HVAC SYSTEMS
Boiler hire may prove a more cost-effective choice
Carl Webb, HVAC Sales director at Andrews Sykes, discusses the importance of boiler reliability in the healthcare sector, and the implications of boiler performance ‘falling short’.
Healthcare is one of the UK’s most highly regulated sectors – and with good reason. Every aspect of a hospital’s operations is scrutinised in great detail, with each activity, proposal, or solution, the subject of an intense appraisal. Naturally, this process extends to the recommendation and implementation of various facility- related requirements – including the deployment of HVAC equipment – underlining the importance of using contractors and suppliers with a genuine pedigree in the field of healthcare. Given the high sensitivity of healthcare environments, it is hardly surprising that there is strict legislation regarding the safety and efficiency of boiler arrangements deployed on site. Those responsible for procuring such equipment must consider an increasing number of factors before deciding upon the best solution. Selecting the correct boiler is a critical decision for hospitals up and down the country, due in no small part to the fact that making the wrong choice can have long-term ramifications. Opting for the most suitable unit at the first time of asking will guarantee substantial savings on both energy and operational costs.
Constant evolution
The constant evolution of technology means that new, efficient, and environmentally-friendly boiler units are now readily available which, theoretically speaking, makes it more difficult for users to know exactly what is best for them. Sustainability and reliability are two of the key factors that drive boiler selection for every business or organisation, but of course that they are even more important considerations for hospitals and other healthcare facilities. If a hospital’s boiler system is operating below full capacity, there are direct consequences for a number of everyday processes that rely on the constant availability of heating and hot water. When a boiler’s functionality becomes a problem, the best option is to source a replacement, although any installation must be carried out without causing disruption on site.
As a company with an unrivalled track record of working within the healthcare
56 Health Estate Journal February 2019
existing equipment, and subsequently sourcing, and then installing, a permanent replacement boiler. It was thought that a substitute boiler hire would be required for approximately 12 weeks, with a 500 kW unit delivered and set up outside the hospital’s main plant room. Flow and return pipework was then connected to temporary manifolds, which were linked to the client’s existing arrangement, enabling vital amenities to be restored within minutes of Andrews’ engineers arriving on site.
When a major hospital in Lincolnshire required a stand-in boiler on a temporary basis while its permanent equipment was upgraded, Andrews Boilers’ technicians stepped in to help.
sector, Andrews Boilers is adept at overcoming the challenges of overseeing an equipment changeover inside an application that is in use 24 hours a day. So, when a major hospital in Lincolnshire required a stand-in boiler on a temporary basis while its permanent equipment was upgraded, the company’s technicians stepped in to help.
Boiler ‘pinpointed’ for immediate attention
The facility in question was in the process of improving HVAC services, with its boiler pinpointed as an area requiring immediate attention. It was essential that a short-term but practical solution was found once the hospital’s original units were decommissioned, because of the estimated time delay between removing
A quick response to a planned, but reasonably urgent call-out, meant that staff and patients within the hospital were completely oblivious to a potentially crippling boiler issue, negating the need for any emergency intervention. Instead, the entire facility was able to continue running as normal, with the kit only off- hired once the new permanent boilers had arrived on site.
Circumventing the challenges By overseeing the project as described, Andrews Boilers was able to circumvent the many challenges posed by healthcare environments, and ensure a desirable outcome. Failure to do so may have led to patients being moved to other wards or transferred altogether, which would have been disastrous. Having an efficient boiler should be considered a crucial component of managing a hospital or clinic, because of the many processes that rely on the provision of both heating and hot water. From increasing internal temperatures and sterilising surgery instruments, to assisting with cleaning
What professional boiler suppliers should offer
Professional boiler suppliers to the healthcare sector should offer: n Free site surveys at a convenient time. n A full range of boiler units suitable for any application. n Four-hour response times. n Fully manned 24-hour service, 365 days a year. n Technical advice and solution recommendations. n Contingency planning. n Delivery, installation, maintenance, and collection.
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