HVAC
MAINTENANCE IS THE MESSAGE
Tom O’Sullivan, from Guardian Water Treatment, a Marlowe Environmental Services Group company, looks at the hidden cost of corrosion potentially undermining the operational certainty and efficiency of essential HVAC in care homes and other healthcare facilities.
When we think about water system issues in the healthcare sector it is usually in conjunction with Legionella, an undeniable risk to the most vulnerable – patients in a hospital or elderly care home residents. Bacterial proliferation not only effects human health, however, it can also cause corrosion in HVAC pipework, compromising temperature and air quality, while leading to inefficiencies, expensive repairs and the potential downtime of these crucial facilities.
Hidden corrosion In closed-system HVAC units, corrosion primarily results from oxygen ingress and microbial activity. Oxygen can enter the system through leaks, improper pressurisation, or during maintenance procedures. Once inside, oxygen reacts with metal surfaces, oxidising and degrading metal.
Microbial-induced corrosion (MIC) from pathogens such as Pseudomonas, is where biofilms are formed, accelerating corrosion processes. While these microbes pose minimal direct health concerns in closed systems, their metabolic activities can deteriorate metal components.
Preventing this corrosion begins with system design, avoiding, where possible the creation of conditions where bacteria can thrive, such as:
Dead legs: Sections of the system with minimal or no flow, known as dead legs, can become stagnant, creating ideal conditions for microbial growth and subsequent corrosion.
Low-flow areas: Regions with reduced water velocity may not effectively remove debris or prevent sediment accumulation, facilitating microbial colonisation and corrosion initiation.
Crevices and seams: Tight spaces, such as gaps between components or under gaskets, can trap fluids, leading to localised corrosion due to stagnant conditions and differential aeration.
Once constructed, pre-commission cleaning and ongoing, preventative maintenance based on real data, will provide the best chance of keeping corrosion at bay.
Seeing the potential Identifying the potential for corrosive conditions is key in this environment. The ‘closed’ nature means issues can go unnoticed until it is too late, resulting in expensive repairs and downtime.
44 | TOMORROW’S FM
In care homes and hospitals, ‘downtime’ is not an option as it can contribute to the reduction of critical services. This issue has been highlighted in a recent report from the National Audit Office (NAO) regarding the £49bn maintenance backlog of the UK’s public service buildings, which, in the healthcare setting, has been directly linked with approximately 5,400 annual clinical service incidents on average, caused by property and infrastructure failure.
Reducing downtime, also means reducing disruption. Where possible, this sector needs solutions for checking the operations of essential assets from afar, which is where real-time condition monitoring has changed maintenance practices over recent years.
The role of remote monitoring Remote monitoring, using sensors to check parameters that can be indicative of corrosive conditions, is a valuable tool in a preventative approach to maintenance. Identifying changes in parameters such as dissolved oxygen, galvanic currents, pressure and temperature, alert FMs to the potential for corrosion, allowing them to investigate and act before major problems arise.
A gamechanger for closed systems in general, and more specifically facilities where access can be an issue, remote monitoring in this way can reduce the need for site visits and unnecessary interventions from ‘routine’ maintenance practices. In closed systems, any intervention has the potential to cause oxygen ingress, so should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.
Prevention is better than cure Preventative maintenance based on ‘real’ need, rather than a schedule will save money overtime and can also contribute to sustainability drives. Flushing, for example, the act of forcing tonnes of water down pipework to clean the system, is extremely water wasting. Using monitoring, flushing is only employed when absolutely necessary. Overall, systems that perform better use less energy, so cost less to run while contributing to carbon reduction.
In the often cash strapped and under pressure healthcare environment, taking steps to reduce bills, downtime and the need to replace essential plant, must be a priority, as outlined by the NAO report. Taking a data-lead, remote approach to keeping crucial HVAC operational is key.
www.gwtltd.com
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