Applications by Sector
HVAC for Hospitals and Healthcare Environments
High-reliability systems for surgical centers, ICUs and critical areas
High-reliability hospital HVAC systems for surgical centers, intensive care units (ICUs), laboratories, diagnostic imaging and inpatient areas. HEPA H13/H14 filtration for infection control, ±0.5°C temperature precision, 40-60% RH humidity control, configurable positive/negative pressure and 15-25 air changes per hour. Full compliance with ANVISA RDC 50, NBR 7256, ASHRAE 170 and international standards. N+1 redundancy for continuous operation of mission-critical areas.
Talk to SpecialistTechnical Specifications
Process Requirements
Environment with positive pressure (+15 Pa minimum), HEPA H14 filtration and unidirectional laminar flow for high-risk surgeries (cardiac, orthopedic, neurosurgery). Minimum 25 air changes per hour with 100% treated outside air.
Medium-risk surgeries with controlled turbulent flow. Positive pressure relative to corridor and HEPA H13 filtration. Minimum 20 air changes per hour.
Circulation areas, scrub rooms, supply rooms and post-anesthetic recovery. Intermediate pressure between operating rooms and external areas. F8/F9 filtration.
Individual control per bed or bay with continuous parameter monitoring. Positive pressure relative to corridor. Minimum 12 air changes per hour with HEPA filtration.
Critical environment for premature newborns. Precise temperature and humidity control for thermoregulation. HEPA H14 filtration and positive pressure.
Rooms for patients with airborne infectious diseases (tuberculosis, COVID-19). Negative pressure (-2.5 Pa minimum) relative to corridor. Exhaust with HEPA filtration.
Rooms for immunocompromised patients (transplant, oncology). Positive pressure (+8 Pa minimum) with HEPA H14 filtration for patient protection.
Precise cooling for the superconducting magnet (cryogenics) and exam room climate control. Non-magnetic materials mandatory. Thermal load of 30-100 kW depending on equipment.
Climate control for CT equipment with 15-40 kW thermal load. Temperature control for X-ray tube and detector stability.
Environment similar to surgical center for invasive cardiovascular procedures. Positive pressure, HEPA filtration and temperature control for sensitive equipment.
Controlled environment for biochemical, hematological and microbiological analyses. Microbiology areas with negative pressure. Benches with local exhaust.
Collection, processing and storage area for blood components. Cold chambers for red blood cells (2-6°C), platelets (20-24°C with agitation) and plasma (-20°C to -30°C).
Medication storage per product specifications. Cold chamber for thermolabile products (2-8°C). Calibrated dataloggers at multiple points.
Reception (dirty), preparation and sterilization (clean) and storage (sterile) areas with pressure cascade. Heat and humidity exhaust from autoclaves.
High-turnover area with variable thermal load. Trauma and resuscitation rooms with requirements similar to surgical center. Isolation for suspected cases.
Comfort climate control for patients with individual or zone control. Adequate air renewal and filtration for indoor air quality.
Technical Analysis
Hospital HVAC: Patient Safety and Infection Control
The hospital HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system is one of the fundamental pillars for patient safety and the control of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Unlike commercial buildings, hospitals require precise control of multiple environmental parameters, redundancy for continuous operation, and compliance with specific healthcare industry regulations.
Hospital Infections and Air Quality
Epidemiological studies show that up to 20% of hospital infections are related to the airborne transmission of microorganisms. An adequate HVAC system can significantly reduce this risk through:
- HEPA Filtration:H13 (99.95%) and H14 (99.995%) filters remove 0.3 μm particles, including bacteria and viruses in aerosols.
- Differential pressurization:Pressure cascade prevents contaminant migration between areas.
- Air renewal:Contaminant dilution through adequate air changes (15-25/hour in critical areas).
- Humidity control:Humidity between 40-60% RH minimizes pathogen survival and patient comfort.
Classification of Hospital Areas by Risk
NBR 7256 and ANVISA RDC 50 classify hospital areas into risk levels that determine HVAC requirements:
| Level | Areas | Filtration | Air Changes/h |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 3 (Critical) | Surgical center, ICU, transplant | HEPA H14 | 25 |
| Level 2 (Semi-critical) | Wards, outpatient clinics, laboratories | F8/F9 + HEPA H13 | 12-15 |
| Level 1 (Non-critical) | Administrative areas, reception | G4/F5 | 6-8 |
Redundancy and Reliability
Critical hospital areas cannot be without air conditioning. Redundancy strategies include:
- N+1:An additional unit for every N required units.
