Walsgrave Hospital, one of Coventry’s most important NHS facilities, operates 24/7 and has more than 1,000 beds. Its cold-water network is critical to trauma care, emergency services and a wide range of specialist treatments. But when the system required an urgent upgrade, the hospital turned to Grundfos for support.
The situation
Grundfos was commissioned to upgrade three critical booster sets that supply the hospital’s high-level storage tanks, which feed the entire cold-water network. With hospital operations at stake, any disruption could have serious consequences. Combined with a highly complex installation, the project quickly became a major challenge.
Access to the remote plant room was extremely restricted, complicating the transport and installation of new equipment. The existing configuration of tanks, pipework and boosters added further complexity. And on top of that, the water supply needed to remain fully operational throughout the installation, meaning that there was no room for downtime.
The solution
To meet these demands, Grundfos developed a carefully staged installation plan in close collaboration with Mitie and mechanical subcontractor Bmech.
The team began with detailed site surveys to map constraints, plan equipment movement and define the safest, most efficient installation sequence. To reduce time on site and maintain full quality control, the booster sets were pre-assembled at Grundfos premises. They were then dismantled into manageable sections, transported through restricted access routes and reassembled in the plant room. This transformed a potentially complex installation into a controlled, efficient operation.
Maintaining an uninterrupted water supply was critical. To achieve this, the team installed temporary bypass lines, enabling the three high-level tanks to operate in an interconnected mode, ensuring continuity while each booster system was replaced in sequence. On top of that, all on-site work was carefully scheduled overnight and during weekends to minimise disruption.
To meet the hospital’s strict infection-control standards, high-grade, stainless-steel CRNE pumps were selected for their robust, corrosion-resistant performance. The system also underwent full chlorination and certification to comply with the hygiene requirements of a modern hospital.
The outcome
Despite complex logistics, limited access and the need to maintain continuous operation, the upgrade was delivered safely, efficiently and without disruption.
The installation of three new MPC E Hydro booster sets has strengthened the reliability and resilience of the hospital’s water infrastructure, ensuring a stable supply to its high-level storage tanks. And overall, the project has earned high praise from the hospital’s facilities team.
"Grundfos handled a highly complex upgrade with exceptional professionalism. Their planning, communication, and technical expertise meant we never had to worry about disruption to hospital operations. We would gladly work with them again on future projects."