The St. Franziskus-Stiftung Münster is one of the largest denominational hospital groups in Germany: 14 hospitals, over 4,000 beds, facilities for the disabled and eldery and hospices. It goes without saying that running this many facilities entails a huge amount of energy consumption. And in view of the increasing cost pressure, the outdated AHUs in many of the hospitals ‒ some over 20 years old ‒ were a growing problem. They can no longer adequately ventilate newer extensions. “There are no longer any spare parts for many of the fans in the ventilation systems,” explains Verena Gölkel, press spokeswoman for the Foundation. It was high time to replace them with newer models.
No sooner said than done. The Foundation turned to its in-house experts from FACT GmbH, its subsidiary for technical services. Markus Prinz and Markus Prior, Building Automation Division Managers at FACT, looked around the market for EC fans and came across ebm-papst and its sales partner Breuell & Hilgenfeldt. They supplied the modern EC fans from the RadiPac and RadiFit series, with which FACT was finally able to replace the old, belt-driven and energy-intensiv AC fans.
Markus Prior
Building Automation Division Managers
FACT GmbH
“We from the field of building automation always look at the ventilation systems holistically.”
Markus Prior
Building Automation Division Managers
FACT GmbH
Markus Prinz
Building Automation Division Managers
FACT GmbH
“Our team is responsible for efficient and save operation within in the Franziskus-Stiftung.”
Markus Prinz
Building Automation Division Managers
FACT GmbH
Verena Gölkel
Press spokeswoman
St. Franziskus-Stiftung Münster
“Over 15.000 employees work in our facilities and care for the ill, elderly and disabled people.”
Verena Gölkel
Press spokeswoman
St. Franziskus-Stiftung Münster
Saving energy while patients sleep
An additional reason for the retrofit: a new set of guidelines from the Association of German Engineers (VDI) in 2018. For the first time, this allows hospitals to switch off ventilation systems for certain operating areas partially or completely at night.
“30 percent of energy saving potential is a lot”
Verena Gölkel explains why the retrofits are so important.
“The aim is to keep the energy consumption low in the long term”
Markus Prior on the scope of the retrofits.
Convincing benefits
The plug-&-play RadiPac and RadiFit EC fans offer many advantages for retrofits: they can precisely adjust their speed and work extremely efficiently – regardless of the power level. The result: the system always delivers the exact amount of air required at all times, ensuring optimum indoor air quality while maximizing energy efficiency.
“We require an incredible high level of reliability”
Markus Prinz explains how the fans from ebm-papst optimally met the requirements of the retrofits.
For a reliable working environment
The conversion to EC fans in five of the Foundation’s hospitals is already showing clear results. In addition to significant energy savings, the AHUs ensure an optimal indoor climate ‒ to the benefit of patients and staff alike. These results have impressed the Foundation: it is now planning to convert the other facilities to EC fans as well.
“Saving over 270.000 euros per year”
Markus Prinz talks about the considerable energy and cost savings achieved by refurbishing the 18 AHUs.
The new VDI guidelines
The control system distinguishes between Class I rooms (operating rooms), where shutdown is possible after cleaning and run-on time, and Class II rooms (e.g. examination rooms), which can be switched off completely. This new option promises considerable energy savings for hospitals.
To make optimum use of this energy-saving measure, FACT has developed special control panels. These allow medical and cleaning staff to control the AHUs easily and intuitively.
Once all the rooms requiring control are no longer in operation …
… and cleaning has been completed, …
… the control panel displays the time remaining until shutdown. (Graphics | FACT GmbH)
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