Heating systems
Getting the full package
Lee Kenney, commercial managing director at Merriott, takes a look at the challenges facing healthcare heating specifiers, and what professionals need to know to ensure their emitters effectively meet the requirements of multi-use projects
W
hen it comes to hospitals and healthcare applications, finding a single solution to meet a building’s heating needs can prove a
bit of a struggle. Healthcare buildings are usually diverse, multi-use facilities – with all sorts of different applications all under one roof. From small, individual bedrooms to open-plan reception areas, ambulatory units and big refectories, there is unfortunately no ‘one size fits all’ heat emitter that can meet the heat output, functionality and technical specifications of every individual space. This means that it’s often necessary to treat each one on a case-by-case basis: leaving specifiers with the challenge of finding a variety of heating solutions for one project. This in itself can prove problematic, as there are a lot of factors to bear in mind when choosing the perfect heating solution for a healthcare project: Is this an NHS building? Who is likely to visit the
premises? What are the mandatory stipulations at play? All of these will have an impact on the kind of products that will perform best to meet requirements; the key is understanding exactly what’s out there, and the benefits each of these brings.
Playing it safe
Overall, the most important box to tick when specifying for healthcare is safety. In any building used by vulnerable people, it’s vital that the heating system is set up to minimise the risk of patients burning or deliberately harming themselves. In functional terms, this usually means two things: a lower surface temperature, and anti-ligature protection. Whilst it is possible to put a cover over radiators
to protect vulnerable patients from injury, this approach is not usually recommended, as these
A low surface temperature radiator in situ
have not usually been tested to work in conjunction with the emitter. This considerably lowers heat outputs (increasing energy usage and reducing overall efficiency) and can lead to potentially unsafe surface temperatures. Thermostatic mixing valves are often cited as an alternative way to protect patients – used to reduce the heating system’s water flow temperature (and thus emitter surface temperature), and lower the risk of burns on contact. However, these can easily be changed or tampered with, so they are deemed relatively unsafe for use in hospitals and healthcare facilities.
Picking the best of the bunch
The good news is, depending on the requirements of the space to heat, there are still three main viable heat emitter solutions on offer for healthcare buildings: • Low surface temperature (LST) radiators • Radiant panels • Clinical radiators Once specifiers understand the technological
differences between the three, it becomes much easier to put together the right mix to service multi-use facilities.
LST radiators A radiant panel in situ
LST systems are designed to deliver safe, effective and compliant heating for vulnerable people. Very simply, they help prevent scalding by keeping the surface temperature of radiators within safe parameters. This makes them a popular choice for any room where vulnerable patients are likely to come within direct contact with the emitter’s surface. If specifying for NHS applications, you’ll need to choose an LST that’s compliant with NHS Safe Surface Temperature guidelines. These stipulate that the surface temperature of radiators should not exceed 43°C (for a maximum flow temperature of 80°C). NHS Estates guidelines also state that the emitter should not be accessible, that there should be no sharp edges to cause potential injuries, and that no foreign objects should be able to fall through the top grilles. For an NHS project, it is therefore
18 June 2017
www.heatingandventilating.net
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