The coronavirus outbreak has increased awareness of hygienic room climate issues, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems in hospitals.
If planned poorly, or not serviced properly, air conditioning units can quickly turn into transmitters of disease-causing germs.
In response to this Weiss Technik has further developed its innovative recirculating air-cooling system which helps to prevent the growth and spread of bacteria, mould and viruses.
Vindur Top was developed specially for use in hospitals, on wards and in examination rooms and is often used as a supplementary or retrofit solution if the existing primary building climate equipment is no longer sufficient and additional cooling is required.
Now Vindur Top is equipped with a new, unique four-stage safety concept for the special requirements brought about by COVID-19. The innovations are:
- HEPA filters: A two-stage filter concept filters 99.99% of all micro-organisms, bacteria and viruses from the air
- UV lamps reliably kill viruses, germs and bacteria that have accumulated on the particulate air filter
- An antimicrobial interior coating: The inner plates of the cooler are coated with silver ions which destroy viruses, bacteria, germs and mould
Thermal disinfection: After the unit is switched off, heat exchangers and condensate drip tray are heated sequentially for about 10 minutes to approximately 70°C. This dries out the biofilm resulting from the cooling process, reliably killing micro-organisms and viruses
Hygienic air-cooling units are recirculating air systems which are often used as supplementary or retrofit solutions if the primary building climate equipment is not dimensioned sufficiently for all rooms, or if additional cooling is required.
But, as air cools, condensate can form, providing a breeding ground for bacteria and mould.
These develop in particular while the unit is not running, and can be spread to all rooms when the equipment is put back into operation.
To prevent this, Vindur Top is equipped with a two-level filter (intake side PM1/≥ 50%, pressure side PM1/≥ 80% or H14 as an option to prevent viruses).
To improve hygiene further, the units can be equipped with optional thermal disinfection.
This newly-developed method effectively prevents the growth of micro-organisms such as bacteria and mould in the air-conditioning unit.
Here, the heat exchanger and condensate drip tray are heated and dried completely in turn, controlled by a humidity sensor, so that all micro-organisms are safely destroyed.
The air-cooling units can either be mounted on the ceiling or, equipped with intake and pressure side duct connections, integrated into a suspended ceiling.
And they have an energy-efficient EC fan and a cooler with condensate lifting pump.
Air quantity and temperature can be controlled easily and comfortably via the DDC control with web visualisation using the room control panel or touch display.
In addition, the smooth surfaces make them easy to clean and disinfect.
Malcolm Youll, managing director of Weiss Technik UK, said: “Viruses and bacteria can spread very easily, which is particularly dangerous in rooms with sick patients.
“That’s why it is so important to ensure these areas have optimal air hygiene.
“Our new hygienic air-cooling unit, Vindur Top, helps to provide hygienic cooling and prevent the growth and spread of mould, bacteria and viruses.
“And, once installed, all maintenance and service work can be carried out quickly and easily, and thanks to the web visualisation, all installed parts and operating states can be checked and monitored at all times.”
