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LABORATORIES
planning. Senior technicians handled complex diagnostics and mentorship, while core technicians performed scheduled preventive work and first-response repairs. Junior technicians and apprentices gained experience under supervision, with measurable improvements in productivity and capability.
Essential qualifications included formal trade certification in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, along with mandatory Safe Handling of Refrigerants accreditation. Additional hospital-specific training covered infection control procedures, gowning and clean-area protocols, and permit-towork systems for high-risk maintenance activities. Proficiency in the hospital’ s BMS and CAFM systems was required, along with manufacturer-specific training on equipment such as chillers and VRF systems.
Although patient safety remains the overriding objective, energy management plays an important role in hospital sustainability. The team’ s integrated efficiency measures directly into its maintenance routines. Clean condenser and evaporator coils improved heat exchange efficiency, reducing compressor load. Regular filter replacement prevented excessive fan energy use.
Leaks – whether refrigerant or chilled water – were identified and repaired promptly, minimising losses and protecting equipment. The BMS was programmed to introduce temperature setbacks in non-critical zones during unoccupied hours, and chilled and hot water setpoints were continually reviewed to avoid unnecessary overcooling or overheating. Even a onedegree optimisation translated into tangible energy savings across the system.
Chilled and hot water air handling unit – inside a recovery unit.
This transformation epitomised a shift from reactive maintenance to intelligent asset management – aligning perfectly with the philosophy of ACCM Airconditioning, where expertise, transparency and comprehensive service delivery underpin every project.
Beyond the machinery lies a fundamental truth: in healthcare, air is part of the cure. The ability to maintain its purity, temperature and pressure is not just an engineering achievement – it is a vital safeguard for every patient who walks through the hospital doors. RACA
voices
A DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION The most significant innovation implemented was the complete digitisation of maintenance management. Transitioning from inherited paper-based records to a fully digital, data-driven system revolutionised operational transparency and reliability.
By integrating the asset database with the CAFM system, the hospital effectively created a digital twin of its HVAC and mechanical infrastructure. This provided complete visibility into every component’ s service history, enabled automated preventive scheduling and allowed data-driven decision-making at management level.
The results were measurable. Unplanned downtime decreased by more than 25 %, maintenance compliance improved and budget planning became evidence-based. Technicians operated with greater efficiency, guided by system-generated tasks and backed by accessible, detailed records.
RACA Journal I March 2026
Chilled and hot water air handling unit. Primary fresh air filters and behind them are the secondary filters for the fresh air supply, which is two of two fresh air supply systems.
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