Labelled as Birmingham’s newest ‘super hospital’, the £370 million facility has been designed to meet the best international and national standards, bringing patient requirements firmly to the forefront to support the efficient delivery of high-quality clinical services. Due to open later this year, the hospital will provide 669 acute care beds and 13 operating theatre suites, at its new home on Grove Lane, Smethwick.
Integral to the project is an overriding onus on sustainability with the building ear-marked to be in the top 10% of non-domestic building in terms of sustainable performance, achieving a BREEAM rating of very good or higher on completion. This is seen through all aspects of the supply chain and associated infrastructure; from the integration of energy efficient technologies and systems through to the use of sustainable material choices.
In preparing to commence works, the specification of the 5th floor transfer slab within the building design presented a challenge for the architect, HKS, whereby the allocated 400mm Lytascreed build up was subsequently amended due to loading criteria provided by the structural engineer with a max load of 2.5kN/m2. In turn, the design team wanted to eliminate the use of void formers throughout this project but, due to the scale of build-up, required a middle ground had to be met.
To overcome the challenge, Aggregate Industries specified a single sheet insulation 300kpi board with a 120mm Lytag base and 50mm a semi-dry cementitious screed topping; creating a super lightweight heavy duty floor screed which cures considerably faster than any alternative. As a further benefit, Lytag, being a secondary aggregate and 50% lighter than natural aggregate, will boost the overall green credentials of the project.
Steve Curley, general manager at Lytag, said: “This is another great example of how the lightweight properties of Lytag have provided a solution on a large scale project.”
In production for more than 50 years, Lytag secondary aggregate is made using innovative technology which transforms fly ash into small pellets which are then heated to 1,100°C. The pellets formed are rounded in shape and range in size from 14mm down to fines and can be used as a superior, consistent, lightweight aggregate.
In total, Aggregate Industries will supply 450tonnes of Lytag for the Midlands Metropolitan Hospital.
