Siniat’s GIB X-Block system saves 15% on costs at Baralaba Hospital’s X-ray unit

The GIB X-Block system from Siniat was specified for the Medical Imaging Department at Baralaba Hospital in remote Queensland. Replacing the traditional lead-lined ply typically used to line X-ray units, GIB X-Block lining system not only reduced the amount of material required but also eliminated the need for additional wet trades, reducing costs by 15% in the project.

The project and product

The $11 million upgrade of Queensland’s isolated Baralaba Hospital was completed in 2011, replacing an ageing 77-year-old timber complex that needed to be updated to meet fire safety regulations.

However, the X-ray linings specified in the hospital’s Medical Imaging Department presented a number of logistic and installation challenges for the contractors, Thompson Building Group.

“The initial specifications for the X-ray units were for lead-lined plywood, but we challenged this on two grounds: performance and cost,” said Garry Rosetta, Thompson Building Group operations manager.

“After demonstrating the material, contractor and subsequent cost savings from using the GIB X-Block system, the architect gave it the go ahead.”

The result

The remoteness of Baralaba meant that using lead-lined ply – regardless of the cost of the initial material – would have increased transportation, supply and installation costs by at least 15%, Rosetta explained.

“If the head contractor had used lead-lined ply in the unit it would have increased costs significantly as we would have had to get another contractor out there to install it,” he explained.

“But with GIB X-Block, there was no need to engage another contractor. It was just a matter of putting the order in for the material and we could do it ourselves.”

According to Rosetta, the additional need to ‘sheet’ the lead-lined ply with an impact-resistant lining further strengthened the case for GIB X-Block, a specialist plasterboard and jointing system, which has its own impact-resistant characteristics.

“If we had used lead-lined ply we still would have had to sheet an impact-resistant sheet over the top,” he said. “So by using X-Block we streamlined not only the materials required, but also the amount of installation work needed.”