Flowpoint success for Cancer Care Centre

Ultracrete Flowpoint, a rapid set grout with high fluid consistency, used to grout the setts and secure the pathways at Castle Hill Cancer Centre.

The Castle Hill Cancer Centre has recently completed a GBP65m investment programme to improve, expand and introduce a UK centre of excellence for the treatment and care of patients with cancer and blood disorders.

Work started on site in October 2006, with the first foundation stone being laid.

Due to the pure scale of the development taking place and the nature of the care provided at the hospital, it was imperative the work was completed with as little disruption to the patients, as well as on time.

The main contractors, Shepherds Construction , contracted LCD to complete the external landscaping of the hospital.

The main emphasis of the landscaping was to provide a retreat and garden area for the patients where they could relax and walk round.

The need for sturdy and reliable paving was crucial, as many of the patients are potentially frail and unsteady.

Marshall's conservation setts were laid on a sand and cement screed bed and were used to construct the main pathways of the garden areas.

Ultracrete Flowpoint, a rapid set grout with high fluid consistency, was then used to grout the setts and secure the pathways to provide a rigid stable surface.

Pressure was on for the LCD contractors to complete the external landscaping as the deadline for completion was looming.

Adverse weather conditions in January delayed the contractors, which placed more pressure on finding a product that could perform as required.

Ultracrete Flowpoint was demonstrated on site to the contractors, which allowed them to see the exceptional bond strengths, low permeability characteristics, freeze-thaw and environmental erosion resistance with the ability to fill joint widths between 5mm to 50mm and joint depth of 200mm in a single pour.

The contractors were impressed with the product and made the decision to complete the job with Ultracrete Flowpoint.

Ultracrete Flowpoint is a flowable, rapid setting grout, simply mixed with water on site, which facilitates early trafficking.

It is able to accept foot traffic after one hour, when it reaches a compressive strength of 49.6N/mm, a flexural strength of 7.10N/mm, a tensile strength of 3.91N/mm and a bond strength of 1.25N/mm.

The contractors were extremely pleased with the final finish of the product.

It provided them with the sturdy finish they required, an aesthetically pleasing look to the final project and due to the rapid set qualities of the product the contractors were able to complete the grouting of the setts during one weekend.

Mark Jowsey of LCD was extremely pleased with the performance of Ultracrete Flowpoint.

He states, ..."The product is quick and easy to use and is labour saving".

"These qualities allowed us to move other members of staff onto other aspects of the job, to ensure all was completed on time".

The 200m landscape area was completed in April 2008.

The directors of the hospital were pleased with the work that had taken place and the patients now have an external environment, which promotes well-being, recovery and a safe haven they can relax in when the summer months arrive.

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