ICS offers life-saving solution

UK: Temperature control specialist ICS Cool Energy has installed an innovative environmental control system in a hospital for BMI Healthcare.

 ICS Cool Energy developed and project-managed the full solution from concept to completion as part of BMI’s annual £40m facilities maintenance programme. It required precise planning in partnership with BMI Healthcare as it was vital for the project to deliver a state of the art replacement for a life-expired system, while overcoming a complex series of technical and logistical issues. 

The installation of a high efficiency chiller and bespoke air handling units for two of the hospital’s operating theatres are said to have posed significant challenges. This included working around restricted space, bespoke designs, tight timelines, rigorous HTM-03 (Health Technical Memoranda, legislation governing temperature control and air flows in life-critical healthcare environments), minimising downtime and ensuring the continued operation of one of the theatres at all times.

To overcome the restricted working and plant room space, ICS Cool Energy’s three air handling units were delivered in flat packs and assembled on site.  The energy efficient Aptus chiller, which is said to offer low maintenance with high energy efficiency from a compact footprint, was specially manufactured to ensure it met the HTM-03 and the space restrictions.

Close controls over temperatures in a life-critical environment were also essential and so a new Trend BMS was installed, allowing integration of controls, with intelligent panels placed in the theatres to allow surgical staff to adjust the temperatures as required.

For added reassurance, the system allows remote 24-hour monitoring backed by an ICS Cool Energy service contract.

ICS Cool Energy team, sales director Richard Metcalfe and project manager Allan Towns worked closely with BMI Healthcare project manager Mark Elphick to deliver the phased programme of works over a period of five months. As part of the programme, the redundant equipment was removed, and with the associated pipework and cabling in place, installation speed was optimised. Engineers also worked over the weekend so there was no disruption to the theatre rooms above the plant room.