Oxford Method Research Programme

As built Drawings

To our knowledge there were no ‘as-built’ drawings or previous reports etc. available for Unit 69. There was, however, some examples of ‘typical’ construction details available on the Oxford Method web site and a selection of these have been included in the appendices. Whilst these are useful for background information we would expect some local variations in the actual construction of the buildings. The details, therefore, should not be relied on for construction and some further opening up works will be necessary to confirm ‘as-built’ details, including actual steel frame sizes.

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Previous Reports

As mentioned previously, there was a related study undertaken in 2001 which considered over-cladding options for the Ophthalmic Unit at Stoke Mandeville. Following this study, a pilot scheme for over-cladding the unit was undertaken with full height brickwork over-cladding and new windows. The adopted method in over-cladding was chosen from a total of eight proposals in the 2001 report.

The technical review of the pilot scheme addresses key design aspects that are applicable to our current feasibility report as follows:

• The solutions provided for the ophthalmic unit were developed for a single storey building and may not be viable or feasible for a multi-storey building such as Unit 69.
• Over-cladding the existing cladding panel is deemed to protect the steel cladding panels from further deterioration; hence, the existing cladding panels can be retained.
• On the Ophthalmic Unit it was found that the existing concrete strip footing extended out from the face of the building by around 250mm. This was deemed acceptable to support a single storey height of new face brickwork.

It has been found that the earlier constructed Ophthalmic Unit can to some extent be used as a guide for predicting when defects will occur in the latter constructed ‘New Wing’. However, the same manufacturers were not always used on every site and, therefore, the quality of production and materials varies from site to site. This can have an resulting affect on when individual components fail or wear out.

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Asbestos

A type 2 asbestos survey has been carried out on Stoke Mandeville Hospital ‘New Wing’ and a report dated 2nd March 2004 is available on request from the Hospital Estates Department.

For the purpose of this feasibility study, the asbestos survey report has been reviewed and the following findings have been noted:

• There is no asbestos material recorded as being present within the existing cladding panels.
• There is no asbestos material recorded as being present within the window frames.
• The stanchions have been found to be boxed in on the internal face with asbestos board.
• The original ceiling tiles are formed from an asbestos material.

Much of the asbestos within the ‘New Wing’ has subsequently been removed as part of a planned programme of works carried out by the hospital and during local maintenance and alteration works.

Despite the presence of asbestos within the building, it is our opinion that it is unlikely to have any significant impact on the proposals contained within this feasibility study. However, there remains a nominal asbestos risk to any works carried out on the building and some local protection and / or removal may be necessary and, therefore, an allowance has been included for this in the cost plan. We would also recommend that prior to any works being carried out a type 3 asbestos survey is carried out.

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