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HF’s Mechanical division was contracted to install new Thermal Balancing Valves to optimise the circulation of Domestic Hot Water (DHW) services at University Hospital Wishaw. In healthcare environments, maintaining DHW at 55°C or above is critical to minimise the risk of Legionella bacteria forming within the pipework. Proper circulation and temperature control are essential in hospital settings to protect patients, staff, and visitors.
The project was carried out in a live hospital environment, presenting unique challenges. Due to the operational nature of the wards, water supplies could not be fully shut off. To overcome this, HF engineers employed local pipe-freezing techniques, allowing individual sections of pipework to be isolated safely. Thermal Balancing Valves were pre-treated with Sanisil, a universal antiviral disinfectant based on hydrogen peroxide and silver, ensuring the valves were sterilised prior to installation and that overall system cleanliness was maintained.
Following installation in each ward, water samples were taken and sent to a laboratory for testing to confirm water quality and verify that no harmful bacteria were present.
Our Mechanical division were contracted to carry out the installation of new Thermal Balancing Valves to assist with the circulation of the Domestic Hot Water services at the University Hospital Wishaw.
Domestic Hot Water should circulate at 55 degrees Celsius or above to minimise the risk of legionella bacteria forming in the pipework. Maintaining this higher temperature kills of the bacteria and is an essential system for environments like hospitals.
Project Challenges: These works were carried out in a live hospital environment so forward planning and constant communication and consulting with hospital staff was a top priority.
As we were working in a live environment, we were unable to shut off water supplies to the hospital wards and instead had to get creative. We had to locally freeze sections of pipe and install the Thermal Balancing Valves that had been dipped in Sanisil solution (a universal antiviral disinfectant based on hydrogen peroxide and silver) prior to installing to ensure the valves were sterilised and the system cleanliness was not compromised.
On completion of individual Hospital Wards, we took water samples and sent them to the lab to ensure the water quality and that no bacteria was present.
On completion of all works, we issued as installed drawings with valve locations identified so that the hospitals onsite maintenance staff can check the return temperatures regularly and ensure their water system is compliant and legionella free.
Through our group of world-class companies, all run with a family continuity at management level, we can offer our customers a hugely diverse range of services for the UK Private and Public Healthcare sectors.
We have positioned ourselves as one of the leading fitting, installation, maintenance and servicing contractor for everything from Electrical to HVAC systems, Fire, Security and Refrigeration. With significant experience in both the highly sensitive and technically complex environment that is found in laboratory, medical and testing environments; our blend of service and quality is testament to HF’s truly outstanding approach.
Working to the latest in Health & Safety Regulations, we can cover an incredibly wide range of project services covering everything from medical office fittings to complex technological laboratory facilities.
If you would like to find out more about how HF can assist you through our Electrical, Mechanical or Fire & Security Services, please contact us today.
With office in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester, Belfast and Aberdeen, our services span across the UK. Offering clients an unsurpassed level of genuinely in-house capabilities, senior-level hands-on management from initial planning to final handover and the opportunity to tap into a wide range of services and a team of consultants with a skills base and command of technologies which are second to none. We can offer it all across the hospitality sector where you will always find a world class company leading the way in next generation technologies for your business.
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