Paradigm shift in building materials market secures Rockfon Ltd. record size order for 160,000 m2 ceilings at Derby Hospital
The market for building materials is undergoing radical change: whereas price used to be the only selection criterion, best value for money is increasingly becoming a deciding factor. Now, product properties and system benefits, their effect on the indoor as well as outdoor environment and the whole life value of the products are being emphasized. This paradigm shift was one of the reasons why Rockfon Ltd. secured an order for 160,000 m2 of ceilings for the PFI (Private Finance Initiative) project at Derby City General Hospital.
“This is our largest single project in the UK, and it marks a significant step, as one of the major hospitals in the country is undertaking using stone wool ceilings,“ says Roel Cals, Managing Director of Rockfon Ltd and hints to the fact that Rockfon ceilings are made from stone wool from Rockwool International.
All along, Rockfon Ltd. has been in close dialogue with the Skanska Main Contractor project teams and an important focus area was always a clean and safe environment for patients and hospital employees. However, the expected life cycle of the materials was also an important aspect. Finally, the flexibility of the company’s product range in terms of the installation process was a decisive factor in this complex and large scale building project. “The hospital streets and corridors are extremely congested and do not allow the use of primary grid or hangers back to the soffit. The Rockfon solution omits this requirement due to its lighter construction and larger tile size which spans across the street,” says Chris Fairhall, Procurement Manager at Skanska
In a hospital, a good and safe environment of course means good hygiene and clean-ability and thus the moisture and bacteria resistant nature of the stone wool ceilings plays an important part. However, also the acoustics aspect of the indoor environment is important, both to the well-being of patients and the ability of staff and visitors to communicate effectively. Actually, studies show that patients recover faster when the acoustics are good and spaces are quieter. Furthermore, fire safety is of course of crucial importance in a hospital where there are many patients of varying mobility who need extra evacuation time in case of fire.
Chris Lamb, National Alliance Manager of Rockfon Ltd says: “Overall, this project has demonstrated that Rockfon Ceiling Solutions are suitable for all healthcare projects, particularly for PFI/PPP and the principles that these processes demand”.
Construction of the hospital began in May 2004 with ceilings being installed from May 2005. The first phase of the hospital is due for completion in the second quarter of 2006 with overall completion of the second phase by December 2008. | | 
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