HVAC systems for medical facilities are typically quite sensitive projects. Of course, thermal comfort is important, just like in any comfort cooling application. But hospitals also require safety for both patients and personnel occupying the building, and cooling for equipment such as MRI machines or lasers.

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Requirements in HVAC systems for medical facilities

HVAC systems for the healthcare sector require a somewhat different approach than other applications. That is because of the needs that are specific to the application. But what do medical facilities exactly need?

Medical facilities need an HVAC system that can ensure the health, safety and comfort of patients as well as medical and administrative personnel and visitors. Other than that, medical facilities must filter airborne contaminants, help get rid of bacteria that can spread infections, and provide conditions in which medical procedures, laboratory work, patient treatment and healing activities, in general, can be performed safely and effectively.

With this article we want to stress aspects consultants should absolutely look at when working on projects for the healthcare sector. So, here a few things that in our opinion they should consider when designing an HVAC system for a medical facility.

1 - Temperature control

Thermal comfort in medical facilities is as important as in other applications. Patients recovering from health problems deserve the best possible thermal comfort. Hence, temperature and humidity control is fundamental. Another important aspect when it comes to temperature control is the fact that medical facilities may require different temperatures depending on the specific area. In surgery rooms, for instance, there is often a demand for low temperatures, as surgical teams may be overheated by surgical equipment. This request for low temperature, though, may have a conflicting impact on anaesthetised patients. That is why HVAC systems usually need to quickly recover heat and raise the temperature as soon as surgery is completed.

Another reason why perfect temperature control is crucial is that it prevents specialized item breakdowns. This is the case of lasers and MRI machines, which are essential to patients’ treatment and satisfaction.

Are you interested in Daikin chiller solutions for Hospitals? Check out how Daikin can provide value for health sector applications: Hospital Universitario Infanta Elena de Valdemoro Project

2- Indoor air quality and filtration

Air quality, then, is even more important than comfort. Patients’ immune system is usually weak and their bodies are vulnerable to bacteria, viruses and airborne infections. A thoroughly designed HVAC system can help reduce the density of infectious particles in indoor spaces by introducing clean air, or by recirculating air through high-quality filters, providing filtered air that can even be cleaner than outdoor air.

Do you want to know more about Daikin ventilation solutions for Hospitals? Check out this example of how Daikin can provide value for health sector applications: The New Papworth Hospital project

3 - HVAC systems for medical facilities and energy efficiency

Did you know The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that HVAC systems consume almost half of the total energy used in healthcare facilities? That is most likely what happens in any medical facility, no matter the country. It is fundamental, then, to reduce consumption in this sector to better invest in facilities and service improvements.

Compressor technology

Of course, following energy conservation practices and using effective energy-efficient technologies can help reduce energy consumption. When it comes to HVAC systems and their optimization in terms of efficiency, highly efficient inverter screws and centrifugal compressors are a must.

Do you want to know more about Daikin Inverter screw and centrifugal chiller solutions for Hospitals? Check out how Daikin can provide value for health sector applications: The Tekirdağ City Hospital project

Inverter compressors in particular can adjust their effort based on the actual building load demand in different times of the year or moments of the day. That is one of the most important features to ensure energy efficiency in a facility like a hospital.

Variable Water Flow System

Another aspect that needs to be considered when working on making the HVAC system more efficient is the variation in load demand of the building. To make the HVAC system more efficient it is important that the water flow in the HVAC system can vary depending on the actual load demand of the building. A Variable Water Flow system is the perfect solution to this need. It modulates the quantity of water flowing through the system and ensures that pumps work as efficiently as possible. Thus, reducing their impact on energy consumption.

Then, since HVAC systems for medical facilities are usually integrated groups of units, a system control is usually necessary. Daikin Intelligent Chiller Manager (iCM) helps optimise units operations, allowing them to reach their goal with minimum effort, both in terms of energy consumption and mechanically.

4 - Preventive maintenance and reliability

When it comes to reliability hospital HVAC systems are very demanding. HVAC systems are responsible for keeping high indoor air quality and providing safe temperatures for occupants. Hence, preventive maintenance is crucial as downtime can be a huge problem for patients and have high costs. Repairing problems right away to minimize downtime and being able to effectively schedule preventive maintenance actions is critical for safe operations in a hospital environment.

For these reasons an advanced monitoring tool such as Daikin on Site (DoS) is fundamental. Being able to rely on a tool providing information with a great level of detail is extremely important for plant owners. It allows them to plan preventive actions based on real data. So, it allows us to avoid extra costs associated with breakdowns and downtime.

Here you can find a video describing how DoS can provide value for facility managers.

5 - Noise

Healthcare facilities usually require huge amounts of fresh air for air exchange, so infections can be prevented. Therefore, low-frequency noise from the HVAC system is usually common in such facilities. Also, hospitals usually lack sound-absorbing material, because of the concerns about infection control. Hard and reflective materials that won't help the proliferation of infectious organisms and are easily cleaned are usually the preferred choice in the construction of these buildings.

Noise, not only can affect the physiological processes of personnel, creating a potential risk for communication breakdown and errors. It can also create discomfort for patients who need a quiet environment to heal and recover. For all these reasons it is important to create an environment where noise from the HVAC system is reduced to a minimum. So, to ensure that medical facilities can offer the quietest possible environment to both personnel and patients, it is important to choose units that can provide the lowest possible noise levels.

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