Omni Centre Car Park Achieves Prestigious SIRAS Gold Certification
The Omni Centre’s multi-storey car park has been recognised with two major honours: the SIRAS Gold Certificate from LRQA 2025 and the British Construction Industry Award (BCIA) for Environmental and Sustainability Initiative of the Year 2023. These accolades mark the £5 million refurbishment project, delivered by Makers Construction, as a leading example of sustainable infrastructure renewal in the UK.
The Omni Centre, one of Edinburgh’s busiest leisure destinations welcoming over four million visitors annually, was acquired by Triple B in April 2024. Its 990-space underground car park, built in 2002, had long suffered from flooding, chloride-induced corrosion, and repeated failed repair schemes. The comprehensive refurbishment has now transformed it into one of the most resilient and sustainable car parks in the country.
LRQA is an independent, global provider of assurance services, including certification, assessment, inspection, and advisory services, focused on managing risk and driving sustainability for clients across various sectors. Formerly Lloyd’s Register’s Business Assurance & Inspection Services division, the company now operates under the LRQA brand to reflect its dedicated focus on providing these services and its commitment to a digital and sustainable future.
LRQA experts have developed the Structural Integrity and Resilience Accreditation Scheme (SIRAS) to provide a standardised framework for corrosion management, with assessment, accreditation and an online register to strengthen resilience across the lifecycle of assets.
Tackling Structural Challenges
Makers undertook a detailed diagnostic and repair strategy, addressing critical deterioration with advanced corrosion protection and structural upgrades:
• Impressed Current Cathodic Protection (ICCP): Installed across 11,000m² of decks, ramps, and beams using titanium wire and conductive mortar.
• Sacrificial galvanic anodes: Deployed to more than 1,700m² of repair areas.
• Migratory Corrosion Inhibitors (MCI): Applied to 15,000m² of concrete surfaces.
• 32,000m² of Triflex epoxy coatings: Protecting against water and salt ingress.
• Civil works at entrances: Improving surface drainage to prevent future flooding.
The ICCP system, divided into 34 remotely monitored zones, allows engineers to continuously manage and optimise performance—extending the structure’s life by at least 25 years.
Sustainability Impact
By avoiding wholesale concrete replacement, the project saved over 36 kilo tonnes of embodied CO₂ emissions. Remote monitoring reduces invasive maintenance needs, further lowering environmental impact and lifecycle costs.
Double Recognition: SIRAS and BCIA
The refurbishment became the first pilot under LRQA’s Structural Integrity and Resilience Accreditation Scheme (SIRAS), recently earning the Gold Award for excellence in lifecycle performance, safety, and sustainability.
In addition, the project was crowned Winner of the BCIA Award for Environmental and Sustainability Initiative of the Year 2023, a category celebrating the most impactful contributions to sustainable construction. The victory saw Makers triumph over industry heavyweights including Balfour Beatty, Vinci, Skanska, and Costain.
“We at the Omni Centre are thrilled to have received confirmation that the corrosion management work performed on our multi-storey car park meets the highest standards of best practice,” said Martin Botha, Centre Manager at Omni Centre Edinburgh.
“Winning the BCIA award and achieving SIRAS Gold demonstrates our commitment not only to safety and quality but also to environmental responsibility.”
Simon Lamb, Managing Director of Makers, added: “It’s a real honour for an SME like ours to be recognised alongside major contractors. To win the BCIA award and the project has now earned a SIRAS Gold Award underlines the exceptional credentials of the Omni project and the dedication of our partners.”
A Model for the Future
Executed in phases over two years—including delays due to the pandemic—the Omni refurbishment is now a national benchmark for sustainable repair strategies. The dual recognition by SIRAS and the BCIA cements its position as a landmark achievement in UK construction and asset management.