Panmure Dental Care - Installation of Extraction Fans in Dental Surgeries
Panmure Dental Care - Installation of Extraction Fans in Dental Surgeries
Client/Site: Panmure Dental Care
Project duration: 1 week
Project value: £10,000.00
Completion date: August 2022
Main Contractor: E.W Edwardson Electrical Contractors Ltd
Trades/ Sub-Contractors involved: Core Cut (Drilling Specialists), Tayside Ventilation (Ducting & Ventilation Specialists) Derek McNulty (Joiners)
Brief project description:
E.W Edwardson Electrical Contractors are proud of their involvement in the recent installation works to install new extract fans for ventilation purposes in the Surgeries of Panmure Dental Care
The scope of works included.
We were approached by Panmure Dental Care to supply and install new ventilation in their surgeries and hygienist rooms following new legislation following covid 19. The two surgeries were to get an intake and extract fans and the Hygienist room was to get the same.
Following the first contact a site visit was arranged, we were able to get a good handle on what was required and what sub-contractors we would need to be involved. A quote was provided and accepted and a meeting on site was arranged with the client and sub-contractors to discuss the obvious problems of how the works could be carried out with as little disruption to the practice as possible with every room requiring the ventilation being used on a daily basis. Each contractor measured up what was required and how their part of the works would be carried out.
The two surgeries were to get 2 -12 inch fans in each one would be intake the other extract which would be fitted and cored through an external wall. The hygienist room was not so simple as there was no external walls to core through. This would require a ducted system with in line fans. The duct work would be run through the attic area and be vented out the gable end of the building then drop down into the room finished with roof vents. For the electrical works it was decided to run new circuits for the fans and avoid any surface wiring and containment to keep the clean look of the surgery. These works would require to shut down to the electrical supplies to add our new fan controls within the surgeries. The shutdown would be carried out using safe isolation procedures at an agreed time with the client.
The ventilation contractor measured up the rooms and would calculate what size of fans and ducting would be required to produce the correct air flow required of 5 air changes per hour which is what the client had been asked to provide.
The joiner would be required to cut holes in the existing plasterboard to expose the external walls for the core cutters. They would also be required to cut holes in the finished back drops of the surgeries to bring out the new cabling for the fan controllers.
Once all parties were happy with what they needed to do it was a case of agreeing with the client the best time to carry out the works to avoid any disruption to the client and its patients. It was agreed that with the practice being shut over a weekend and a Monday, we would tackle it over three days working 12 hour shifts. The cost implications to do this were highlighted to the client and they were happy to proceed as they worked out that it would cost more for them to shut for a complete week loosing out on potential income and inconveniencing their clients.
A date was agreed that suited all parties and rams were gathered from the sub-contractors along with ours and were submitted to the client prior to starting the works. These would be given to the site Foreman prior to starting the works and would be reviewed should any unforeseen circumstances crop up.
As with any of our jobs toolbox talks were carried out by the supervisor which were specific to this project and was carried out with all contractors present before any work commenced. This would highlight to everyone involved the importance of good house keeping and cleanliness for this project.
Overall project risk level: Medium
Complexity Level: Medium
Top three items on the works risk assessment and how these risks were mitigated:
| Hazard(s) | Aspects of Activity | Existing Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk |
| Vibration | Risk of hand arm vibration from use of power tools | High Risk | Employees trained in correct use of power tools including limiting time use and keeping hands warm Limited to maximum 4 hours use by one individual per day with a maximum single use of 30 minutes any one individual Use of DeWalt Battery Drill (3ms²- EAV 5hr33m ELV 22hr EAV 1hr ELV 4hr) limited to maximum 8 hours by one individual per day with a maximum single use of 4 hours any one individual | Low Risk |
| Electricity | Working with electricity | High Risk | Electrical systems should be switched off and disconnected before work commences. Lock off kits should be used to ensure systems cannot be reconnected without authorisation. Warning notices should be posted to advise electrical work is in progress. All electrical work should be supervised, and final connections made by qualified employees. Consideration of secondary supplies should be made. | Low Risk |
| Coronavirus (COVID-19) | Risk of infection arising from Coronavirus | High Risk | All employees to receive EWE Covid-19 briefing. Should any employee suspect they have any symptoms of Coronavirus or any other illness they should not attend site and must self isolate for 14 days. Employees must follow good hygiene practice for coughs and sneezes. Paper tissues should be used to catch any sneeze or cough and these must be diposed of immediately after use. Employee should wash hands immediately after any sneeze or cough. All employees to maintain good hygiene practices and to follow hand-washing protocol All employees to ensure they have full PPE on site and should ensure this is kept clean. Single use PPE must be disposed of in bins after use and other PPE should be wiped with alco-wipes before putting on and before storing away. All employees must have their own PPE. All employees must use their own tools only and should not share tools with others on site or fellow employees All employees to receive the Coronavirus tool box talk which should be signed off by employees | Low Risk |
Project Challenges:
The primary challenge with this project was to complete all works within the surgery rooms without causing any disruption to the day to day running of the busy dental practice within the agreed time scale. Careful planning prior to starting the project discussed by all contractors involved meant that there was a seamless hand over to the next contractor when their part was finished which was crucial to finish the works in the tight time scale agreed. Simple communication between the experienced tradesmen on site meant everyone knew what was happening every step of the job.
With this being a dental surgery, every effort had to be made to make sure dust was kept to a minimum. The client was made aware to store away as much equipment as possible so that it would not get dirty or risk being damaged. New polythene dust sheets were used throughout, and sticky floor coverings were also used throughout to keep the surfaces as clean as possible.
Other challenges with the job were where the ducting was vented through the gable end of the building these were situated at high level which would require careful measuring for the position of the ducting required to come through the wall and the drilling of 12-inch holes through brick walls had to be overcome. This was done by Core Cut arranging for a scaffold to be fixed in place on the end of the building making access a lot easier and safer. We involved core cut due to the size of the holes to be cored and with them having all the correct tools and experience.
Another challenge was making sure all cable runs were not visible at any point. This was achieved by working closely with Derek McNulty joiners would lift floored areas of the attic for cables to be run and also cut out boxes in the finished wooden back drops in the walls of the surgery so cables could be fished into position by our experienced electricians.
Our ventilation specialist Tayside Ventilation had the challenge of supplying and designing a system that would be quiet running for the practice. They knew to do this using various dampers in the ducting system and sourcing quite running fans. They also would fit duct heaters which would prevent condensation coming out of the vents to be installed in the roof of the hygienist room in the colder weather.
Following the works each contractor involved helped clean up any dust left over meaning the client did not have to worry about this.
Project Conclusion and Client Collaboration:
With careful planning, on-site communication and the experienced staff and sub-contractors the works were completed on time and within budget. All relevant documentation including user manuals and Electrical Installation Certificate was handed over to the client following the completion of the works.
The surgery was able to open the following day as normal from completion of the works and were delighted with the new ventilation system installed.
The client was so happy with how the job was planned and executed that they recommended E.W. Edwardson to another two dental practices in the Angus area which we were able to use the same sub-contractors in again to carry out very similar installations for them also.
With all our work we pride ourselves on good customer service, this is possible by having experienced and dedicated staff and sub-contractors we can trust with a good working ethos and look to achieve the highest standard of work possible at all times using quality materials and making sure the clients requirements are understood and met.
