28 August 2023

Grampians Health has marked a significant milestone with the successful installation of a state-of-the-art $1.3 million Main Switch Board (MSB) at its Horsham campus.

The successful upgrade of the MSB demonstrates our commitment in delivering excellence in patient care while embracing modern technologies.

The new MSB will power the entire site while helping safeguard critical care provisions within clinical areas including the Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit, Operating Suite, Maternity Services and Radiology.

Director of Engineering Darryn Wardle said the six-month MSB upgrade was one of the most complex projects undertaken at the campus in recent years.

"The successful installation of the new MSB serves as a testament to the dedication and expertise of a collaborative effort between a local contractor and our Engineering team,” Mr Wardle said.

“CHS Electrical Horsham was awarded the contract to install the new MSB while our Engineering team was instrumental in assisting with the roll out and making it a seamless process.”

Mr Wardle said the MSB upgrade was necessary due to the previous MSB reaching its capacity and end of life support for electrical components.

“The installation process involved a meticulous sequence of tasks, including the removal of an obsolete generator, acoustic attenuation lining, ventilation louvres and doorways to allow the conversion of the space to house the new MSB,” Mr Wardle said.

“The transition to the new MSB necessitated the cutover of consumer mains and submains, which were seamlessly energised. To ensure uninterrupted operations, temporary generators were strategically deployed to power different areas of the hospital throughout the transition process.”

Mr Wardle said he greatly appreciated the patience and support of all staff at the Horsham campus during the installation of the MSB upgrade.

Pictured; Horsham Engineering team members Josh Rentsch,
Adam Simmons and Darryn Wardle