VENTILATION AND AIR-CONDITIONING
248 hospitals in the UK are in locations where air pollution is above WHO- recommended contamination limits. As a result, opening a window in search of ‘natural ventilation’ could expose occupants to the harmful effects of outdoor air pollution. This strengthens the case for a more controlled indoor environment – particularly in urban settings – where mechanical air- conditioning and ventilation manage the air quality. Air pollution also hindered the response to the COVID-19 emergency, as many facilities were reluctant or unable to open windows to increase air change rates to combat the risk of virus transmission, despite expert advice to get more outside air into occupied spaces.
Heavy particulate contamination The WHO also remains concerned that outdoor air continues to be frequently used as supply air for ventilation systems, despite heavy contamination by particulates and other outdoor pollutants. It has called for much more effective use of air filters and room air purifiers in homes, businesses, and buildings with particularly vulnerable occupants, such as care homes and hospitals. Indoor air is often five times more polluted than outdoor air, due to the increased concentration in a confined space, and the mixture and combination of pollutants from both internal and external sources.
Control can be a complex challenge Controlling HVAC systems can be complex, particularly in a highly mixed-use environment like a hospital. It is one of the
The Professional range of air-handlers is ‘uniquely designed and tailored to the individual needs of a project’. ‘Plug and play’ control ‘allows excellent operational flexibility’.
more difficult aspects of any building engineering project, along with the lack of space available on site for building services plant. However, these challenges can often be overcome if good control logic and optimum system sizing, based on closely matching demand to the system’s capacity and performance, are employed. However, this does require the engineering and construction teams to collaborate from an early stage in the design process.
‘Smart’, connected systems also allow building services designers to match conditions more closely to the comfort and health requirements of occupants, because the performance of heating,
cooling, and ventilation equipment can be continuously monitored and adjusted without the need for any physical intervention. Being able to deploy the very latest in wireless technology, underpinning a robust and reliable communication network, also makes it possible to create a more integrated system, that will both maintain comfortable temperatures, and reduce airborne contaminants through air changes and filtration.
Once the system has been designed and installed, however, it needs to be maintained to continue operating properly. Performance will slip gradually over time if any system – however sophisticated – is not regularly monitored.
The TZ chiller range is the result of careful design, aimed at optimising the chiller’s performance for comfort applications in all climate conditions, to reduce operating costs. TZ chillers feature a high-efficiency single screw compressor design driven by Variable Frequency Drive, a large condenser coil surface area for maximum heat transfer and low discharge pressure, high performance condenser fans, and a direct expansion ‘shell and tube’ evaporator with low refrigerant pressure drops.
66 Health Estate Journal July 2021
Benefits of remote monitoring Using a system like Daikin Applied’s DOS (Daikin on Site) remote monitoring means Estates and Facilities managers benefit from a system that is constantly monitored, so that any performance or safety risks are detected at the earliest possible moment. This allows such personnel to keep the system running as it was intended, which is particularly valuable in a critical facility like a hospital. DOS can obtain live operational data from the building, and combine it with statistical predictions using trend analysis. This allows the engineering team to develop a preventative maintenance schedule to ensure the maximum efficiency and reliability of critical equipment, avoiding costly downtime and major repairs. Daikin Applied UK had supplied over 1000 air-handling units to healthcare facilities nationally and internationally, giving the company a wealth of knowledge and expertise when it comes to product benefits and future
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76
