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.

Often, an HVAC system is designed by the selection of individual components and not by a whole-system approach

Engineers’ daily challenges include calculations for outside air, supply air, and return or exhaust air flows — all while balancing mandated code requirements with owners’ expectations for performance, equipment first-cost, and future energy costs.

Day-to-day operations and the occasional renovation create two sets of distinct threats to IAQ and patient health. From monitoring stations and magnehelic pressure gauges to multiple resources for design and O&M guidance, the author points to recent projects and current wisdom to create a valuable resource.

Done right, going modular can be a good fit for hospitals in search of efficiency. From design to specification to pre-shipment, the process demands engineering attention to the right details at the right times. Get a designer’s notes from experience and learn how to take advantage of what a modular central plant can offer.

Just what the doctor ordered: specifics on pre-filters, after-filters, AHU tips, and more to meet critical IAQ goals and prevent that ventilation system from operating in a “fog.”