AGH Solutions, Esri UK and BIS Consult have won the award for Data, Security, Infrastructure at the 2024/25 HTN Now Awards for their RAAC management project at Airedale General Hospital.
Last year, AGH Solutions partnered with digital transformation consultants, BIS Consult, and Geographic Information System (GIS) vendor, Esri UK to design and implement a new data management solution to monitor the Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) throughout the hospital.
More than 80% of floors, walls and ceilings at the 55-year-old Airedale General Hospital site are made of RAAC which has since been found to have a lifespan of about 30 years.
The RAAC surveying process involves a team of eight inspecting 20,000 RAAC planks across 52 departments. Previously, the inspections relied upon hand-written notes and photographs that were manually uploaded and used to monitor any changes.
The digital geospatial system is believed to be the first of its kind and reveals where the highest risk areas are in real time. This data is used to inform the programme of maintenance work, including temporary propping, steel reinforcements and fixing roof leaks and which help to maintain the safe operation of the hospital.
Chris Slater, AGH Solutions Estates Maintenance Specialist, who led the development of the platform with BIS Consult said:“It’s fantastic that the system has been recognised nationally once again.
“The system enables us to programme different frequencies of inspection, record all data in real time and update the central dashboard instantly.
“Digitising our RAAC panel information and inspection process has led to a 50 percent efficiency saving as our team can carry out inspections quickly and efficiently within a live hospital environment.
“It has also helped to improve infection prevention and the health and safety of the areas where inspections need to be carried out.”