The client – Lloyd’s of London Cooling Tower Lining
It’s essential for brokers to keep their cool on the market floor, and the iconic Lloyd’s of London building is no exception. When the cooling system that helps regulate the temperature within this world-famous landmark required attention, Vistech Cooling Systems, the maintenance contractor responsible for the facility, turned to Sui Generis for our specialist expertise in fibreglass lining and repair solutions.
The project involved essential maintenance and refurbishment of one of the cooling towers located at the Lloyd’s of London headquarters in the heart of the city. Operating in such a high-profile environment demanded absolute precision, minimal disruption, and full compliance with the strict health and safety standards expected at one of the most recognisable buildings in the financial district.
Sui Generis was selected for our proven ability to deliver durable, long-term GRP lining systems that combine structural reliability with corrosion resistance. Our team’s role was to restore the integrity of the cooling tower, ensuring it could continue operating efficiently and safely for many years to come — keeping both the system and the brokers working below in perfect condition.
The problem – cooling tower repair
The cooling towers at the Lloyd’s of London building are essential for maintaining the performance of the air conditioning systems that keep the world’s leading insurance market running comfortably and efficiently. Any issues with the cooling infrastructure could lead to major operational disruption, affecting both the building’s occupants and its energy management systems. Over time, however, sections of the tower’s internal surfaces had begun to deteriorate due to constant exposure to water, fluctuating temperatures, and chemical treatment cycles. This wear and corrosion threatened the watertight integrity of the system and reduced its overall cooling efficiency.
A reliable, long-lasting solution was urgently required to restore the structure and prevent further degradation. Given the importance of the site and the need for absolute quality assurance, only cooling tower linings from the UK’s leading industrial lining experts would do. Sui Generis was therefore appointed to undertake a complete GRP cooling tower relining, providing a seamless, corrosion-resistant finish that would protect the system, extend its service life, and ensure optimal performance for years to come.
The solution – fibreglass lining
The project was a substantial undertaking, requiring the application of 310 square metres of fibreglass lining across three separate cooling towers at the Lloyd’s of London site. Our specialist team worked closely with the facilities and maintenance contractors to plan the installation around the building’s operational schedule, ensuring minimal disruption to business activity. Every stage of the process — from surface preparation and cleaning through to the lamination and curing of the GRP lining — was completed under strict health and safety controls, in line with the high standards demanded by such a prestigious location.
By fully encapsulating the internal surfaces with a durable, high-performance GRP lining system, we were able to restore complete watertight integrity and long-term corrosion resistance. The new fibreglass lining will ensure the cooling towers remain in excellent condition for many years to come, providing a smooth, seamless finish that can withstand constant exposure to water, chemicals, and temperature fluctuations. The result is a robust, low-maintenance solution that guarantees reliability and efficiency at one of London’s most iconic buildings.
A quality cooling tower lining
Vistech Cooling Systems were delighted with the quality of the GRP lining applied by Sui Generis.
The Director of Vistech Cooling Systems was particularly impressed.
He said: “Sui Generis was very responsive and completed all tasks on time. It is essential to trust a sub-contractor as they need to fit in around our schedule. Sui Generis did everything we asked of them and we would definitely work with them again.“
Grit blasted
Sui Generis started by grit blasting the cooling towers’ internal surfaces, then preparing the structures for fibreglass lining. We had to pull 160 metres of hose up the side of the building before we could begin.
Final surface preparation
Noisy work at Lloyd’s of London needs to be conducted when brokers are not in the building. So the surface preparation was completed at weekends to ensure nobody working at Lloyd’s would be disturbed.
Once the surface had been fully prepared the Sui Generis fibreglass lining was applied. Each of the three towers was upgraded separately to ensure the building was fully air-conditioned at all times.
Fibreglass lining complete
310 m2 of fibreglass lining was applied, ensuring the internal surfaces of the towers would be in good condition for years to come. Internal cooling pack platforms were replaced with fibreglass grating to complete the long-term upgrades.