TROX CLEAN BEAMS SOLVE HOSPITAL HYGIENE PROBLEMS
01/08/2007
The TROX Design Bureau has developed a new range of chilled beams specifically for the health care market. The Clean Beams incorporate all the inherent advantages of standard chilled beams, together with features that make them ideal hygienic solutions. In particular they are easily maintained and cleaned without allowing room contaminants to migrate to and from the ceiling void or supply ductwork.
Leading air distribution systems provider, TROX UK, has supplied more than 500 DID 600 Clean Beams to the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital, Brighton, in a contract worth around £150,000. The beams will assist the hospital in meeting increasing demands to reduce air borne contaminants in clinical environments.
The new 100-bed hospital, which provides inpatient facilities, including intensive care and outpatient services for children, has been re-developed on the main Royal Sussex County Hospital site, and opened in June 2007. The hospital recognised that a properly designed air conditioning and ventilation system was paramount to its success in eliminating air borne infections, as well as meeting its need for energy efficiency under the BPED (Building Performance Energy Directive.)
The beams are installed in the hospital’s wards and administration areas. Each is completely demountable allowing maintenance staff to clean every component easily and quickly. Maintenance is a single person operation.
Ian Sams, Business Manager at TROX UK, said: “Once you have hinged the face down it exposes an isolation valve to the coil. You can then disconnect the coil and take it out allowing it to be cleaned. You can also clean the area behind the coil within the body of the beam. These areas are cleaned while the air is running so it is under positive pressure.”
Chilled beams work on a dry process, ensuring there is no moisture on the coil to allow dust and dirt to collect. “That is very important for hygiene,” said Mr Sams. “Everything is accessible from the face of the beam, avoiding the need to climb up into an adjoining ceiling. When people move ceiling tiles, there is a danger of dirt being dislodged and falling into clean areas, contaminating them.”
The beam also contains no sharp edges and no joints – all the surfaces are smooth, adding to the ease with which beams can be cleaned.
The NHS has published a set of rules about hospital ventilation but these are interpreted differently by different health authorities, however TROX can adapt its beam to suit individual authorities’ requirements.
Mr Sams added: “We have also developed a hingeable coil. Rather than isolate the coil and take it out you can disconnect the far end of the coil and let it down on a guide wire to an angle of about 45 degrees, allowing you to clean it without stopping its operation.
DID 600 ceiling induction combines the airflow characteristics of ceiling diffusers with the energy benefits of load dissipation using water. They are particularly suitable for use in low ceiling void spaces because of their shallow construction. When connected appropriately they can be used for either individual room or grouped zone control.
