WATER HYGIENE & SAFETY
technology in diagnostic testing are two such examples. Internet of Things (IoT) devised technology is also an increasingly opted-for aspect of how healthcare services can most effectively be delivered. Ensuring that this advancement extends to the way Estates teams operate is key. Matt Whiting and David Merriman both see the growing appetite for digital products, and the potential for connected service support that these products could unlock as a key area of progress over the coming years. “Digitally connected water controls, and specifically those that can be connected via the internet, have moved on significantly in recent years,” explains David Merriman. “This latest generation of digital taps offers significant benefits, and can help reduce staff workloads, particularly when it comes to proving that compliance guidelines are being met. They can offer improved functionality – such as automated duty flushing – and improved monitoring and data logging.” He adds: “I think the key thing for us as a manufacturer is to help make sure that Estates teams have the knowledge needed to understand just how much value can be unlocked with digital upgrades. Not only do digital products offer improved functionality, but their ability to integrate with BMS and cloud- based systems can really enhance how teams are fulfilling their wider water safety plans. With digital already a force to be reckoned with in product choice, the right conditions to enhance this further, with connected control, monitoring, and even service, have already materialised. That is really promising, because it means that the next step is fully realising the value of those enhancements.”
An evolving picture
Matt Whiting is equally optimistic about the way digital water controls technology can enhance infection control and estates management. He says: “Our service offering is founded on evolving with industry innovations and sector needs and, as David said, products that enable
technology for online real-time video support is also available for when a problem needs to be diagnosed and resolved more quickly than the time it takes for an engineer to visit. This is something we’re actively exploring, and we’re excited to see where this takes our service offer in the near future.”
Obstacles remain
Rada says its service offering is ‘founded on evolving with industry innovations and sector needs’.
future networkability and integration with digital and building controls infrastructure are more commonplace. Digital products are increasingly ‘smart’, and require careful configuration to perform at their best. Making sure that products continue to fulfil important functions like automated record-keeping for compliance means that this specialist and bespoke level of ongoing service support is becoming ever more important.”
Rada’s service team is now working to explore how it can best offer the support that will help each Estates team really get underneath the skin of what IoT has to offer at their site. “Through connecting via artificial intelligence and cloud technology, products can send operating data to a desktop dashboard,” explains Matt Whiting. “We’re exploring how our team can use the intelligence derived from the data to offer remote support. Monitoring can be really valuable, especially where any changes are detected, and swift action is needed. If required, a trained team can step in remotely, or send an engineer to provide on-site support, all with minimal intrusion on the time of estates teams. The
Matt Whiting acknowledges that there are still some obstacles that need overcoming. “While there’s definite appetite for new healthcare builds to be designed with digital infrastructure at their heart, Capital Estates teams may see existing buildings as perhaps harder to upgrade or retrofit with networkability,” he says. “It’s easier for, say, a gym with 20 showers and taps to be networked and integrated with digital control systems, than it is for a hospital with 500 outlets – and even then, healthcare applications will all have their own exacting requirements. The need for flexibility and scalability in any digital service framework is key.” “I think what Matt has said makes the need to work closely with Estates to help such personnel realise the benefits of digital all the more important,” says David Merriman. “Even if upgrades to complex facilities may be off-putting in terms of the short-term challenges, I think we as a manufacturer have a duty to ensure that the sector is staying abreast of the latest innovations, and that our customers understand what these can do in the long-term.”
“Definitely,” agrees Matt Whiting. “While BMS and connected systems are used across the healthcare sector, this has so far been mainly limited to electrical systems. What we’re now witnessing – and across other sectors too – is a steep increase in demand for fully integrated buildings, where Facilities teams can monitor every aspect remotely on a single screen or a control. When it comes to healthcare, we need to be working with Estates to help them realise the benefits this can offer to care delivery and water management.” That means both working
March 2021 Health Estate Journal 55
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