Air conditioning systems control critical variables in health centres: temperature, humidity, ventilation and air filtration. Indeed, the objective of air conditioning in hospitals is not only to provide comfort to patients and medical and nursing staff; but also, to offer appropriate conditions for the operation of operating rooms, laboratories, intensive care units and others. Having an appropriate design and layout of these systems will guarantee the control of factors that may affect patients or favour their recovery. And, in parallel, obtain more precise analyses, images and diagnoses and surgical procedures carried out in optimal conditions.
COVID-19 reaffirmed the importance of air conditioning in hospitals
In particular, air conditioning units play an essential role in patient safety in healthcare facilities. A large number of these structures admit patients with a wide variety of diseases, many of them dangerous and airborne. Taking into account the vulnerability of patients, it is essential to maintain adequate ventilation and temperature control. In this regard, it is pertinent to remember that the recycled contaminated air that circulates between the rooms could be harmful to patients.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of air conditioning in hospitals has only increased. In these circumstances, the quality of the indoor air and the proper functioning of the ventilation systems were decisive. Rooms that house patients infected with this pathogen require proper ventilation to prevent the virus from spreading. In this way, the protection of both patients and plant personnel is more effective.
Well-designed and arranged air conditioning systems make the air more comfortable. But they also help reduce the risk of cross-contamination and improve patient outcomes, increasing their quality of life.
Why is air conditioning necessary in hospitals?
Due to their nature and purposes, hospital facilities differ from other buildings, given the presence of various factors, among which the following stand out:
- The demanding conditions of hygiene and environmental quality that they require and to which they contribute: the design and construction of the building, the maintenance staff and the air conditioning systems in hospitals.
- The admission of patients with various pathologies; many of them with certain weaknesses in their immune system.
- Various dependencies require specific air conditioning and ventilation needs.
- Generation of high heat loads by some medical equipment.
Apart from the above, there are risks of transmission of microbes, bacteria and other pathogens among those who attend health care facilities. That is, between patients, medical and nursing staff, people who accompany or visit the patient, administrative staff, etc. Likewise, there are common environmental risks derived from the use of medications through aerosols and chemical products for cleaning and disinfecting spaces. In addition to other eventualities of a biological type, such as the dispersion of certain pathogens (legionella, staphylococci and aspergillus, among others).
As if that were not enough, nosocomial infections affect, on average, 7% of hospitalized patients. Every year, more than 4 million people in Europe suffer the consequences of these infections and about 38,000 die from them. In Spain alone, there are around 3,000 deaths a year due to these pathologies, which also cause extra costs in the order of 5,000 million euros.
Factors to take into account for air conditioning in hospitals
For all these reasons, the installation of air conditioning systems in health care centres, as well as the control of the ambient air that circulates in their spaces, is essential. In fact, its incorporation is a norm in the most advanced countries, without it being influenced by the climate of the site where the building is erected.
However, the design and planning of air conditioning in hospitals have a very different approach than other applications. In this case, engineers and suppliers consider a number of aspects, apart from thermal comfort. As we said, these infrastructures must be part of the security measures for patients, doctors, nurses and others who converge on these establishments. Furthermore, they must provide the necessary cooling for rooms such as laboratories and rooms occupied with MRI, X-ray and laser equipment. On the other hand, it is pertinent to take into account efficiency, since air conditioning systems can consume significant amounts of energy.
How does thermal comfort influence?
Certainly, hospital facilities are part of the buildings that support strong opposing variable loads throughout the year. Something that we can verify in the operating rooms, rooms that require cooling and heating, regardless of the weather season. The aforementioned spaces require lower temperatures so that surgeons and nurses are more comfortable while performing surgery since, during surgery, they use gowns, caps, gloves and masks that can cause them to overheat. Likewise, operating theatres require cold, to avoid overheating the surgical teams. Once the operation is finished, the air conditioning systems must quickly recover the heat.
Similarly, thermal comfort is associated with the rapid recovery of patients with various pathologies. For example, heart patients require cool environments, sufficiently ventilated and with intermediate humidity, due to their difficulty in blood circulation. While patients with chronic lung conditions, tracheotomies or receiving oxygen therapy, they need to be in warm and humid places. Specifically, with a temperature of 27ºC and 60% relative humidity.
Air quality and filtration systems, essential for air conditioning in hospitals
Of course, we must not forget the importance of air quality within hospital facilities to control airborne disease transmission. Lines above, we mentioned the relevance that air conditioning and ventilation systems gained during the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes air exchange and filtration through mechanical ventilation, which simultaneously brings in filtered outside air and exhausts inside air. Such a process helps to minimize the density of particles potentially harmful to health in interior spaces.
On the other hand, it is essential to consider the use of these filters in air conditioning systems according to their efficiency levels. There are four levels in the classification of these devices. Specifically, level 4, known as HEPA, is recommended for high to very high-risk areas.
Low noise technology
Of course, the noise produced by some air conditioning equipment in hospitals can cause discomfort among patients. They require an environment that allows them to relax in order to recover faster. Consequently, it is a priority to choose air conditioning units that generate the lowest possible noise levels.
Energy efficiency
Last but not least, energy efficiency is another factor to consider in relation to air conditioning in hospitals. Air conditioning systems typically consume almost half of the electricity required in these buildings. In this sense, compressor and free cooling technologies are the most recommended for the continuous operation of large medical care centres.
In particular, total or partial free cooling makes it possible to dispense with mechanical cooling when external temperatures are very low. The latter help cool the water used for industrial processes and feed air conditioning systems.
Intersam assumes air conditioning projects in hospitals
With our 27 years of experience in the design and development of custom heat exchangers, at Intersam we are qualified to take on air conditioning projects in hospitals in Spain and anywhere in the world. We manufacture all types of refrigeration and air conditioning systems: air-water, water-air and air-refrigerants, with advanced technologies that provide maximum energy efficiency. Contact us and learn about our wide range of refrigeration and air conditioning!