AIRETRONIC REPORTS ON HOSPITAL BUILDING AND MAINTENANCE IN THE PANDEMIC
By Airetronic Maintenance and Sales
Project Manager of Airetronic Maintenance and Sales ( Pty ) Ltd ( AM & S ), Tony Moodley discusses the process as a subcontractor in multiple turnkey projects building hospitals during the Covid-19 pandemic .
AM & S served as part of teams hand-picked to build and equip hospitals during the first wave of the national lockdown in South Africa . The company was sub-contracted to install temperature control systems in the hospitals . The first hospital they worked on was Clairwood Hospital in Durban , KwaZulu-Natal .
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THE PROCESS The main contractor created their own team from scratch which included AM & S . The subcontractor was involved at the design stage contributing their expertise , mechanical engineers , knowledge of suppliers , experience in the industry and viable solutions . Moodley reflects that the team was able to come together and work effectively to meet the deadlines .
Externally insulated supply air ducts installed at the Clairwood Hospital Block MM , Durban , KwaZulu-Natal .
APPROACH The approach taken by AM & S in all the hospital installations , which began with the Clairwood Hospital , was one that exemplified a solution-based mindset . The installation was done using hybrid type systems .
In terms of equipment , air handling units used were supplied by Trox . LG or Daikin variable refrigerant volume condensers were used , depending on availability . Although 100 % fresh air was used , there was a separate control system installed . This was to ensure that the temperature in the hospital remains constant despite external weather conditions while also maintaining a negative pressure in the isolation wards . This involved contacting LG Korea at some stage to ensure all the software was up-to-date .
OBJECTIVES The objectives of the project for AM & S was to ensure that deadlines were met , and that the temperature control systems were efficiently installed . The sub-contractors also prioritised deadlines and served as a cohesive member of the team .
CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS Moodley remarks that the main challenge which the team involved with the project faced was time . The strict curfew
All images : © Airetronic Maintenance and Sales ( Pty ) Ltd
Four-filter safe-change filter housing with three stages of filtration installed at the Clairwood Hospital . Dirty air is filtered and discharged at high level .
Continued on page 5 GJ Crooks Hospital block B safe change extract system with centrifugal fan .
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