VENTILATION SYSTEMS


maintenance, while backlog maintenance includes outstanding maintenance which has been identified through service reports or risk assessments. Additionally, Minor Works can cover items across estates that require adaption, enhancements, or new installations.


Scheduled maintenance will cover


routine check-ups as previously mentioned, along with detailed inspections that will flag up any issues before they become a fundamental problem. The schedule will be dictated by the


manufacturer’s recommendations or industry best practice, but an Estates manager or their Trust may well have their own itemised check list for added security. Predictive maintenance is an increasingly popular strategy, where ‘smart’ tools are used that gather and monitor data from various points of HVAC equipment to prevent it from failing. Such maintenance is also designed to monitor costs and keep them under control, empowering Estates and Facilities managers to make more informed decisions.


Condition-based maintenance Condition-based maintenance, meanwhile, tends to focus on data and various formulae that will enable engineers to make a judgement on the condition of chillers or AHUs, and assess the likelihood of a component failure. Similar equipment can be expected to operate the same, but when operating several estates over different sites and locations, no two environments will be identical, and other factors that can affect performance may come into play.


It is also prudent to bear in mind that


not every piece of equipment will require the same level of maintenance. Each item of equipment may have a different lifespan, for example. Some estates may focus on a seasonal plan depending on location and geoclimatic conditions – such as coastal locations which present salt-laden environments, or the harsher conditions on the Shetlands, where vertical rain can present challenges to equipment sited externally, and may require more frequent attention to particular systems. Contracts are important, and it is important to ensure that they are specific. Ideally, each site should have a playbook that details exactly how equipment will be maintained. Our industry often reiterates how a good PPM is the strongest defence, and can provide real value in terms of promoting longevity and optimal functionality – and it can. Although labour- intensive and reliant on investment, a PPM enables Estates managers to reduce reactive maintenance, and to ensure that their organisation’s estate and assets are maintained to a desired or needed level. Realistically, however, maintenance is not always ‘preventative’, as certain conditions


Aermec’s Aersave smart compressor can be fitted retrospectively, and will significantly increase energy savings on chillers, the company says.


may require a total replacement, which is not ‘preventative’ at all. A checklist to take stock of your estate’s unique needs is not only a prerequisite, but will also address health and safety concerns. Planned preventative maintenance on


ventilation systems is not just about leak detection per se – of course leaks can result in toxic gases being released into the environment, and can endanger a building’s occupants. A chiller or air- handling unit leaking refrigerant also consumes more electricity. Although the NHS is rolling out a centralised approach to buying energy in a bid to slash costs, individual estates can, by taking preventative measures, significantly reduce their energy consumption, since leakages are estimated to consume up to 20% more electricity. Bearings, filters, and fans, are just some of the other components that need checking attention. Other high priorities to attend to on any


estate can include: n Robust documentation of tasks and tracking.


n Identifying any potential equipment issues.


n Checking for excessive vibration, signs of corrosion, and unusual noises, and for clogged filters.


n Detailed audit trails. n Lubricating and cleaning equipment, and replacing components when necessary.


n Awareness of battery failures. n Water quality in open and closed water systems, and L8 compliance.


The list is by no means exhaustive. Strong testing protocols should also be in place, with regular testing so that you and your staff are well prepared and able to ensure continuity and uptime of chillers and AHUs. Component availability also needs to be considered. Some Estates managers are concerned about the


difficulty of replacing components; this became apparent during the pandemic, with shortages continuing to affect the supply chain. Any PPM programme should factor this in, with critical spares essential to maintaining maximum equipment uptime. Consideration should also be given to remote but regular monitoring of major plant such as chillers and heat pumps by service-providers, which will help provide an early warning of issues that could result in a failure.


The F-Gas Regulations Estates managers need to be fully up to speed with the latest F-Gas Regulations. An F-Gas is any fluorinated greenhouse gas (HFC). F-Gases have high Global Warming Potential (GWP). The UK is phasing down HFCs, which means that the availability of these refrigerants will reduce, and that only recycled material will be permitted. By 1 January 2030, a ban will come into force on refrigerants in chillers recovered, reclaimed, and / or recycled with a GWP greater than 2500 for service and maintenance. The processes for F-Gas Regulations


compliance can seem laborious. Conversely, however, identifying which equipment leaks, from where, and by how much, means interaction with equipment suppliers to reduce leakage rates, prolong equipment life, and allow more time to manage phase-out plans. A PPM can increase the capital costs of your estate, and while it can be tempting to cut corners, short-cuts can be detrimental and costly in the long term. Health estates are diverse and complex, and their maintenance, multi-faceted. Technological changes can also have a significant impact, for instance in the size and scope of equipment. New fan and compressor technologies


and, for example, Variable Speed Drives (VSD) to regulate air flows, can bring


May 2024 Health Estate Journal 53


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