements, coordination with the existing helipad and impacts on helicopter approach to hospital, aesthetics, water diversion/flow path management, lighting and hydraulics.

The project was constructed within the challenging environment of an operating hospital and adjacent to a cancer care unit. Close collaboration and communication with stakeholders was required to ensure minimal interruption to clinical services and hospital access; as well as a focus on infection control due to the close proximity of immunocompromised patients.

The Outcome: car park capacity increased by over 50%

Construction on the NSW Government’s $11.8 million multi-storey car park was completed in June 2020.

The new five split-level car park provides patients and visitors with more than 300 new spaces, increasing the hospital’s overall parking capacity to over 550 spaces and features a stunning facade inspired by the colours and landscape art of Shoalhaven luminary Arthur Boyd.

Notably, the project was awarded Winner of the NSW MBA Building in Excellence Awards in the ‘Best Public Building $10-15M’ category.