Defence
Client: BESIX Watpac
Location: Edinburgh, SA / Kaurna Country
Located adjacent RAAF Edinburgh Base, the Deeper Maintenance and Modification Facility (DMMF) provides a purpose built facility to accommodate the long-term maintenance and modification requirements for the Defence Force’s fleet of RAAF P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft and RAAF E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft. The construction of the facility reduces the reliance on overseas facilities, enabling a new sovereign capability for Australian Aircraft.
With a broad range of functions, the DMMF provides a variety of functional areas to enable prime contractor Boeing Defence Australia to occupy the facility and provide tailored maintenance of the RAAF aircraft.
Delivered under a partnership between the Department of Defence, and South Australian Government through Renewal SA, the DMMF development reflected a new procurement model to conventional Defence project delivery.
Lucid was appointed as the lead building services design for this project, providing a range of engineering services, including fire safety, hydraulic, mechanical, and electrical design, as well as sustainability consultation.
Under the engagement of head contractor Besix Watpac, Lucid validated the design against early reference documents to ensure functionality, safety, and environmental performance. Lucid were also active in the refinement of the design to assist in realising compliant, constructable and economical design solutions.
A key project challenge managed by Lucid was the design integration of additional, and specialised design requirements from the sites occupying prime contractor, Boeing Defence Australia. Lucid worked closely with the design team, and key project stakeholders to navigate these design elements in a timely manner to effectively interface with the base building elements which were already under construction.
Lucid was also the first consultancy team to embrace the new Manual of Fire Protection Engineering (MFPE) standards on this project, setting a benchmark within the industry. By proactively adopting the MFPE principles, Lucid was active in the early decision to remove traditional foam suppression systems from the facility, aligning with evolving environmental standards and Defence requirements.
Lucid delivered comprehensive building services design across the new development, including:
Foam suppression systems have a demonstrated history of poor environmental impacts, safety risk to building occupants, and general ineffectiveness to adequately control aircraft fires. This was recognised by Defence, who made a clear direction enable alternate options to be explored subject to the completion of case by case risk assessment.
The design of the DMMF reflected a rapid design response to adjustment in Defence policy which was occurring concurrent to the design process. Pro-activity from the Lucid engineering team, combined with close engagement with project and Defence stakeholders enabled a swift change in design approach and the removal of foam suppression systems. By replacing foam suppression systems with water-based sprinklers, Lucid delivered a safer, more sustainable solution, reflecting our commitment to creating a better world through pragmatic engineering.
