Air changes in some but not all spaces, duct liner here but not necessarily there, rooftop unit requirements … do the rounds and get a feel for the current condition of ASHRAE Standard 170, Ventilation of Health Care Facilities.
When aging, outdated systems at Hardin Medical Center (HMC) provided inadequate cooling and insufficient humidity control, hospital administrators undertook a number of upgrades.
On the mechanical side, a life safety key is providing proper dampers and detection devices for ductwork passing through fire- or smoke-barrier partitions. But that’s just one element in good renovation design.
Today’s hospitals and specialized care facilities integrate a slew of building technologies to ensure all systems function as intended to provide state-of-the-art care for patients.
These days, designs are favoring higher total system capacities, larger generators at higher output voltages integrated into “campus-type” power distribution systems, and security. Review design approaches, lessons learned, and relevant codes.
Consolidation within the healthcare industry and the rise of regional medical centers has led to larger facilities, often spread over a large area in a campus environment.
The history of our battle against infections and airborne disease is fascinating. Expand your knowledge and then sharpen your process for evaluating product options to craft better strategies for reducing these health risks.
One of the worst things you can do is note the capacity and replace the chiller. Have the building loads and usage changed? What about motors and cooling towers? Consider these and your part-load realities to create real long-term improvements.
The replacement of chillers for hospitals and other health care facilities are often done out of absolute necessity, and it is often avoided for as long as possible.