CIAT's high-performance ClimaCIAT™ air handling units (AHUs) are fully compliant with the updated National Health Service (NHS) code of practice on ventilation in hospitals. CIAT is part of Carrier Global Corporation, the global provider of healthy, safe, sustainable, and intelligent building and cold chain solutions.
The new NHS specification set out in Health Technical Memorandum 03-01 (HTM-03-01), was published earlier in 2021 following input from industry and healthcare estate specialists. The code is designed to ensure ventilation equipment installed in hospitals meets the demanding health and safety, environmental, reliability, and resilience requirements of high-quality healthcare applications.
HTM-03-01code
"The ClimaCIAT range is an advanced solution with excellent performance and hygiene features as standard," said Lee Jenkins-Skinner, CIAT UK AHU, and Roof Top Unit Product Manager.
"However, the latest version of HTM-03-01 introduced some new requirements that necessitated the development of additional features and technical adaptions to ensure full compliance across the range."
Weatherproof enclosure
One of the most important additions is the requirement to provide covered access for staff while servicing AHUs located outdoors on a rooftop or the ground. This ensures staff and equipment are protected from weather and the possibility of water ingress while access panels are removed during maintenance.
To address this, CIAT developed a weatherproof enclosure made of galvanized steel that runs alongside the unit, providing complete protection from the elements during servicing work, and preventing dirt and moisture from entering the unit to minimize contamination risks.
The new design minimizes height
To reduce environmental impact, the guidance specifies that components, such as bypass dampers and related gears, must not be made of plastics. CIAT has developed alternative solutions made of steel that perform just as effectively without reliance on single-use plastics.
In further design refinement, CIAT has developed a drain pan made of stainless steel, which is easier to clean and helps maintain hygiene. The design also helps minimize the overall height of the unit.
Stainless steel pan
"Our unique stainless steel pan has a larger surface area, enabling it to meet the specifications outlined in HTM-03-01 without the need to use a deeper base frame on the AHU,” said Jenkins-Skinner.
“This means lower-height AHUs can be used on projects, enabling application in restricted height areas that would otherwise be out-of-bounds.”
ClimaCIAT units
Effective management of condensate water is another focus of the guidance, to minimize the risk of legionella and other sources of contamination. "To this end, drain pipework on ClimaCIAT units for hospitals is fitted with specialist glass (borosilicate) u-bends, enabling service staff to easily see any build-up of deposits by a quick visual inspection.”
Jenkins-Skinner added, "As testimony to the effectiveness of the updated range, ClimaCIAT units are already being deployed in several NHS hospitals across the UK. We believe it offers an outstanding combination of HTM-03-01 compliant design, excellent performance, high-quality build, and competitive pricing."
