Hospitals require all-year round cooling across their facilities, to ensure vital diagnostic tools such as MRI scanners remain operational or to maintain the right temperature and humidity levels in cold storage for multiple purposes.

CHALLENGE

A major hospital in London, encountered an unexpected failure in its chiller equipment. The malfunction threatened to disrupt the operation of their MRI scanners, essential for 24/7 diagnostic services. Given the hospital’s vital role in the community and the critical nature of MRI services, immediate action was required to prevent disruptions that could have consequences for patient care.

The hospital’s central location and busy environment necessitated careful planning to avoid disrupting other critical operations, such as ambulance services.

SOLUTION

Before the malfunction occurred, ICS Cool Energy had been in regular contact with the hospital’s estates team, discussing facility management improvements and contingency planning. This proactive contingency planning conducted by ICS Cool Energy was vital as it involved detailed surveys and assessments that laid the groundwork for a rapid and effective response when the equipment failure occurred.

Recognising the urgency, ICS Cool Energy leveraged the results of the contingency surveys to assess the immediate cooling needs and provide an optimal solution.  Rapid deployment of an industry-grade i-Chiller 80kW unit from ICS Cool Energy hire fleet was key to meeting the correct kilowatt duty and provide a reliable cooling for the MRI scanners to remain operational.

The ICS team worked closely with the hospital’s estates team to manage logistics and seamlessly integrate the hire unit with existing infrastructure and hospital operations. This included coordinating the lifting of equipment to roof level using specialist cranes, executed out of hours to avoid obstructing ambulance bays.

RESULT

The hospital, despite having multiple third-party maintenance contracts, relied on ICS Cool Energy’s expertise and opted for a long-term hire of over 12 months, with ongoing support and maintenance to ensure continuous operation. The hospital’s MRI scanners have remained fully operational, preventing any delays in patient diagnosis and treatment.

The efficient i-Chiller 80kW unit has also reduced electrical consumption costs, proving a cost-effective solution for the hospital. This case highlights the ability to deliver comprehensive, reliable, and efficient temperature control solutions in critical situations, supported by proactive contingency planning.

For more information on ICS Cool Energy complete process temperature control solutions, please visit www.icscoolenergy.com/.

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