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Wireless technology in health buildings

The advantages offered by this kind of technology are varied and sustained, which can be taken into account by installers when automating a building in the health sector.

by Jaime Jiménez*

Currently, the world is connected and wireless devices are playing a bigger role. In fact, Cisco reported that in 2012, for the first time the number of connected mobile devices exceeded the number of people on the planet. The company dedicated to consulting in networks and telecommunications equipment predicts that by 2016 there will be more than 10 billion mobile devices in the world, which will amount to more than 1.4 devices per person.

On the other hand, the consulting firm Gartner highlights that by 2020, there will be more than 30 billion devices and everyday objects such as air conditioners, refrigerators, televisions, among others, connected to the Internet; scenario that will boost the automation of buildings, homes and offices just a click away.

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Various companies and government institutions have taken steps towards the automation of their buildings wirelessly, by implementing a variety of technological systems to control, monitor and manage the weather, energy, lighting, security, among other relevant aspects of construction; under the challenge that systems communicate through various protocols, connect and converge with each other to achieve greater energy efficiency and reduce operating costs.

Over the past decade, healthcare buildings have been a major player in the wireless revolution with building automation. Today, healthcare professionals and administrative staff rely primarily on wireless technology to connect with each other using various devices such as desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones, as well as access a wide range of applications and data in hospital computer networks.

In fact, according to a 2013 survey by AmericanEHR Partners, in collaboration with Cientis Technologies and the American College of Physicians, the use of wireless devices has become a daily occurrence in the hospital setting. Not surprisingly, this is especially true with health centers and doctors' offices that have adopted the Electronic Health Record (ECE).

According to this study, about a third of ECE users report using a tablet in their medical practice. Of these, 70% use their device to access the digital file and 68% use them to research on medicines. In addition, about a third use their smartphones to communicate daily with hospital staff and other doctors.

Hospital staff also employ advanced wireless medical devices such as monitors, diagnostic tools, and infusion pumps, which are critical to providing quality care and obtaining positive patient outcomes.

Revolution of building automation systems

Wireless communications technology has also transformed the realm of facilities management, enabling the reliable operation of Building Automation Systems (BAS). These include heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) solutions and other components that are equipped with Digital Direct Control (DDC) technology, which enables centralized control and interoperability of HVAC solutions and other elements of the building system.

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The most advanced wireless systems run building automation and the BACnet® control network protocol on top of ZigBee® Building Automation standards. BACnet allows building automation to communicate directly with different systems such as HVAC, lighting, access control, fire detection, among others. On the other hand, ZigBee Building Automation offers a global standard for interoperable products that allow the monitoring, as well as the safe and reliable control of systems in commercial buildings, being the only BACnet wireless network standard approved for this type of construction.

The BAS wireless technology also adheres to the standards of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), which ensure that the wireless communication system will coexist with other wireless systems used in the facility, including Bluetooth® and Wi-Fi™. By using these industry standards, the most advanced BAS technology enables safe and reliable wireless monitoring, as well as control over hospital building systems that exist today and will be developed in the future.

The reliability of these projects is particularly important in medical settings. Self-repairing mesh technology keeps wireless communication links open, thanks to a feature that automatically directs signals around any obstructions. This technology offers a clear advantage compared to conventional wired applications, which can fail permanently or intermittently when cables are cut, damaged or disconnected.

Recent advances in this technology have further improved the efficiency and reliability of the latest wireless BAS solutions. These improvements include reductions in power consumption and longer-lasting batteries for remote sensors. In addition, the use of high-performance routers can double the range of previous generation equipment, simplify installation, reduce operating costs, and eliminate the need to install repeaters to extend the signal throughout the hospital building.

Advantages of wireless controls

On the other hand, WIRELESS BAS solutions are more flexible, their installation is much faster and less expensive than implementing conventional wired applications, offering greater reliability and performance compared to other alternatives.

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There are three major advantages to implementing a Wireless Building Automation System in the Healthcare Sector:

Project completion on time and on budget - Wireless technology significantly simplifies building control projects in both new and existing hospitals. This makes life easier for designers, engineers, contractors and building operators.

