[WATCH] Concrete strength at Mater Dei’s A&E ‘low and below specification’

'Skanska informed of Mater Dei structural flaws' - Konrad Mizzi

The concrete strength of the Accident and Emergency (A&E) and Block D buildings at the Mater Dei Hospital were found to be “low and below specification”, analysts Arup found in samples from the concrete cores taken from columns at the hospital.

Arup was commissioned by the health ministry in September 2014 to conduct an independent structural assessment of the A&E building and audit of the concrete strength. Health minister Konrad Mizzi later commissioned them to conduct a review of the entire hospital.

A second inquiry into the civil and criminal liability of hospital engineers Skanska, of Sweden, is being finalised by retired judge Philip Sciberras.

The inquiry should be ready by next week, and the government has already written to Skanska about Arup’s finding’s, demanding an urgent meeting.

The government estimates that the repair works will cost around €30 million, and Mizzi said the government was reserving its right for any legal steps it will take to demand redress.

Arup’s inspection gave assurance that the A&E building was currently structurally sound to safely function on an ongoing operational basis. 

But independent concrete core tests identified that the samples included both hard and softer limestone aggregate, with high porosity and high levels of carbonation.

“This was consistent with observed corrosion of reinforcing steel to columns in untreated undercroft zones,” Arup director Andrew Harrison said during a presentation of their findings at the Mater Dei auditorium.

He admitted that Mater Dei’s structural situation is incomparable to other hospitals he has seen.

“The extent of the problem at Mater Dei is surprising and disappointing,” Harrison said. “It is highly unusual for concrete strength issues to exist in hospitals in this day and age.”

The hospital blocks were designed to have a concrete cube strength of 30 megapascals. Yet the A&E block was found to have a concrete strength of only 18 MPa, while that of Block D only hit 23 MPa.

Block A (29 MPa) and Block B (27 MPa) fell narrowly below their specified strength, while Block C, Block E, the mortuary and the oncology hospital were on target.

The impact of the “below-specification concrete” was assessed using a structural model of the building, to test the seismic resilience of the A&E building. Arup’s assessment highlighted that remedial measures were required to address performance under seismic conditions.

Arup are currently finalising remedial designs for the A&E building and the requirements will shortly be issued for contractor/s to deliver the works.

Remedial works will include reconfiguration of roof plantrooms to reduce loads together with new bracing, the introduction of additional shear walls to provide enhanced stability, concrete repairs to poor condition columns and verification of ties to the external façade.

The remedial works design of Block D and the structural design assessment of Block F are ongoing.

Arup forecasts that all remedial works will be completed by the end of 2016.

Due to these findings and the importance of the hospital as a public facility, health and energy minister Konrad Mizzi further commissioned Arup to review all of the other buildings across the hospital campus.

The A&E’s structural problems were identified back in August 2014, after government-appointed contractors were asked to carry out tests on the building’s columns and infrastructure. The tests were carried out as part of the government’s plan to build a floor above the A&E building, creating space for an additional 68 beds. Following the tests, the government identified a site across the road from the emergency department as an alternative for the new ward.