Technical guidance: HVAC and chiller systems
is important that healthcare engineers and their estates managers prioritise switching out the old, and soon-to-be outdated and redundant units, and, wherever funds permit, replacing them with more energy-efficient units to improve on running costs.”
What particular training should those operating and maintaining HVAC and chiller equipment in the healthcare sector undergo? RichardMetcalfe: “UK certification body, Refcom, states that all staff carrying out installation, maintenance, or servicing, of stationary refrigeration, air-conditioning, or heat pump equipment that contains, or is designed to contain, F-Gas refrigerants, must hold the relevant designated qualifications stated in EC303/208. There are a number of training facilities nationwide which enable individuals and organisations to comply with the latest government legislation and laws with minimal inconvenience. “The length of the training depends on
A TAEevo chiller designed for smaller applications.
refrigerant recovered during servicing, maintenance, and disposal, other ‘relevant information’, including the company or individual technician who performed the servicing, and details of which equipment the work was undertaken on. “The regulations apply
to all sizes and types of organisation. If you employ sub-contractors to maintain the equipment, you must also ensure that they are fully qualified to
work on the units, but you cannot apply for certification on their behalf.”
What is the most interesting project that you have worked on? RichardMetcalfe: “In my case I would say a county hospital project that we undertook last year.We designed and installed a bespoke product that had to meet specific vibration and noise criteria. The application utilised every division at ICS Cool Energy to provide prompt support in time of crisis. “The project involved a variety of
how experienced the particular engineer is; less experienced engineers need around five days to complete the course, whereas more experienced professionals could complete it in two. “However, there are institutions now that
are offering new qualifications which demonstrate that learners are F-Gas Category 1 competent once they have successfully completed either units 230 and 530 together, or units 209 and 509 together, each comprising a multiple choice test, and a practical test. This means that, instead of attending longer courses, they can complete these modules within a short timescale, and become immediately more ‘useful’ to their employers, and then, subsequently, return to finish the course over two or three years while they are working.
What about the importance of good record-keeping, particularly when working with refrigerant gases? AdamSpolnik: “It is, of course, important to keep records for all F-Gas maintenance, and a register of all activity for any refrigerant equipment that is on site, as these will be checked by local authorities, or the Environment Agency, to ensure that the company is compliant, and is employing qualified professionals. “Industry regulations stipulate that
records of all maintenance should be kept for each system with more than 3 kg of HFC equipment. The records must include the quantity and type of F-Gas refrigerants installed in each system, the quantity of
24 Health Estate Journal September 2013
building types, including a number in listed areas. In order to remove the existing chillers and install the new units, rental chillers were temporarily installed by our rental division, to keep the hospital up and running throughout the installation. “The ICS Cool Energy Service team
decommissioned all the existing units, and carried out full commissioning on completion of the project. The fully customised turnkey solutionmeant little input fromthe hospital was actually required.Working in partnership, we provided sales, rental, and service temperature control solutions, ensuring minimal downtime, and a comfortable environment for the clinical and non-clinical staff, patients, and visitors, to the site.
Changing customer needs “Not so long ago, our customers were only concerned with cost efficiency. But now, pretty much our entire customer base is looking for a solution that encompasses reliability, efficiency, and reduced maintenance costs.We are also urging customers to plan ahead, especially as R22 refrigerant is being phased out of older units. Organisations need to think about the consequences now, and not start the process when the legislation is fully in effect, or when old equipment fails. The advice that we give is based on the best solution for the client, and not purely on the commercial benefit. Maintaining our integrity, and the quality of the advice that we give to the client, are very important to us.
AdamSpolnik: “I think the most interesting project I’ve worked on was scanner-oriented, with quite a sensitive demand on flow rate and pressure. The ‘linac’ scanner units in question were positioned in a low flooring area, and we had to engineer solutions to meet critical flow rates and pressures. It took a special design solution with a large crane lift; temporary chillers while the old units were swapped out, and sensitive new chillers that had to be carefully handled. The specification was very complex. During the installation, we had to balance the pipes in the surrounding area, and take into consideration the gravitational pull from the equipment. There were four scanners and four units – one unit independent to each scanner. This was no box-shifting exercise; we designed a solution that used all of the teams and departments within the company, and we relished the challenge.”
Reference 1 Sustainability in the NHS. Health Check 2012. NHS Sustainable Development Unit, February 2012 [
www.tinyurl.com/7xaauob].
About the ‘interviewees’
RichardMetcalfe RichardMetcalfe, sales director at ICS Cool Energy, has worked in the temperature control industry for the past 24 years, starting as an apprentice engineer with one of Europe’s largest refrigeration and air-conditioning companies. Progressing through the business by taking on a variety of responsibilities, he joined ICS Cool Energy in an internal sales support role 18 years ago, advancing through its service andmaintenance divisions to lead the company’s Northern and Scottish sales division. His leadership helped to grow ICS Cool Energy five-fold. In 2012 he became director of End User Sales.
AdamSpolnik AdamSpolnik, director, has worked in the sector for 20 years, spending the last 10 of these with ICS Cool Energy, where he followed his father into the business. Currently heading up the HVAC division, he works with a number of consultants and contractors daily to supply hospitals, data centres, and process companies, with ‘leading edge solutions’.
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