Maintenance teams at Frimley Park Hospital near Camberley now have a clever lightweight access solution to a RAAC affected roof after specialist contractor Pilbeam Construction installed a new walkway.

The Sussex contractor which specialises in healthcare settings, worked closely with Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust to design, manufacture and install the new designated load-bearing platform for the £796k project in Surrey.

Pilbeam also removed and adapted the existing walkway, adjusted building services, and completed a phased installation of new walkway sections across multiple roof zones at the hospital.

Frimley Park Hospital is one of several NHS hospitals in England built using reinforced autoclaved aerared concrete (RAAC), a lightweight material widely used in mid-20th century construction which is now known to deteriorate over time.

The hospital opened in 1974 and around 65% is affected by RAAC, including areas such as wards, theatres, maternity units, corridors and intensive care. The RAAC planks have significantly exceeded their original 30-year design life.

While plans for a replacement hospital progress, extensive monitoring, maintenance and remedial works continue across the existing site, with Pilbeam's roof walkway forming part of the work to maintain safe access to RAAC-affected areas.

Alan Corbett, managing director at Pilbeam Construction, said: "This has been a complex but rewarding project which has not only created safer access for maintenance teams, but has helped minimise unnecessary loading on the RAAC-affected roof.

"Our team has vast experience working in healthcare settings and completed this innovative project without causing disruption to healthcare professionals and patients."

Pilbeam began working on the project in December 2025 and it was completed by May 2026. The team used a Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) system to decrease the weight of the new walkway beams, platforms and handrails to cause the least amount of impact on the existing roof structure.

There was only one access route for the length of the project, but with lighter-weight materials in the FRP system, Pilbeam was able to move items efficiently through a single point of access.

Tanka Ambohang, technical project manager at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We were very pleased with the outcome of the work completed by Pilbeam Construction. The new walkway provides safer access for our maintenance teams while helping to minimise unnecessary loading on the existing RAAC roof structure.

"The work was carefully planned and delivered within a busy hospital environment, and I would like to give special thanks to site manager Bill Musa and his team for their hard work, professionalism and commitment throughout the project."

Main contractor Pilbeam worked in partnership with Johnson Design Partnership, Mott MacDonald and SMP Consulting Engineers - Building Services.

For more information, please visit: https://www.pilbeamconstruction.co.uk/