Timber cladding that had been proposed for use on the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital in Smethwick near Birmingham but failed a fire test is expected to be replaced by a terracotta product.
Minutes of a special meeting of the Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust estate major projects authority committee detailed how the larch product which had been planned for use on levels 6-9 of the building had “very unusually” failed a fire test.
The back-up terracotta product, which is already being used in every area below level 5, has passed its fire test and will now replace the larch product.
A thermowood product used to clad internal wards also failed a test and will be replaced.
The minutes of the meeting detailed how the terracotta, manufactured in Spain, would be more expensive to buy and install.
The extra cost of the terracotta cladding will be covered by a contingency fund. The Trust also expects to save £100,000 every three years by not having to strip and re-stain the larch product. However, the Trust has been unable to make a successful instance claim in respect of the unsuccessful cladding.
Balfour Beatty was appointed to complete the Midland Met hospital in December 2019, replacing Carillion, which collapsed in 2018 before the hospital could be completed.
