What new control technologies or BAS have
you recently specified in a hospital?
PL: Variable Air Volume (VAV) systems in hospitals are
taking hold as they did 20 years ago in laboratory design.
Vendors have begun to make VAV devices appropriate for
the hospital setting resulting in operating cost reductions
and pay backs becoming more reasonable for their
implementation.
When specifying lighting systems for highly
specialized rooms (such as operating rooms),
what challenges or cooling load issues have you
faced?
PL: Proper LED light fixture specification takes into account
not only delivered lumens, but glare protection. The glare
from LED fixtures must be mitigated to prevent reflection on
medical device screens and monitors. LED lighting systems
are actually reducing the cooling loads for these spaces,
especially in OR’s.
What factors do you need to take into account
when designing building automation and
controls for a hospital building?
KK: The buildings are going to be there for a very long time
so the system must be able to accommodate the evolution
of the facility with respect to expansion and change in
technology. Control systems based upon Internet Protocol
(IP) down to the floor level networks with every controller
having an IP address will have the most likely chance of
sustaining over the years as technology progresses.
When designing standby or emergency power
systems, what issues must you pay close
attention to?
KK: Emergency power distribution systems for hospitals are
segregated into separate branches for life safety and critical
equipment, through the installation of dedicated automatic
transfer switches. A third distribution system branch is
installed, with a dedicated automatic transfer switch, for
essential electrical system (generator) equipment loads.
The CEC specifies what types of load categories can be
connected to the emergency system branches.
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