Additionally, the time and expense required to design, calculate, and manage communication tasks are reduced by minimizing delays and labor costs for pulling, testing, and repairing cables.

In addition, zone sensors, controls and other equipment can be installed quickly and efficiently without penetrating the building structures, because the hardware can be connected directly to the wall or ceiling, reducing the incidence of dust and other contaminants in the environment that can adversely affect the indoor air quality of the hospital and infection control protocols, in addition to saving time and cleaning costs. The sensors can be placed almost anywhere they are needed and can be easily moved to improve data collection and occupant comfort.

The cost of placing and relocating sensors is much lower in a wireless solution. In fact, in the Trane experience, it takes about 90 minutes per zone to relocate wired sensors, compared to less than 15 minutes for wireless ones.

Time savings are particularly important in the healthcare environment, where contractors often have little time to complete their work without disrupting hospital operation, shutting down activities or revenue-generating equipment, and making patients or hospital staff uncomfortable.

Easy troubleshooting - Solving mishaps is easier in a wireless solution, as there are no cut cables, bad connections or cables committed to pulling the communications network. This translates into significant time savings when troubleshooting and repairing faulty wiring hidden behind walls. Unlike wired solutions, wireless applications operate with a mesh wireless network that offers multiple data paths to keep the system running reliably.

In addition, it is easier and less expensive to relocate devices to improve detection and control, even after a project is completed. During the design phase of buildings, it is almost impossible to know exactly where the sensors should be placed in a specific area of the hospital, room or office because the designer does not always know where the equipment will be placed.

For example, the efficiency of an HVAC sensor or thermostat can be affected if it is placed near a patient monitor, photocopier, or other equipment that generates heat. This can cause the room to get too cold, which affects the comfort of the occupants and wastes energy.

There may be an operational or aesthetic reason why the equipment cannot move. However, changing the location of sensors is easy and economical because their position is not limited by cables. The true flexibility and cost-effectiveness of a wireless solution is revealed when entire hospital rooms, departments or floors are reconfigured or remodeled, as sensors and controllers can be easily moved at minimal cost.

Lifecycle Savings – Wireless solutions significantly reduce the cost of the construction project on both new and existing structures. The cost of design and engineering takes less time, the installation is done quickly and smoothly, contributing to the realization of projects on time and within budget. The main steps in the rewiring process can be completely eliminated.  For example, there is rarely a need to perform a site inspection prior to installation in most buildings.

Material and labor costs are reduced because the process of establishing a BAS communications link is dramatically simplified. Designers are not "wired" when it comes to placing zone sensors and other system components. Sensors and ui devices can be placed in the right place from a system efficiency perspective – in columns, walls, or any other place where true conditions can be detected in the hospital.

Building automation devices often need to be moved throughout the building lifecycle, a process that is much easier and faster with a wireless solution, because it is much faster to reconfigure a communications network without disrupting the operation of the hospital.

Finally, BAS wireless networks contribute to the building's lifecycle energy efficiency and cost savings, allowing operators to place sensors and other devices where they will have the greatest impact on the organization. The rapid growth in the use of wireless technology in the healthcare environment, combined with significant improvements in performance and reliability, have made this moment ideal for healthcare organizations to consider the advantages of implementing a wireless solution for new construction and existing buildings.

In this way, by automating healthcare buildings with wireless solutions, hospital managers and their facilities management teams can do a better job of improving comfort, reducing energy consumption and operating costs, decreasing their environmental footprint, and creating a positive environment for patient care. staff and visitors.

*Jaime Jiménez is Vice President of the HVAC & Transport sector of Ingersoll Rand in Mexico in charge of the companies Thermo King and Trane.  

Duván Chaverra Agudelo
Author: Duván Chaverra Agudelo
Jefe Editorial en Latin Press, Inc,.
Comunicador Social y Periodista con experiencia de más de 16 años en medios de comunicación. Apasionado por la tecnología y por esta industria. [email protected]

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