Building a leading edge hospital on a site the size of around 28 football fields, with a peak workforce estimated at 2,300 workers means Bovis Lend Lease need superior safety solutions. The new $1.55 billion, 750-bed tertiary Gold Coast University Hospital (GCUH), which commenced construction this year and is due for completion late 2012 is such a massive development, it will be serviced by its own entirely separate Central Energy Plant (CEP).

Being independent from the vicissitudes of main grid energy supplies is a crucial element of the GCUH achieving best practice, and matching aspirations of excellence in patient care with excellence in design and construction.

The CEP facility will deliver all the energy requirements for the GCUH and house all the necessary plant and equipment for the task. To deliver the formwork elements of the CEP building, Bovis appointed Oneform to provide all works associated with the formwork package.

To meet the Head Contractor’s stringent safety requirements, Oneform have had to ensure that their work method provides for no access onto the formwork surface if any gaps greater than 100mm exist. In order to resolve this issue, Oneform engaged Uni-span Formwork Solutions to provide design engineering and supply of formwork shoring and decking equipment to the slabs at the CEP.

Uni-Span engaged in close consultation with Oneform, and supplied a solution which would enable both high productivity and certifiable levels of safety – Uni-Span’s proprietary aluminium shoring and decking system CC-4. “In order to install the deck safely we placed all formwork materials in from the bottom,” said Andy Barker, site foreman. “The lightweight components and the ability of CC-4’s grid to stand before dropping in the panels meant we were able to install using scissor lifts, quickly and safely.”

“The high strength aluminium props also meant fewer props per square metre and gave us good access underneath the formwork. The CC-4

system’s ability to turn thru’ 90 degrees as well as incorporate plywood infill’s and rips sets it apart from its competitors.”

Uni-span Formwork Solutions also provided the formwork design for the slabs at the CEP. Using their in-house engineering application software, Grafsystem, they provided designs, material lists and load calculations for various elements of the project.

“The engineering back up, on the products in particular, provided our client with the necessary comfort they needed to accept the formwork solution being offered; and the support to the site has been very good,” said Daren King, engineer for Oneform.

Uni-span Formwork Solutions can meet the needs of all sectors of the construction industry. Their high level of commitment and expertise adds value to projects from design stage through to completion, with ISO9001 accredited products which meet all applicable Australian Standards and the Formwork Code of Practice 2006. Uni-Span’s best practice principles provide complete quality assurance to every project team they partner with. Key products which can deliver safer, faster formwork include:

- CC-4: a horizontal formwork system characterized by fast assembly and disassembly. Lightweight and offering a high degree of workers’ safety during the handling process, almost all the components of CC-4 are aluminium. A quick-stripping system facilitates the recovery of material, while an innovative drophead prevents any of the components falling to the ground, further increasing worker safety and impeding material deterioration.

- ULMA Construction Formwork Systems: Uni-Span is exclusive Australian distributor for this leading European manufacturer of innovative and safety-conscious formwork systems. The range includes ENKOFLEX decking systems, used with outstanding results on C.S Developments, Payne Street Apartment project.

Note: For more information or if you have a project and would like some advice from our experienced team please contact info@uni-span.com.au or call us on 07 3442 4000.