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by Ann M. Schmidt
Air pressure, air
changes and ultraviolet radiation lamps in heat vents
are key elements of the best HVAC design for animal
care facilities, according to Michael Hein, P.E., of
Hein Engineering Group in Madison, WI.
Hein has designed
numerous HVAC systems for KSA's clients. He's sensitive
to the facility owner's need to keep construction and
operating costs down, but he also knows how big and
smelly animal housing areas are.
"Typically, if
it's design and operated right we don't have odors.
If it's designed right but not operating right you may
still have odors. But if it's not designed right you
will have odors," says Hein.
Air pressure
The right HVAC design
for veterinary and boarding facilities outs more fresh
air in the front, where the public areas are located.
In the back zone, or kennels, more air is exhausted
than fresh air is supplies. The air pressure relationship
forces air to go from front to back, preventing odor
from migrating to the front.
Air changes
Animal care facilities
require an "absolute minimum of six air changes
per hour, and we recommend up to 12-15 when problems
occur," says Hein. His designs have a dual-fan
system.
To conserve energy
and save the owner money, Hein designs a heat recovery
system in the kennel areas where the highest ventilation
rate is required. The heat recovery system pre-heats
or pre-cools the incoming fresh air with exhaust air.
UVC radiation lamps
Installing ultraviolet
radiation (UVC) lamps at the cooling coils of the fan
units is 90% effective at killing germs, bacteria, viruses,
etc., Hein says. He recommends their use in kennels
and treatment to prevent the spread of disease.
A UVC lamp also keeps
cooling coils of air conditioning units cleaner and
more efficient.
The water created
by evaporation drips on the coils where molds can grow.
Placed above the coils, a UVC unit reduces this microbial
growth, thus maintaining energy efficiency.
"I think it's
just ideal for animal hospitals," says Hein.
Sometimes contractors
tell animal facility owners the well-design HVAC system
is unnecessarily expensive.
Conventional commercial buildings to not require as
much ventilation as animal care facilities. Hein says
the cheaper conventional systems are not sufficient
to handle the odor of treatment areas, animal runs,
and kennels.
"It does cost
money. There's a cost factor involved that you can't
avoid," concludes Hein.
But no amount of savings
in the construction process will overcome the ultimate
expense of a smelly business, which alienates every
person with an intact olfactory system who steps inside
the building.
Ann Schmidt is
KSA's sales/marketing coordinator. |
