Cairns Base HospitalMajor Milestone -
D Block Crane Lift

Specialist rope access contractors and a 200-tonne crane have been used to help Install critical water infrastructure into Cairns Hospital.

The Cairns Base Hospital Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) upgrade project reached a major milestone with the installation of pipework in D Block.

The work involved connecting a new 300mm section of prefabricated steel chilled water pipe on the external wall of the hospital from level seven down to level three.

But scaffolding was not an option in overcoming the 20-metre drop.

Specialist rope access subcontractors were required to abseil down the façade of the Hospital, while measuring, drilling and securing over 50 connection points in preparation for the fixing of the pipe.

FKG Group and VAE Group local Cairns based project teams coordinated lifting two sections of building materials with a 200-tonne crane requiring programmed road closures and airport flight path notifications to be considered. Pre-insulated pipework was also installed along lower and upper roof sections of the Hospital during this, and one other crane lift.

Once installed, the pipework was fitted with infill panels and external cladding to match the Hospital’s existing wall colour.

The hospital now has chilled water in a seamless change over to an existing system.