Restoring Compliance and Reliability for a Hospital’s Critical Fuel System
The problem
The Hospital’s existing fuel storage system and storage tanks, which provided gas oil to the boiler backup infrastructure, had deteriorated significantly due to advanced corrosion. Following failed OFTEC and NDT inspections, the tanks were formally condemned over three years ago.
Without a compliant and reliable fuel system, the hospital’s ability to maintain essential heating and emergency backup supply was at risk, posing potential safety, comfort, and operational challenges for patients, staff, and visitors.
Several site challenges required careful planning and coordination throughout the project delivery. The hospital’s requirement for uninterrupted 24-hour access to medical oxygen supplies meant that all operations and access had to be precisely scheduled and managed to avoid disruption. In addition, temporary car park closures, asbestos testing and removal, and the logistics of multiple contract lifts for both the decommissioned and new tanks demanded site management to maintain safety and compliance throughout the project.
Our Solution
Once the new installation received approval, RSM Fuel Services took full responsibility for managing the project from start to finish.
The works commenced with the safe decommissioning and removal of the existing fuel tanks, which were cleaned by way of man-entry, craned out, sectioned, and disposed of in full compliance with environmental regulations.
The existing bunded area was then thoroughly cleaned, prepared, and a new reinforced concrete base was installed to provide a solid, level, and compliant foundation, essential for the long-term integrity and safety of large-capacity fuel storage systems.
Several site challenges required careful planning and coordination throughout the project delivery. The hospital’s requirement for uninterrupted 24-hour access to medical oxygen supplies meant that all operations and access had to be precisely scheduled and managed to avoid disruption. In addition, temporary car park closures, asbestos testing and removal, and the logistics of multiple contract lifts for both the decommissioned and new tanks demanded site management to maintain safety and compliance throughout the project.
The Outcome
RSM Fuel Services fabricated, supplied and installed a new 70,000 bunded steel storage tank, complete with an offset fill point to enable safe, convenient fuel deliveries without disrupting hospital operations. To provide additional safety and security, it was decided that the new tank would be positioned within the existing bund of the previous tanks.
The new system was fully equipped with mirror gauging, high and low-level alarms, and a fuel recirculation unit designed to maintain product quality and help to prevent and remove any risks associated with contamination from sediment or water build-up. All associated fuel pipework was replaced with stainless steel press-fit to the boiler, providing a compliant and corrosion-resistant solution ideally suited to critical environments.
All usable fuel from the temporary tank was transferred into the newly installed tanks through a modular filtration system, before the temporary system was safely decommissioned and removed from site.
To safeguard ongoing compliance and performance, the hospital’s entire fuel infrastructure, including the new storage tank, pipework, and fuel recirculation system has been incorporated into a three-year Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) contract managed by RSM Fuel Services.
What began as a routine OFTEC inspection and NDT testing exercise ultimately evolved into a fully managed turnkey replacement project, delivered end-to-end by RSM Fuel Services. The hospital now benefits from a compliant and future-proofed fuel storage system, ensuring reliable boiler backup capability for years to come.
