The management system makes it much easier to operate for both healthcare personnel and patients, thereby providing more comfortable rooms and reducing energy consumption at the same time. Siemens is therefore helping the A.S.Z. in Aalst to meet the Belgian Supreme Council of Health's increasingly stringent requirements and standards for energy efficiency in buildings.

The healthcare profession is under more pressure than ever. It has to reconcile patient expectations regarding security and quality of care with compliance with increasingly complex energy regulations. "Complying with all the standards is a real challenge for hospitals", explains Pascal De Ras, head of the technical department at the A.S.Z. "While the Supreme Council of Health stresses the importance of sufficient ventilation, increasingly strict requirements on energy efficiency in buildings require us to reduce our energy consumption and CO 2 emissions year-on-year. It's not easy to bring both of these together."

Air renewed twenty times an hour

Building technologies such as air conditioning play an increasingly crucial role. This was certainly the case when designing the new S-building (an extension to the A.S.Z. campus in Aalst), which includes a cardiovascular and interventional centre, a clinical laboratory, an outpatient clinic and an intensive care unit with 18 patient rooms. Siemens has provided the HVAC solutions.

"The S-building depends entirely on mechanical ventilation", explains Jan Fieremans, Account Manager Building Automation at Siemens. "Each level, covering around 1250 m 2, is ventilated by a separate HVAC system to ensure 100% fresh air. In the cardiology department's treatment rooms, the air is renewed twenty times an hour. The HVAC system for the lab alone generates a flow in excess of 30,000 m 3 of fresh air an hour."

A single interface for all functions

In the S wing, the air conditioning, lighting and blinds are managed via a single, unique Desigo CC system developed by Siemens. It simplifies air conditioning and makes it easier to operate throughout the entire annex. "The control panel interfaces are tailored to each department. The ease with which shade, lighting and heating can be controlled in the room is also a plus for the patient. This makes it possible to improve comfort, to make the stay in hospital more pleasant and to encourage the healing process", adds Pascal De Ras.

Energy management is also entirely centralised in the Desigo CC. Movement and light sensors linked to the management system lead to considerable energy savings. The Siemens weather station on the hospital's roof has also been connected to the Desigo CC to allow smart control of the blinds and air conditioning.

The importance of automation

The CCTV and access control solutions have also been provided by Siemens, from monitoring all entrances and exits to autonomous monitoring of patients in intensive care, for example, where images are not recorded in order to respect privacy. Pascal De Ras adds: "The technical sophistication of the buildings is increasing and the bar is also constantly being raised in terms of energy savings. Automation has become essential. With Siemens, we've found the right partner. Our long collaboration has confirmed us in our opinion that Siemens is a pioneer when it comes to building technology."

"For sites like the new S-building at the A.S.Z. in Aalst, where factors like energy savings, comfort, ease of use and quality all come together, the technology also has to be combined in an intelligent way. Working in collaboration with the hospital, we have managed to create an ecosystem in which our solutions provide optimal support for healthcare personnel so that they can treat patients under the best possible conditions", concludes Jan Fieremans.