by Brianna Crandall — August 21, 2020 — Waves of infection such as the current outbreak of the coronavirus cause concern and sharpen awareness of hygienic room climate issues, increasing interest in ventilation and air-conditioning systems in public buildings. If planned poorly or not serviced properly, an air-conditioning system can quickly turn into a transmitter of disease-causing germs, points out Germany-based climate solutions company Weiss Technik. With Vindur Top, Weiss Technik has developed an innovative hygienic air-cooling unit designed to prevent the growth of bacteria and mold thanks to thermal disinfection, in order to ensure a hygienic room climate.
Improving hygiene with hygienic air-cooling units
Hygienic air-cooling units are recirculating air systems that are often used as supplementary or retrofit solutions if the primary building climate equipment is not dimensioned sufficiently for all rooms or if additional cooling is required. As air cools, condensate can form, providing a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. These develop in particular while the unit is not running, and can be distributed to all rooms when the equipment is put back into operation. To prevent this, Vindur Top is equipped with a two-level filter (intake side PM1/≥ 50%, pressure side PM1/≥ 80%).
Thermal disinfection kills micro-organisms
To improve hygiene further, Vindur Top units can be equipped with optional thermal disinfection. This newly developed method effectively prevents the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and mold in the air-conditioning unit. Here, the heat exchanger and condensate drip tray are heated and dried completely in turn, controlled by a humidity sensor, so that all microorganisms and pathogens are safely destroyed.
Simple handling, two model variants
Vindur Top hygienic air-cooling units can either be mounted under the ceiling or equipped with intake and pressure side channel connections, integrated in a suspended ceiling. They have an energy-efficient EC ventilator and a cooler with condensate lifting pump. Air quantity and temperature can be controlled easily and comfortably via the DDC control with web visualization using the room control panel or touch display. In addition, their smooth surfaces make them easy to clean and disinfect. All the relevant unit parts can be accessed easily through the downward-opening housing flap. This guarantees the straightforward replacement of spare parts.
Meets the very latest German hygiene requirements
The German industry standards body (DIN) and the Association of German Engineers (VDI) recently redefined the hygiene requirement for ventilation and air-conditioning equipment for rooms occupied by persons in DIN 1946-4 and VDI 6022 respectively. In DIN 1946-4, the term rooms occupied by persons, room class II, is used for patients’ rooms, examination and recovery rooms as well as control rooms for CT and MRT scans. However, workstations in office and industrial buildings, sports facilities and break rooms as well as sales and event rooms are also subject to the requirements of VDI 6022. With Vindur Top, the air-conditioning specialist Weiss Technik MediClean says it is the first company in the world to offer a hygienic air-cooling unit that reliably meets the new requirements.
For more information about Vindur Top hygienic air-cooling units, as well as an explanatory video, visit the Weiss Technik website.
The Weiss Technik brand includes products for environment simulation, thermal and air-conditioning technology as well as containment solutions, with 22 companies at 40 locations in 15 countries. Weiss Klimatechnik offers climate solutions for critical environments: industrial production processes, clean and measuring rooms, hospitals, mobile operating tents, and in the field of IT and telecommunications technology. The Weiss Technik companies are part of the Schunk Group, an international engineering group that operates in 29 countries.
