Emergency Support and Contingency Planning for North-West England Hospital – ICS Cool Energy Case Study
A hospital in North-West England faced a critical situation when its chiller system malfunctioned over a weekend. The circumstances emphasised the importance of an efficient contingency plan, prompting the hospital to turn to ICS Cool Energy for an immediate and comprehensive solution.
The Initial Challenge
As the summer heat soared, the hospital’s chiller in a cooling plant servicing the kitchen and other vital parts of the building broke down. This posed an immediate threat to temperature-sensitive food storage. ICS Cool Energy was swiftly brought on board over the weekend. It promptly provided two cold store units – in other words, temperature-controlled containers – as a temporary solution to address the kitchen’s pressing temperature control needs.
Broadening Scope
After the initial problem was addressed, further issues with the cooling system, exacerbated by the heat, necessitated emergency cooling solutions. ICS Cool Energy rose to the occasion again, supplying their i-Chillers to support the hospital’s cooling plant and augment its capacity.
Developing a Comprehensive Contingency Plan
Recognising the lack of a comprehensive backup plan, the hospital, trusting ICS Cool Energy’s expertise, engaged its engineering team to prepare a robust contingency plan. The goal was to find ways to help the hospital continue to operate in a crisis with its cooling and heating systems. This started with conducting an overall site and operations audit to understand where the risks lie within the essential components of the cooling and heating systems. Based on that, the teams agreed on the required contingency equipment and aligned on a 24/7 activation plan.
This strategy encompassed:
- A plan for a plug-and-play emergency installation of cold stores for the hospital’s kitchen.
- Backup plan for immediate installation of i-Chillers – fully packaged process chillers – for the existing cooling systems to mitigate against the potential risk of malfunction. This includes preparing on-site infrastructure for quick chiller installation.
- A backup plan to support the hospital’s existing boilers in case of failure.
Infrastructure Upgrades:
During the initial engagement, it was noted that there wasn’t adequate electricity infrastructure in place for emergency equipment. This oversight necessitated calling in electricians and running cables around the hospital. To eliminate such delays in the future, ICS Cool Energy team allocated a dedicated socket for emergency cold stores, ensuring power readiness for any additional equipment. This improvement allows cold stores to be plugged in and operational within 24 hours.
Conclusion:
What began as a response to a singular cold storage need in the kitchen expanded into a comprehensive engagement, with ICS Cool Energy now altering the infrastructure for the emergency installations of chillers and boilers. Through efficient emergency responses and proactive planning, ICS Cool Energy addressed immediate concerns and paved the way for a safer, more resilient future for the hospital. The successful implementation of the cold stores showcased ICS Cool Energy’s capabilities, opening opportunities for collaborations on other improvement projects.
For more information on ICS Cool Energy’s complete process temperature control solutions, please visit www.icscoolenergy.com/.
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