Enhancing Healthcare Efficiency: The Role of Active Chilled Beams
Healthcare buildings have a diverse range of requirements when it comes to their thermal environment, even more so post-pandemic, because of this it is important that the right HVAC solution is selected to provide the best environment for all building occupants.
The correct HVAC solution can play an important part in the recovery process, helping to stabilize the emotional wellbeing of patients and contribute to the healing process by providing high levels of Thermal Comfort.
Chilled Beams are a tried and tested technology predominantly used in 'owner-occupied' buildings or buildings where the person paying the energy and/or maintenance bills are influential in the HVAC equipment selection/solution. One such sector is 'Healthcare'.
Benefits of Chilled Beam Technology in Healthcare Environments:
- Reduced Risk of Cross-Contamination
- Lower Energy Consumption
- Low Noise / Quiet Operation
- Imporved Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
- Minimal Maintenance
Reduced Risk of Cross-Contamination
FTF Group's Active Chilled Beams have been designed with a closed back to prevent the potentially contaminated void air from getting into the beam and affecting the fresh and circulated air.
They also only induce and recirculated air from within their local area therefore not cross-contaminating air to multiple zones, which could result in germs being transferred between hospital rooms.
Lower Energy Consumption
The Active Chilled Beam (ACB) system operates on elevated chilled water supply temperatures (designed to run 'dry', above dew point from 14°C to 17°C supply temperature) and has no moving parts (e.g. no fans or motors) which provide a more energy-efficient system when compared to a fan coil unit solution.
Low Noise / Quiet Operation
High ambient noise levels in patient rooms are believed to have negative impacts on patients' health and well-being. These impacts can range from a lack of sleep to elevated blood pressure or extended recovery times.
ACB units are designed to contribute to virtually no detectable noise in the occupied spaces, with sound pressure levels which can be below 25dB(A) at 1000 Hz (approx. equivalent to NR 25).
Fan Coil units typically create more noise (high sound pressure) levels, typically 38dB(A) which can have a detrimental effect on patient recovery/ occupancy room comfort.
Improved Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
The ACB will typically control temperature and humidity in the occupied space via the air handling unit with a constant supply of primary air (minimum fresh air ventilation requirements are met at all times) and chilled water (above dew point) for sensible loads.
All of FTF Group's ACBs allow for the air to be distributed evenly throughout a room (5:1 induction ratio) in a controlled manner with the use of the Coanda Effect.
Minimal Maintenance
Due to Chilled Beams having no internal moving parts, they have few maintenance requirements, FTF Group's Healthcare Chilled Beams provide a drop-down battery function due to the removable under plates allowing for the heat exchangers battery to be lowered. This enables full access to the recirculation air chamber, and also full cleaning of all four sides of the heat exchanger battery can take place.
The Chilled Water supplied to Active Chilled Beams is run above Dew Point, so no risk of condensation and don't require drip trays or condensation lines. Dry coil operation substantially reduces risks of bacteria growth.
How can FTF Group's® help?
FTF Group® has a range of Healthcare products which are the perfect application for Hospital & Healthcare application, with expertise dating back some 90 years when FTF Group Troughton Young pioneered the supply and installation of FTF Group® heated ceilings to hospitals across the UK.
FTF Group's Healthcare Active Chilled Beam units are fully accessible from the room space below, allowing for inspection and cleaning of the heat exchanger coil and induction grille to be performed from the lower face of the Chilled Beam unit, without having to remove any ceiling tiles and/or accessing the ceiling void.
All recirculated room air is contained with the 'closed back' Chilled Beam unit, which avoids cross contamination of recirculated air as associated with other HVAC systems.
FTF Group's Healthcare Products:
Eco™ Healthcare (ACB's)
This Healthcare variant of the Eco™ Chilled Beam is ideal for this application, as it has a number of features that allow for deep cleaning and improved maintenance such as drop-down heat exchanger batteries which enable cleaning on all four sides and removable endcaps to allow for internal cleaning. The unit also comes with air vents and drain cocks all accessible from within the room.
Halo™ Healthcare (ACB's)
A key driver in FTF Group's Chilled Beam technology is energy efficiency and with that high-capacity Halo® Healthcare Active Chilled Beams have a small footprint, while still providing high air volumes due to their unique 360° air distribution pattern.
This has helped the Halo® Active Chilled Beams become increasingly popular with the benefits such as freeing up ceiling area whilst still handling significant heat gains and heat losses.
Ultima 300 Healthcare (ACB's)
FTF Group's Ultima 300 Healthcare Chilled Beam features all the same healthcare technologies and benefits of Eco Active Chilled Beams, such as minimal maintenance and easy cleaning.
What sets the Ultima 300 apart is that it is 1-way air discharge which makes it ideal for areas where space is limited or perimeter zones.
To learn more about FTF Group's Chilled Beam technology, click the button below.
You can learn more about the products FTF Group® has to offer by visiting their products page or read more articles about the international projects FTF Group® has supplied on their latest news page. Alternatively, you can contact their UK Head Office on +44(0)1332 295 678 or sales@ftfgroup.com.