SPECIALIST VENTILATION


Each of the extract streams from the building is combined and diluted in the internal ventilation system, with one combined exhaust stream then taking all fumes out into the open air.


combined and diluted in the internal ventilation system, with one combined exhaust stream then taking all fumes out into the open air. This includes air from the offices, labs, containment devices including fume cupboards, WCs, and other rooms, further diluting the air taken from the fume cupboards, and reducing the risk of impact on the surrounding buildings.


Wind tunnel model created The building’s height and urban location prevented the traditional application of flues to be set to terminate at 25% taller than the building height, which would be the most common method of dispersal, with air exiting at high velocity and consuming a large amount of energy in the process. The optimum height for the flues had to be worked out in conjunction with the planners, who saw them as a statement feature for the building. To do this, a physical wind tunnel model was created, and tests carried out to find a solution which set the heights and efflux velocity from the flues and minimised energy consumption, while keeping the dispersal safe at potential receptors on adjacent buildings and nearby air intakes. The emphasis was on finding a solution which was right not just for the height of the building, but equally for its location. The intake of air to the building was another consideration for the team. A number of additional laboratory buildings are located nearby, in addition to the A40 Westway, all of which emit


46 Health Estate Journal September 2020


The primary concern associated with the treatment of air is the absolute safety of those inside, plus the creation of a dispersal solution which doesn’t negatively impact the surrounding area.


fumes which could lower the quality of the air being taken in. The design therefore considered the impact of a new lab building on the area, developing an understanding of the air quality around the entire site, and ensuring that air intakes are located away from the A40, bringing cleaner air into the building. Each floor has its own plant room, with supply air- handling units providing fresh air to the labs on that floor. The location of these rooms was carefully selected to ensure security of supply – with all rooms linked together vertically to create a ‘plant tower’. This means that if one unit is out of action for whatever reason, the connection to the others allows them to pick up the slack and supply that floor until the problem is fixed. This design also allowed utilisation of a space on each floor which the fit-out made unsuitable for labs or offices due to its size.


An energy-efficient solution The treatment of air, and its dispersal into the atmosphere, are among the main energy-consumers for any laboratory building. The primary concern associated with the treatment of air is, of course, the absolute safety of those inside, along with the creation of a dispersal solution which doesn’t negatively impact the surrounding area. However, the project team was also tasked with creating an energy-efficient way of achieving this. The commitment to lowering energy usage means the air can’t be dispersed at a high velocity, although


safety is the overriding requirement. Low velocity exhaust reduces the Watts/litre/ second of electrical power consumed by fans, and thus requires less energy to adequately disperse the fumes. The dispersal system considers the direction of prevailing winds, taking into consideration the risk of a chemical spill occurring at particular wind directions, and using these figures to optimise dispersal velocity, leading to a reduction in fan power, and allowing the dispersal of fumes with less energy. In many laboratory buildings this isn’t the case, with a high-powered approach preferred to ensure a wide dispersal. The façade of the building also incorporates ‘passive measures’, such as high levels of daylight, to reduce energy consumption.


Treatment of patients


Another element of the project is still to be completed – one which means the building will have another important use. The first floor will be set aside for clinical work and research, meaning that innovations will be put into practice rather than just theorised. The floor has also been configured to house ultraclean operating rooms, allowing for surgical procedures to be carried out in situ. The second floor has advanced facilities for 3D printing of joints and carrying out musculoskeletal research, while the basement will house MRI and CT scanners, providing further tools to allow patients to be assessed and treated at White City.


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  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92