Edenderry Ambulance

Project Name		Edenderry Ambulance Station
Client		National Ambulance Service
Contracting Authority		Health Service Executive

Project Profile

Completed and opened in early 2018, this project involved the construction of a BER A3 rated ambulance station and associated internal and external garage areas with ancillary wash down facilities and parking bays on a 4500m² greenfield site in Edenderry, Co. Offaly.

The ambulance base consists included a 400m² accommodation and administration block with an integrated enclosed serviced garage area and a separate external covered ambulance charging and servicing area. It was constructed using the Public Works Contract for Minor Building and Civil Engineering Works (PW-CF5).

The administration and accommodation block include a manager’s office, supervisor’s office, duty room with kitchen, a training room, staff changing room, locker room with changing facilities, toilets and showers. It also requires ancillary service rooms such as a sluice room, laundry, utility room, medical and other store rooms.

The building structure is composite steel frame and blockwork construction with a pressed aluminium cladding panel finish with high levels of insulation and airtightness throughout in order to meet the BER energy efficiency rating. The roof construction consisted of a steel framed mono-pitch structure with metal deck and a standing seam aluminium clad finish. Windows are all be triple glazed and integrated into the seamless cladded external wall finish.

The energy efficient services modelling required an air-to-water heat pump boiler complimented by a full heat recovery installation and solar PV installation on the roof, all to achieve an energy efficient, low life cycle cost building. In addition, an underground rainwater harvesting installation was installed for the use of grey water within the building.

The integrated garage includes fast operation automated up and over sectional overhead entrance and exit doors with room for one standard emergency vehicle, allowing staff to load, unload and clean the vehicles within the building. A separate cantilevered open garage structure adjoins the main building with space for a further 2 emergency vehicles with a drop-down charging facility from the soffit to allow for charging of the ambulance electrical equipment during down-time Site works include an ambulance wash down enclosure area, an underground LPG tank, 30,000m³ of underground geocellular attenuation systems, extensive staff and visitor parking areas, CCTV and number plate recognition systems and secure perimeter fencing with automated entry/exit sliding gate system.

Our Role

Chancery Group provided full Quantity Surveying and Cost Management services on the project from inception to completion and agreement of the final account. This was completed through a sub-consultancy agreement with Currie & Brown Ireland. Colin Smyth provided the project lead QS service throughout the development from inception to completion.

Throughout the project, Colin and his team worked closely with the HSE and the design team providing cost, programme, procurement and contract administration advice.

Our Services Included:

Feasibility studies for the site and building
Cost planning and provision of overall development budgets from inception stage until completion of design development.
Advising the client on the appropriate public sector procurement route and assessing suitability of proposed contractor’s using the GCCC restricted procedure
Preparation of full bill of quantities and pre-tender estimate
Management and administration of a public tendering procedure including all tender clarifications
Tender assessment, evaluation and reporting
Preparation of the required contract documents execution by all parties
Full post contract cost management services including monthly financial statements, cashflow forecasts, and the cost control of the project in line with the contract requirements
Prompt agreement of the final account with the contractor on completion of the works

Benefits of Service/Innovation

Colin in conjunction with the team provided advice on the most cost-effective way of achieving the required BER Rating which involved the cost analysis of various external wall build-ups and proposed mechanical and electrical installation plant and equipment. We also provided advice on the most cost-effective solutions for the fire rating of the building and for compliance with the county council site attenuation requirements, both of which included life cycle and materials cost exercises covering different methods of construction.