The medical construction company, Medical Building Solutions (MBS), is building a turnkey clinic for the Turkish hospital group Acibadem, in the former Municipal Transport Authority’s office in Amsterdam Westpoort. The clinic on the Arlandaweg will carry out diagnostic research studies and perform outpatient treatments and minor surgeries.

More lead lined plaster panels

MBS uses VarioShield panels from Lead2Fix for the protection of spaces housing the CT scanner, mammography and the X-ray equipment. Project leader, Tom van de Groes, says, “We are increasingly receiving more projects in our business with larger diagnostics, and dentists, and that means we are applying more lead lined plaster panels. It is an advantage then if you can deploy products that save time and are easy to use.” Rick Philipart of MBS affirms these words. “In existing office buildings, for example, the elevator space is limited and it’s difficult to manoeuvre large materials. Panels measuring less than one and a half meters can be pushed through the whole building without any problem.”

Choice of building

MBS is a turnkey medical construction company with an impressive track record in the field of medical facilities, including cleanrooms. Van de Groes: “We build and rebuild, renovate and maintain, but we also advise on the choice of building; this choice can have a huge influence on the logistics and functionality of a clinic or cleanroom. Our turnkey concept, both in terms of project management as well as the technical maintenance, ensures our clients have less to worry about.

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Project: Office to clinic conversion
Client: Medical Building Solutions BV
Product: VarioShield

The new Zaans Medical Centre near Amsterdam measures 39,000 m2 and is the first lean designed and built hospital in Europe. All rooms where work is carried out with sources of radiation have been completed by Kwakman Afbouw. It was the first time the company from Volendam used the VarioShieldPlus panels of Lead2Fix.

Logistical solution

Project manager Kees Kwakman is very happy with the handy panels that have a smart overlap: “We used 1.35-metre-long panels, which were much easier to handle than the standard panels. They are much lighter and far easier to manoeuvre when transporting on pallets at the construction site. With this project, where storage room was very scarce, we were constantly looking for logistical solutions, so these panels are ideal. The panels are also very easy to install in small rooms. The whole installation process worked very smoothly: the overlap gives you an immediate radiation-proof horizontal seam.”

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Project: Zaans Medical Centre, Zaandam (Netherlands)
Client: Kwakman Afbouw
Product: VarioShield^Plus
Surface area of lead lined plaster panels: 1,500 m2

Proton therapy is a sophisticated method for destroying cancer tissue, whereby high-energy protons bombard the damaged tissue. At the end of 2017, this treatment will become available in the Proton Therapy Center of the UMCG in Groningen, the capitol of Hollands most northern province. This treatment center will be equipped with a 220-ton cyclotron, which generates the protons, as well as a CT scanner. The foundation will be extra firm, and the roof will consist of three-metre-thick concrete.

Double lead lined plaster panels with overlap

Unipé Afbouw makes rooms subjected to radiation safe for patients and staff. Supervisor Arjan Kregel of Unipé Afbouw: “For the walls of the CT scanning room, we have used double lead lined plaster panels with overlap, each lined with 2 mm thick lead sheets. We have had them custom-made by Lead2Fix. Being 1930 mm by 600 mm, they were easy enough to handle with two people. Also the transport in the elevator was straightforward. All we needed was a panel trolley. No complaining from me about this system,” says Kregel.

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Project: Proton Therapy Center of the University Medical Center Groningen
Client: Unipé Afbouw
Product: VarioShield^Plus
Surface area of lead lined plaster panels: 500 m2