Warwick Hospital, operated by South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust in the United Kingdom, undertook a £14 million energy infrastructure overhaul aimed at reducing carbon emissions and future-proofing the facility.

The project was managed by FP Hurley & Sons. The decarbonisation initiative included the installation of water source heat pumps, solar PV panels, window replacements, and enhanced thermal insulation, all working in unison to modernise the hospital’s heating infrastructure. Nearly two kilometres of heating mains were installed, feeding eleven plant rooms and replacing multiple gas-fired boilers.

One of the most critical upgrades was the installation of heat pumps to deliver low-temperature hot water for space heating. The new system required extensive pipework connections between the energy centre and the heat distribution network. This challenge was further complicated by the need to work within a fully operational hospital environment, where safety, patient comfort, speed, and precision were paramount.

To meet the project’s tight deadlines and safety requirements, contractor FP Hurley & Sons relied on Victaulic’s flame-free pipe joining system. Using the StrengThin™ 100 system, FP Hurley & Sons was able to join the thin wall stainless steel pipes quickly and safely without the need for hot works permits, thus eliminating the fire risk posed by welding. The quick installation of Victaulic’s flame-free mechanical pipe joining solutions kept the project ahead of schedule and minimised disruption in a sensitive healthcare environment.

Victaulic’s grooved solutions allowed pre-assembly of pipe spools and rapid on-site installation, significantly reducing labour hours and enabling concurrent work across the site. As a result, FP Hurley & Sons cut the pipework installation timeline by an impressive 80%. The versatile system also enables easy maintenance access, ensuring future serviceability and adaptability of the new heating infrastructure.

The successful outcome at Warwick Hospital demonstrates how innovative mechanical solutions can play a key role in the energy transition of critical infrastructure. Victaulic’s flame-free pipe joining technology not only improved project delivery speed but also upheld the highest standards of safety and reliability – essential in healthcare settings where time and precision are vital. The hospital remained fully operational throughout the installation and now stands as a prominent example of sustainable retrofit in the healthcare sector.