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Healthcare Sector
One of the key challenges our healthcare clients face is trying to meet strict hygiene and air circulation standards while operating in legacy buildings or under tight NHS budgets. Full-scale HVAC replacements aren’t always feasible, fortunately, improving IAQ doesn’t have to mean overhauling your entire system.
The first step is understanding your current air quality. By conducting IAQ assessments or installing air quality monitors, you gain real-time visibility over pollutants such as PM2.5, CO2, and VOCs. This data helps you identify problem areas and make informed decisions, whether that’s adjusting ventilation patterns, adding filtration units, or setting up air exchange systems in high-risk zones.
We have deep expertise in the healthcare sector, from compliance with HTM 03-01 to delivering tailored remediation strategies for a wide range of care environments. Whether you're concerned that your current air cleaning systems aren't sufficient, or you want to ensure compliance with UK legislations, speak to us today or explore our services to find out how we can make your healthcare facility more comfortable and safe for both staff and patients.
Relevant services
- HVAC Maintenance
- Fire Damper Testing
- Water Quality Testing
- TM44 Inspections
- HTM Maintenance
- Ductwork Cleaning
AHU Fixes in Devon to meet Hospital HTM 03-01
Objectives
In healthcare, exceptional Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is non-negotiable. As per the NHS's HTM documents (particularly HTM-03-01: Specialised ventilation for healthcare premises), certain rooms like operating theatres require extremely stringent IAQ checks and services to ensure they stay sterile and safe. What many people don't realise is that hospitals use rather unique systems to keep their air exceptionally clean, so an office HVAC can look totally different to a hospital's HVAC system. Despite these units being integral to keeping vulnerable patients safe, servicing hospital Air Handling Units (AHUs) often feels like the Wild West: contractors dangerously cutting corners while their reports and paperwork tell a different story.
At one hospital, an AHU looked fine on record, but we were shocked when we opened it up during our inspection. A frost coil was fitted incorrectly, its fins were totally corroded (possibly a result of its incorrect fitting), and dirt was so impacted in the components that no air was passing through. Staff had kept “maintaining” it by swapping filters and ticking boxes, without realising the unit wasn’t working at all. It goes without saying that the negligence of prior contractors had resulted in physical damage to this healthcare facility's HVAC, potentially resulting in higher rates of infection and disease amongst patients if this issue wasn't fixed promptly.
Solutions
We inspected the AHU, confirmed the faulty coil as the cause, and cleaned what we could. The corrosion and embedded dirt showed the damage of long-term neglect, but the bigger issue was accountability. We advised the hospital to replace the coil and, crucially, to tighten oversight of contractors, ensuring servicing is more than a paper exercise.
Unfortunately, in cases where AHUs have been neglected for such a long time, dirt and debris can become virtually impossible to remove entirely which is why we advised the hospital to pay closer attention to their air quality and HVAC systems in the future.
Results
Our inspection revealed issues that routine servicing had overlooked, highlighting where the AHU had failed and the risks this posed to patients and staff. By addressing the blocked coil and recommending corrective action, we improved air quality, safeguarded health, reduced energy waste, and helped prevent further wear on the system.
The broader lesson is clear: in healthcare, exceptional IAQ protects both people and budgets — but only when contractors are properly held accountable and their work is thoroughly verified.
Challenges
- Neglected HVAC
- Patient health at risk
- HTM Compliance at risk
"It can come as a bit of a shock to realise that even in hospitals, where you could argue IAQ is at its utmost importance, certain contractors still decide to cut corners and create significant issues down the line. HTM documents exist to keep patients safe -- if we don't follow that guidance, we can place people in serious risk. At the end of the day, this is more than 'guidance' because it protects the hospital from liability and prosecution if their patients suffer health complications as a result of their poorly-maintained HVAC systems."
Shaun Doran, Air Hygiene & IAQ Compliance Specialist
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