12.10.2021

Finnish hospitals rely on Koja

In many Finnish hospitals, the air is kept clean and fresh with Koja’s smart and energy-efficient air handling solutions that are suitable for both new construction and renovation projects.

Increasing attention is being paid to indoor air quality. Clean and fresh indoor air is particularly important in hospitals and other hygiene-sensitive environments. Hospital air handling systems must meet strict VDI 6022 and DIN 1946-4 ventilation standards. For example, ventilation units must not have any spots that collect dirt and bacteria, and supply and exhaust air must not be mixed in any circumstances. In most cases, a water-glycol mixture is used as the heat transfer agent, meaning that supply and exhaust air units can be placed apart from each other.

“Hospitals are exceptional sites in many respects. They must serve people from the perspectives of both patients and employees, meaning that there are numerous needs. A hospital consists of facilities designed for various purposes, such as waiting rooms, operating theatres, patient rooms, clinic facilities, storage facilities and ambulance garages. These facilities may differ significantly in terms of minimum ventilation requirements. Nevertheless, energy-efficient and cost-effective ventilation is always the overall goal,” says Matti Riskumäki, Sales Manager at Koja.

The right type of equipment with optimal additional technology

To meet the criteria for hospitals and other clinical environments, Koja has designed the advanced Future Clean air handling unit, which has an even more hygienic structure than a standard Future unit. Its casing has a tight interior surface and is made from a material that can be disinfected and washed. The unit has hinged service doors and pull-out components to ensure effortless cleaning.

The energy efficiency, weather adaptability and functionalities of ventilation systems can be enhanced with additional components and automation systems such as the superior Netto+® technology. Thanks to this technology, the functionalities of equipment can be modernised on renovation sites instead of replacing the entire set of equipment.

“Renovation holds enormous energy-saving potential that has not been sufficiently harnessed before. Netto+® is a significant part of the solution in this development. This progressive technology enables a pair of heat recovery coils to produce its rated thermal efficiency regardless of the outdoor temperature, and the need for additional heating can be reduced. Measures that may seem insignificant will eventually have a significant impact on overall energy efficiency,” Riskumäki points out.

Ideal for renovation projects, Netto+® has also been selected for Koja’s latest new construction projects, because the technology reduces energy costs.

Photo: Veli-Pekka Kotikumpu

All parties benefit from the alliance model

High-quality air handling solutions are based on long-term work and a variety of approaches. Hospital projects are mainly implemented using the alliance model, which involves multiple operators and allows the customer’s needs to be taken into account in the early stages of project planning. This cooperation model gives each member a better overview of the project’s needs and enables the overall improvement of the system. The alliance model often also has a much longer warranty period than usual, which further increases operational reliability and customer satisfaction. In the spring, factory acceptance tests (FAT) were carried out using the alliance model at Koja’s R&D Centre. The functionality of the equipment and automation in extreme conditions was verified during the tests, and any necessary changes were made before delivery.

“It’s crucial to identify the customer’s needs and keep up to date with the latest innovations and products. For example, fan technology is progressing at an incredible pace, and Koja continuously reviews the latest flagship products from the best-known manufacturers in the market,” Riskumäki explains.

Praise for Finnish origin, convenience and high quality

Without exception, Koja uses the highest-quality components on the market in its products. Its units and systems are tested in extreme conditions before they are delivered to the site. Equipment and automation systems can be delivered as complete packages that only need installation, which saves considerable time on the site.

“Our strengths in the market definitely include complete packages that incorporate engineering, customisation, preliminary testing and installation. Depending on the site, units can be installed in one piece or smaller pieces. At an early stage, we select the most cost-effective and energy-efficient package, meaning that efficiency and the customer’s interests are our priorities throughout the process. We are a proudly Finnish operator, with a great deal of success and innovation behind us and definitely even more ahead of us. Our customers also appreciate a Finnish operator because of security of supply,” says Riskumäki.