- Multiple chillers:Minimum of 2 chillers, each with 60-70% of total capacity.
- Emergency generator:Backup electrical power for 100% of the critical HVAC load.
- 24/7 Monitoring:BMS system with alarms and automatic backup activation.
- Preventive maintenance:Rigorous program to prevent unscheduled failures.
Diagnostic Imaging: Special Requirements
Diagnostic imaging equipment has specific thermal requirements:
- Magnetic Resonance:Superconductive magnet requires cryogenics (liquid helium at -269°C). Exam room with 30-100 kW thermal load. Non-magnetic materials mandatory.
- Computed Tomography:X-ray tube generates significant heat. Thermal load of 15-40 kW. Temperature control for image stability.
- PET-CT:Combination of CT requirements with radiopharmaceutical handling area. Negative pressure in hot lab.
- Linear Accelerator (Radiotherapy):Bunker with radiation shielding. Thermal load of 20-50 kW. Ventilation for ozone removal.
Sector Challenges
The HVAC system is fundamental for HAI prevention. Inadequate filtration, incorrect pressurization or insufficient air renewal can contribute to outbreaks of airborne infections.
A typical hospital has dozens of environment types with different temperature, humidity, pressure and filtration requirements. The system must serve all simultaneously.
Hospitals cannot stop. The HVAC system must operate continuously with high reliability. Maintenance shutdowns must be planned and minimized.
Critical areas (surgical center, ICU, diagnostics) require N+1 or higher redundancy. System failure can result in surgery cancellation or patient risk.
MRI, CT scan and other equipment have specific thermal requirements and high thermal loads. Cooling failure can damage equipment worth millions.
Patients with infectious diseases or immunocompromised require rooms with negative or positive pressure, respectively. Precise control is essential for safety.
Hospitals are intensely regulated by ANVISA, health surveillance and accreditation bodies (ONA, JCI). Non-compliance can result in area or facility closure.
Hospitals are major energy consumers, with HVAC representing 40-60% of total. Optimization is essential for financial and environmental sustainability.
Noise levels must be adequate for patient recovery and staff concentration. Inpatient areas require < 40 dB(A), surgical centers < 45 dB(A).
Preventive and corrective maintenance must be performed without interrupting critical operations. Planning and redundancy are essential.
Our Solutions
Chilled water cooling with high precision (±0.5°C), N+1 redundancy and ultra-quiet operation (< 75 dB(A)). Capacities from 50 to 1,000 TR with superior energy efficiency.
View ProductAir handling units with HEPA H13/H14 filtration, humidity control, energy recovery and precise pressurization. Stainless steel or aluminum construction for healthcare environments.
View ProductPrecision climate control for diagnostic imaging rooms (MRI, CT, PET-CT), hospital data centers and laboratories. Temperature control ±0.5°C and humidity ±3% RH.
View ProductClimate control for inpatient rooms, outpatient clinics, administrative and support areas. Models with high-efficiency filtration and quiet operation for patient comfort.
View ProductClimate control for support areas, offices, pharmacies and services. Simplified installation without need for chilled water plant.
View ProductHumidity control in hospital pharmacies, material warehouses and sensitive equipment storage areas.
View ProductHelioCloud platform for continuous monitoring of temperature, humidity and differential pressure in all critical areas. Real-time alarms and reports for audits.
View ProductComplete redundancy for mission-critical areas, including backup chillers, redundant AHUs and emergency systems.
View ProductRegulations and Standards
Benefits for Your Business
Success Case
Large University Hospital - São Paulo/SP
Complete HVAC system modernization for a 600-bed university hospital, including 12 surgical centers, 4 ICUs (adult, neonatal, coronary and pediatric), diagnostic imaging center (2 MRI, 3 CT, 1 PET-CT), central laboratory and blood bank. The project was executed in phases over 3 years, without interrupting healthcare activities. The solution included a new chilled water plant with 4 x 300 TR chillers (N+1 redundancy), 45 AHUs with HEPA filtration, integrated monitoring system with 500 points and complete building automation.
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