Delivering exceptional electrical, instrumentation, data network and ancillary electrical systems solutions for 35 years and counting, H&F Electrical Contractors Ltd. continues to set industry-leading standards and it was no surprise to see the long-established Limerick-headquartered company shortlisted for two prestigious awards at Ireland’s Electrical Awards 2024.
Established in 1989, H&F Electrical Contractors offers a wealth of experience and expertise across all market sectors and has become one of the foremost electrical, network communications and instrumentation contractors in Ireland whilst developing a prestigious client base.
A multi-award-winning company that has successfully completed electrical projects across the construction spectrum, from data centres, manufacturing, healthcare and industrial to the pharmaceutical, commercial, government and technology sectors and everything in between, H&F Electrical was shortlisted on the double at Ireland’s Electrical Awards 2024. In the Large Contractor of the Year category the firm was Highly Commended while the second shortlist was in the Medium Commercial Project of the Year category for completing the electrical installation on the new orthopaedic theatre block at Merlin Park University Hospital in Galway.
H&F Electrical’s experience in HTMI specifications for hospitals has seen them become recognised as experts in this area and they have completed many major projects for the HSE down through the years.
“We have been working on and off at Merlin Park for 20 years,” states Chris McBrearty, who was project manager for the electrical installation of the two new elective orthopaedic theatres. Construction of the new theatre building in the grounds of Merlin Park hospital began in March, 2021 and it was handed over in April of 2022, with surgeries commencing in June of that year.
Representing the next step for operating theatre technology and the highest level resilient power in medical facilities, the development by HSE West Saolta University Health Care Group comprises the 620 sq m theatre building, recovery suite, ancillary accommodation and plant facilities. Both theatres are equipped with Merivaara Q-Flow LED surgical lights and monitor arms, offering best-in-class illumination, colour rendering, and anti-shadow technology.
“The new building is an extension onto the existing hospital, linked via a new adjoining corridor,” Chris continues. “As specialists in healthcare work, we did the full electrical installation and would have had up to 20 electrical technicians on site at the peak of the project.
“The project was highly specialised, including a host of features that you wouldn’t see on a standard commercial installation [theatre control panels, UPS / IPS systems, medical lighting, etc.]. As it’s linked to the existing building, we were essentially working in a live, occupied, acute area. The two theatres, anaesthetic room, recovery bay and associated rooms are all on the ground floor, while the plant room is located on the first floor.”
Not long after the new orthopaedic theatres were developed, H&F Electrical were back at Merlin Park University Hospital for phase one of the construction of the new Outpatients Department – a development which includes a two-storey OPD with parking spaces, bicycle parking, pedestrian footpaths, lighting and associated signage and landscaping.
Working extensively within the healthcare sector, the trusty H&F Electrical team are regularly on site at hospitals throughout Munster and Galway, including University Hospital Galway, Portiuncula University Hospital, Cork University Hospital and University Hospital Limerick, where they were chosen as electrical contractor for the state-of-the-art new 96-bed extension across four floors, which will further increase acute bed capacity in the mid west.
Chris was delighted that H&F Electrical were nominated for an Electrical Ireland Award for their delivery of the new orthopaedic theatre block at Merlin Park University Hospital: “It’s amazing to see your work recognised by the industry and it’s always exciting to be in the running for these awards.”
Employing a top-class team of electricians, apprentices, general operatives, project managers, quantity surveyors, estimators, BIM / CAD specialists, planners, electrical engineers and administration personnel, H&F Electrical Contractors are totally committed to delivering complex projects on time and within budget, with customer satisfaction invariably top of the company’s agenda.
H&F has earned a reputation for excellence, not only in performance, but in quality, safety and service. Safety and quality management systems are certified to Safe-T-Cert and ISO 9001 standards respectively.
The company operates to the strictest safety standards and ongoing training forms an integral part of their Safety Policy.
Over the past three-and-a-half decades, H&F Electrical Contractors have established themselves as standard setters across all sectors, with an unrivalled track record for delivering a wide-ranging portfolio of projects in hotels, hospitals, data centres, leisure centres, offices, industrial units, schools and colleges, courthouses and more besides.
While the company has achieved a lot already, there is much more to come, as Chris intimates: “Even though we have been around for a long time, we are very busy at the moment and these are incredibly exciting times for H&F as we are currently expanding and experiencing a strong phase of growth. We have a lot of large projects on at present, including work at UHL and we are also about to start a new project at the landmark Opera Square development in Limerick city.
“Coordination of the new theatre block project at Merlin Park was managed by BIM, which is the way forward on all large projects these days. As a progressive and client-focused contractor, we embrace the latest technology to consistently achieve the best results.
“It’s true that a company is only as good as its staff and we are very lucky to have a great team of people working here at H&F,” Chris concludes. “I had a wonderful team on board for that project at Merlin Park and they were the ones who got it over the line. We have an outstanding team of about 145 people at the moment but demand for our services is such that we are growing all the time. As I said, these are exciting times.”
H&F Electrical Contractors Ltd.,
Limerick: Mary Rosse Centre 2, Holland Road,
National Technology Park, Plassey,
Limerick, V94 RR8D
Dublin: 3013 Lake Drive, Citywest Campus,
Dublin 24, D24 PPT3.
Tel: 061 417 494 / 01 4693723
Web: www.hfelectrical.ie
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, October 2024, Vol 10 No 10
