Client Beaumont Hospital
Location Dublin, Ireland
Equipping Beaumont Hospital with additional EV charging capacity and an upgraded lighting strategy
About the project
IN2 were appointed to provide Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) services for constructing the additional level of Beaumont Hospital’s existing multi-story car park (MSCP).
IN2’s Mechanical Services included replacing current PVC drainage stacks and connections with ones made of stainless steel and providing a background level of space heating to the stair cores that complied with natural ventilation and fire ventilation standards, thereby providing multiple environmental and health benefits. It was also determined by Dublin City Council that although the MSCP provided sufficient ventilation, the car park must be fitted with an automatic sprinkler system.
Much of IN2’s electrical services for the extension were related to the electric vehicle charging provisions. In line with the increase in demand for EV charging stations and Dublin City Council's (DCC) requirements, 20% of all parking must be provided with a facility for Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging. It was proposed that 30 spaces with the extended MSCP are facilitated with EV charging to ensure that the 20% requirement set by DCC is met. As there was no provision for electric vehicle (EV) charging installed in the existing MSCP, it is likely the DCC planning department will only condition the extension of the MSCP to comply with the Technical Guidance Document Part L and condition that the extended MSCP incorporates Electric Vehicle (EV) charging provisions.
Similarly to Car Park 10, the electrical infrastructure required an upgrade. A large 393kWe PV Array consisting of 722 No. PV panels was designed to be installed on the upper deck of the multistorey car park. The panels are to be angle mounted on canopies above the car parking space to maximise exposure to sunlight ensuring optimal energy generation throughout the day. The LV switchgear within the MSCP was upgraded to accommodate the large renewables installs of PV panels and EV charging.
IN2 were also consulted regarding the lighting design; namely how to illuminate dark areas. It is recommended that the current lighting system on the existing floors are to be upgraded to match the system designed for the extended floor, as well as additional emergency bulkhead luminaires. Due to the roof also being extended, luminaires were required to be installed on the underside of the roof to achieve lighting levels of 75 lux beneath the PV canopy and 50 lux around vehicle circulation areas. New Fire Detection and Alarm Systems were provided to the additional floor of the MSCP.
Consideration also had to be given to the plant space and riser space requirements that accommodate the MEP systems, ensuring correct sizing so as not to take up extra space in the car park.
