NHS COVID-19 test laboratories case study

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NHS COVID-19 test laboratories

Fast tracked AHU to meet the demands of COVID-19 pandemic test laboratories.

Four new fast tracked HTM 03-01 compliant air handling units, designed to adhere to their strict healthcare design specifications.

VES were approached by Lorne Stewart to support them with one of their fast-paced programmes to meet the demands of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the aim of establishing feasibility of a ventilation solution for the NHS.

Working in close partnership with ARUP Consultants and Lorne Stewart, VES designed and developed an AHU for the NHS test laboratories, to dilute and prevent microbiological growth.

Client: Lorne Stewart

Sector: Healthcare

Challenge: Fast tracked AHU to meet the demands of COVID-19 pandemic test laboratories.

Success: New HTM 03-01 specified AHUs

Well ventilated environments are critical

Reducing the spread of COVID-19 — Reducing the spread

Challenge

Now more than ever, well ventilated environments are critical, and the main challenge of this project was to provide NHS England and NHS Wales with adequate levels of ventilation in their testing laboratories in line with HTM 03-01 and the laboratories space requirements and budget.

With a strict specification to mitigate the risks of infection at the COVID-19 test laboratories, optimum indoor air quality was top priority of the air handling unit’s effectiveness.

In addition, there was a requirement to ensure occupant comfort for all NHS workers, as well as delivering a high specification product in a short space of time, to support the NHS against the pandemic and also minimising cleaning and maintenance of the AHUs.

Fitted with high grade components, designed to meet HTM 03-01 specification

Solution

Due to the very high technical standards required for the supply air serving the COVID-19 test laboratories, the ventilation units were fitted with high grade standard components, designed to meet HTM 03-01 specification, whilst also meeting NHS Wales shared services partnership’s level of specification.

VES designed and built four AHUs to HTM 03-01 high grade design specification to support the laboratory space and adjoining areas in sectional form, for speed and ease of on-site installation.

Manufactured in controlled conditions at VES factories, incorporating the latest industry standard components, sourced from market leading specialists, the AHUs were completed to the highest standard. The units were produced in a galvanized sterile finish for ease of cleaning and maintenance.

Each unit included split DX coils and multiple stages to allow for redundancy. This was also the same for the fans, being run / standby with EC motors.

We instructed VES to provide us with compliant units, manufactured in the UK with reliable support from design to completion. Another excellent service.

Project Manager