WATER HYGIENE AND SAFETY
Operating states, for example ‘Low battery’, are clearly displayed on the side- mounted LEDs. With Click and Touch, many parameters can be quickly and easily changed. With these functions, a short off-period for cleaning the tap, or a continuous flow, can be activated when required.
Demonstrating sustainable water-saving
Where sites are driven primarily by environmental requirements to improve sustainability targets by lowering water consumption and reducing energy costs, estates managers can trial Conti+ products for a three- to six-month period with water meters attached. This enables organisations to accurately measure the real savings, in terms of hot water energy and quantity of water used, before deciding whether to install the taps across more of the sites.
Another critical issue for estates teams is to have sensor products which can be maintained with ease, including the management of any required spare parts. Above deck access on selected Conti+ products gives access to filters, solenoid, and battery, from above deck. The ‘crown’ of the Ultra is secured against tampering with an Allen key, and can then be easily removed for maintenance without the need to reach difficult-to-access areas under the washbasin, or within Integrated Panels Systems (IPS) or vanity units.
Standardised spare parts
Spare parts across most Conti+ products are also standardised, which means the estates team need only stock a limited number of parts for servicing tap and shower units. Units are powered by standard AA batteries, without the need to purchase from specialised suppliers. Keeping their healthcare facility’s water system bacteria-free remains one of the major challenges for healthcare estates teams, especially on large and often ‘sprawling’ sites. In most facilities the process of water management is very reliant on the human factor, with weekly, monthly, and quarterly demands to safeguard the system, with regular flushing to keep water from stagnating and at safe temperatures, especially in showers, to avoid scalding incidents. The key principle behind such regimes is to ensure that water is clean and safe with no or little biofilm present – remove biofilm and you can provide a positive, non- harmful water environment without hazardous bacteria. A potential major worry for estates managers is having to rely on people who are not necessarily engineers to undertake part of the routine – for example being reliant on medical staff, rather than a healthcare engineer, to run taps and showers in a clinical area instead of estate teams. On any given day
The raised height option from the CONTI+ ultra, with built-in timer.
can we be sure that the staff member will not only carry out the process, but equally that will they run the tap/shower for the correctly specified time?
Simplifying systematic management The Conti + CNX water management system – already in use at over 150 European healthcare sites – is designed to simplify the systematic management and monitoring of water systems in large healthcare facilities. The software system, which is fully customisable for individual client needs, can connect up to 150 taps, showers, or urinal controls within a range of up to 350 metres, into one control box, with settings such as hygienic flush and thermal disinfection controlled in the intuitive software. Via wireless operation, using the tablet included in the standard delivery, it is possible to change settings, call up status information, activate individual and group functions, and access recorded data, with options available for differing levels of access across the team. Reports are saved in PDF format, and can be printed or shared with ease. Managers can also be notified by text alert should there be any
Paul Musgrove
Paul Musgrove, UK Development manager, Conti+, has over 30 years’ experience working closely with partners, and ‘executing practical, technical, and affordable’ water management solutions to healthcare clients, including NHS Trusts and private clinics. Having spent the past 12 years specialising in water-related products for healthcare, he has also worked at a senior level with government officials in Botswana to deliver five new hospitals over four years ‘in very challenging conditions’, in a project that also included the development of new communities, housing, and schools. He says: “Understanding how water is stored and
delivered across often complex buildings is critical to the development – as a manufacturer – of new products where infection can be reduced, via an awareness of pathogens in waterways. The management of water is always a careful balance between sustainability, hygiene, and usability, with the need to keep pathways moving and clean.”
October 2019 Health Estate Journal 73
maintenance issue from any of the connected taps, showers, or urinals, ensuring a quick response to any issue. Whether a regular or date-driven routine is required, various sanitary rooms, device groups, or individual fittings, can be controlled individually or by group. Multiple programs can be stored per single fitting, while multiple program selection simplifies parameter maintenance for a large number of fittings. Battery power to each individual unit is only required for back up in the event of a power failure, as all devices are powered through the CNX system. Through easy to understand colour- coded messages and notifications, estates managers can be kept up to date in real time on system activities, highlighting any anomalies, which can be investigated quickly and efficiently.
Complementary functions Complementary functions such as a cleaning or operation stop complete the valve management. The uncomplicated and easy-to-understand operation is applied at all levels, with a ‘drag & drop’ facility making easy work of the set-up. All software updates can be automatically transferred to the electronic units and the converters whenever the CNX Controller is connected to the internet via LAN. Integration into any building management system is ensured by the Conti+ CNX water management system via an API interface.
Conti+’s firm understanding of user requirements, and its appreciation of, and expertise in, the scaleabilty of water management offers healthcare estates teams a wide range of product and system choices that can support their water management objectives. We recognise that each site is different, and should be individually assessed and a plan drawn up to ensure that its water management truly fit for purpose.
hej
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 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160
