Austin Health
Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital
Projects Under $5m — Winner
Same Category — Winner
Operating theatres at a live hospital facility
DMS Floors was engaged to deliver a complete floor and wall covering replacement at Austin Health's Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital — covering four operating theatres and the General Scrub area of The Surgery Centre (TSC).
The project required careful coordination between all trades, high-quality finishes, and adherence to a tight and demanding construction programme — all within a live hospital environment subject to strict infection control procedures. The stakes were high: operating theatres needed to go back online on schedule for upcoming surgeries, with zero tolerance for delays or defects.
The project was delivered so efficiently in its early stages that Austin Health expanded the scope to incorporate additional areas while works were live — DMS still successfully delivered the full package on time and to specification.
What was delivered
- Installation of coved sheet vinyl flooring across 450m² of operating theatre and scrub areas
- Installation of 690m² of rigid PVC wall cladding — Altro Whiterock Satins sheets and Altro Fortis Titanium door protection panels
- Subfloor preparation including diamond grinding, levelling with Uzin NC170 LevelStar, and full coating of Hychem E100 epoxy as a case hardening primer to address subfloor structural deficiencies identified on site
- Wall patching and surface preparation prior to wall cladding installation
- Delivery of all materials into and through a live hospital environment with strict access controls
- Staged works aligned with the builder's programme and site access requirements throughout a 14-month construction period
Managing a critical clinical environment
- Tight programme with overlapping trades requiring weekly site meetings to prevent delays — operating theatres had fixed go-live dates for scheduled surgeries
- Subfloor identified as below acceptable standard early in the project — required an on-site solution without impacting the programme
- Loading 3.0m wall cladding sheets up four flights of stairs due to a small internal lift
- Live hospital environment outside hoarded work areas with strict infection control procedures throughout
- Continuous adjustment to sequencing and labour allocation to maintain programme momentum
- Introduced full Hychem E100 epoxy coating as a case hardening primer — resolved subfloor integrity without timeline impact
- Implemented efficient material handling and manual delivery strategies to manage the access constraints
- Coordinated closely with builder and infection control team to ensure all works met hospital safety and hygiene requirements
Our approach on site
- Strict adherence to site-specific safety requirements, SWMS, and Austin Health's infection control protocols
- Dust control and silica management practices implemented throughout all grinding and preparation works
- Ongoing regular quality inspections throughout installation to ensure zero defects for handover
- Full compliance with all relevant Australian Standards and builder specifications across flooring and wall cladding works
The project was delivered on time and to specification across all areas — including the additional scope added mid-project. DMS Floors demonstrated strong capability in managing challenging site conditions, complex flooring and wall packages, and programme integrity in one of the most sensitive environments in which construction can be conducted. The result: two national industry awards recognising the quality and complexity of the delivery.
DMS Floors was recognised for its professionalism, reliability, and quality of work, contributing to a positive project outcome and ongoing client relationship. This project won the Master Builders Victoria 2025 Victorian Excellence Award for Projects Under $5m, as well as the Master Builders Australia 2025 National Excellence Award in the same category.
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