VENTILATION
Traditional belt and pulley fans are no longer permitted within HTM 03-01-compliant AHUs. The additional benefit to the use of EC fans is their space-saving installation and maintainability. Most EC fans can be installed and changed over in 20-30 minutes – due to their low weight, simple mounting arrangement, and streamlined wiring process.
demand from clients for air-handling unit (AHU) refurbishments and upgrades. This kind of approach will be key as the healthcare sector looks for better energy efficiency and healthier indoor environments without the need for substantial rebuilding work. Many clients with systems that are typically more than 10 years’ old are looking to improve performance, but without the cost of having to replace complete units. As a result, we have been asked to ‘refresh’ hospital AHUs by replacing key components, upgrading to new technologies, and recommissioning.
Extending operating life As well as improving day-to-day operation, upgrading an AHU can substantially extend its useful operating life, and provide additional indoor air quality (IAQ) benefits. This saves upfront capital costs, cuts increasingly expensive energy bills, and reduces the client’s environmental impact by minimising embodied carbon. End-users are now far more aware of the need to improve airflows in occupied spaces to reduce the spread of airborne viruses and other contaminants following the hard lessons learned during the pandemic. Also, with annual flu and cold epidemics coming around again this autumn, more are looking to make their buildings more infection-resilient, but ideally without incurring any further high energy costs.
Full survey for wear and tear The DAPUK team carries out a full survey of the AHU to check for wear and tear in components like heating and cooling coils, filters, and supply and extract fans. As well as improving airflows and energy efficiency, replacing or repairing fans will also reduce noise, which can be another
88 Health Estate Journal October 2023
symptom of impaired performance, and a source of occupant complaints. Working on the heat recovery elements is another important consideration when looking to reduce energy consumption. Going down the refurbishment route means that an installed AHU can also take advantage of new technology such as EC motors, which are more efficient and reliable than the AC motors used in many installed AHUs. They are quieter, and run at a lower temperature, so have a longer operating life, as well as being less likely to fail. EC fans also have fewer components than AC equivalents, so need less maintenance, and are less expensive to install.
Specific healthcare requirements The healthcare sector has some specific requirements in this area, and the DAPUK team has been tasked with refurbishing fans, coils, and filters in several hospitals. This can also involve upgrading to a ‘plug and play’ option for the fans, allowing the on-site FM team to rapidly drop in replacements for critical areas like operating theatres so that any downtime can be minimised. The company is currently embarked on a large AHU upgrade project at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, which includes changing filter frames to ensure they comply with HTM specifications. Motor and inverter upgrades are also being carried out, and new replacement intake sections and heat exchangers form part of the next stage. This work is not restricted to Daikin Applied products, as the team is more than happy to work on all makes of AHU on behalf of clients increasingly looking to extend the life and operating efficiency of their existing services. We can offer full or partial ‘refurbs’, and
the project can also be staged to allow the system to keep operating to minimise
James Henley
James Henley, Product Development manager, joined Daikin Applied UK in 2007 as a Contracts engineer, delivering project solutions to specification. He then progressed into AHU and Chiller sales, before becoming the company’s Chiller Product manager, and now the Product Development manager. He said: “Having worked
throughout the business I feel I have a well-rounded knowledge of the HVAC industry, offering the best solutions to individual applications. Daikin Applied is a world-leading company delivering cutting-edge HVAC solutions to the market. My role in product development helps shape future solutions that exceed demands.”
James Henley also heads up the Technical Team – assisting the company with technical assistance, training, and product development requirements, and the Marketing Department, bringing together his sales and technical expertise to deliver relevant communications to the market. He said: “Daikin Applied is an exciting place to work; applications we work on vary from data centres and healthcare facilities to commercial buildings. We strive to lead the way in product and system solutions for reduced energy usage, reduced costs, and optimised indoor climate.”
downtime throughout the refurbishment process. Full sections or single components can be replaced depending on the condition of the unit. This is an important business area for the company, and will only grow into the future – not just because of the obvious operational and business benefits, but because improving critical equipment in vital settings like healthcare is a major social responsibility and, simply, needs to be done for the benefit of vulnerable patients and NHS staff.
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