Lymington Hospital
- Location:
New Forest, Hampshire
- Sector:
Public Sector
- Duration:
12 weeks
- Value:
£400k
Project Highlights:
- Seamless installation in a live hospital environment – The new modular boilers were installed with out-of-hours work and strict noise control, ensuring zero disruption to patient care or operating theatres.
- Efficiency and sustainability gains – The fully modulating Hamworthy ModuMax mk3 boilers improved energy efficiency, reduced fuel usage, and supported the hospital’s sustainability targets.
- Future-proofed infrastructure – Upgraded BMS controls, new pipework, and robust stainless steel boilers enhanced system resilience and capacity to meet growing hospital demand.
The Challenge:
Lymington Hospital in the New Forest is a large community hospital founded in 1912 and run by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. The facility spans three floors and includes five inpatient wards, two operating theatres, a community diagnostic centre with modern radiology and endoscopy facilities plus a variety of outpatient clinics.
On the top floor, the plant room housed six floor-standing gas-fired boilers in need of an upgrade to improve efficiency and optimise performance. As the hospital must remain fully operational throughout its lifecycle works, the solution needed to be carefully planned. The limited space within the plant room also meant that any replacement system would have to be compact and modular to fit effectively.
Because the plant room is directly above theatres the installation had to avoid disruption to patients and staff. This meant out of hours work and stringent noise control during the day. The project was taking place towards the end of the COVID-19 pandemic when hygiene standards and government safety guidance were still very high, so all work had to maintain these standards. Another requirement was the upgrade of the Building Management System (BMS) which is a live system controlling heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC). That upgrade needed careful planning to avoid any interruption to building services or patient care.
The Solution:
Situ M&E acted as Principal Contractor for the boiler upgrade, overseeing all work from design through commissioning. The team carried out extensive modifications in the plant room and associated services. This included altering flue and gas pipework, adapting the existing heating pipework, installing a new primary circulation pump, and modifying the plant room’s electrical systems to suit the new boiler installation. Control systems tied into the Building Management System (BMS) were also updated so all HVAC operations would respond correctly to the new boilers. Additional work included installing new condensate drainage pipework and upgrading the existing gas protection system, with new thermal sensors above each boiler to enhance safety and monitoring.
To ensure continuous provision of heating and hot water during the installation, temporary boilers were located externally, and a temporary plant room was utilised. Works and changeover periods were planned during a challenging Christmas period, and all stages were carried out without interrupting hospital services. Since the plant room sits directly above operating theatres, special out-of-hours working was arranged, along with careful noise control to avoid disturbing critical medical procedures. Strict health and safety protocols were put in place throughout, both to protect hospital staff and patients, and to comply with elevated hygiene requirements still in place following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new boilers installed were Hamworthy Wessex ModuMax mk3 modular boilers. These have stainless steel heat exchangers, offering robustness and corrosion resistance. They are fully modulating, which means they adjust output precisely to meet current load demand, improving fuel efficiency. The ModuMax mk3’s compact modular stacked design allowed Situ M&E to fit the required capacity into the restricted plant room space. The boilers also have a low environmental impact with low NOx emissions and high seasonal efficiencies which align with BREEAM standards and contribute towards reducing the hospital’s carbon footprint.
The Results:
Despite working in a live hospital environment with strict hygiene requirements, challenging access, and a tight schedule of works to follow, the project was completed successfully with out-of-hours working to minimise disruption. The changeover was handled during the Christmas period, allowing the hospital to maintain full heating and hot water service throughout without any interruption to patient care or theatre operations.
The upgrade delivered significantly improved system performance and energy efficiency thanks to the fully modulating boilers, more closely matching load, reducing waste, and lowering fuel usage. These gains contribute not only to cost savings for the hospital trust but also play a key role in helping meet its sustainability and environmental targets. The boilers’ stainless steel construction, improved controls, upgraded BMS, and new pipework deliver long-term structural resilience and future-proofing; the hospital is now better equipped for increased demand and evolving technological requirements.
Collaboration was a strong factor in the success of the project. Situ M&E worked closely with the trust leadership and onsite Facilities Management to manage the interface with staff, patients, and the public. Our co-ordinated efforts around safety, communication and planning lead to positive client feedback and they expressed satisfaction both with the minimal disruption during works and the tangible improvements in comfort, reliability, and energy usage.
