“Hospitals require a balance between maintaining stringent climate control and operational efficiency. We play a significant role in providing systems that safeguard both patients and staff while reducing infection risks,” Burak Kurtulus initiates.
The importance of flexibility and communication
Burak points out that one of the greatest challenges in hospital environments is integrating a wide range of functions —such as heating, cooling, humidification, dehumidification, and, most importantly, pressure and ventilation control. Additionally, the diversity of hospital spaces, ranging from operating rooms and intensive care units to reception areas and restaurants, requires a variety of scenarios and setpoints.
“We have observed that flexibility and communication are key in large hospital projects. It is crucial to design specific scenarios for different areas of the hospital and to be able to expand the number of I/O units. With an open communication infrastructure, expanding and evolving the system over time becomes much easier,” Burak Kurtulus explains.
Growing interest in energy monitoring
Another significant trend Burak has observed among building owners is the increasing interest in tracking electricity consumption. This includes monitoring all electrical devices, such as air handling units and heating systems.
“With M-bus communication in Regin’s system, it’s possible to build a larger infrastructure network with enhanced communication capabilities. This allows for the collection and storage of data from all field components, providing a comprehensive overview through the building management system”, Burak continues.
In critical areas such as intensive care units and infection control zones, it is essential to precisely manage the airflow being filtered through HEPA filters to minimize bacteria and infections. Despite strict ventilation requirements, Burak believes there are still smart ways to achieve energy savings without compromising patient safety and comfort.
“The main energy use in hospitals comes from water consumption. Beyond that, we can reduce overall consumption related to heating and cooling. For instance, VAV (Variable Air Volume) systems can be used for both heating and cooling. Additionally, smart functions like fan-coil thermostats with window-mode, which reduce ventilation flow when a window is opened, can result in remarkable energy savings”, Burak Kurtulus explains.
The benefits of system integration
Burak also underscores the advantages of integrating the building management system with the hospital management system, noting that this synergy leads to increased patient comfort and more efficient use of resources.
“By connecting these systems, we can discover smart ways to manage both energy and operational resources more efficiently. For instance, when a patient checks in, the system can activate the fan-coil system to standard mode in the patient’s room, and when the room is unoccupied, it switches to economy mode. Looking ahead, I’m confident we’ll see even more advanced integration and automation features shaping the future of hospital management”, Burak Kurtulus concludes.