OPTIMUM OPERATING FACILITY

HEALTHCARE

Quality healthcare facilities are essential to the general population, but these facilities present unique challenges related to the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and life-safety infrastructure.  

From pressure critical operating rooms, pharmacies, and isolation rooms to general ventilation requirements to emergency power systems and critical plumbing systems, Engineered Air Balance has the technical knowledge, unmatched thoroughness, and continuous reliability to assist with any healthcare project. Did you know we provide USP Pharmacy Certification and HEPA Filter Testing?  

Through our involvement with national standard organizations and our familiarity with regulatory practices, EAB can assist any healthcare facility with mechanical, electrical, and plumbing system testing, troubleshooting and commissioning.  

Our team is keenly aware of the unique challenges encountered with operating facilities and the care that must be exercised in sensitive environments with systems that are life-safety critical. 

Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center – O’Quinn Medical Tower

Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center - O'Quinn Medical Tower The Baylor College of Medicine and CHI St. Luke’s Health partnered in the creation of O’Quinn Medical Tower, a 429,828 square foot, 13-story new hospital tower that includes a procedure suite, operating suite, pharmacy, imaging suite, clinical and administrative offices with a new parking garage addition. The tower is an expansion to CHI Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center’s McNair Campus in Houston, TX, an active hospital. EAB provided both Testing and Balancing and Building Commissioning services on this project.

Since the medical tower connects to an existing hospital facility and is served by a chilled water system that also serves the existing, active hospital, this presented a unique challenge for our TAB and Cx team. The existing hydronic chilled water system was utilized at a low capacity until the new tower requiring chilled water was brought online. New pumps and a chilled water heat exchanger were added to accommodate the new tower load. There were multiple challenges faced with identifying obstacles and implementing solutions to provide functional operation with the mix of the new and existing combined system. These solutions came in the form of after-hours testing and frequent communication with the many parties involved.

Our TAB team operated under the general contractor while the commissioning team worked as a 3rd party owner’s representative. This allowed our team to provide great communication and clarity to all parties involved and facilitate weekly meetings with owners, contractors, and subcontractors from both sides.

The client was able to successfully meet city requirements for a Core & Shell stair pressurization system while simultaneously still progressing building construction under a separate tenant improvement buildout package. This was achieved by close coordination and strategic planning between the contractor and EAB.

Baylor College of Medicine and CHI St. Luke’s Health could feel the difference on this project because of our team’s technical expertise and commitment to teamwork. The team on this project worked together to provide input, find solutions, and deliver an optimum operating facility.

Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center - O'Quinn Medical Tower Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center – O’Quinn Medical Tower

Baylor College of Medicine and CHI St. Luke’s Health partnered in the creation of O’Quinn Medical Tower, a 429,828 square foot, 13-story new hospital tower that includes a procedure suite, operating suite, pharmacy, imaging suite, clinical and administrative offices with a new parking garage addition. The tower is an expansion to CHI Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center’s McNair Campus in Houston, TX, an active hospital. EAB provided both Testing and Balancing and Building Commissioning services on this project.

Since the medical tower connects to an existing hospital facility and is served by a chilled water system that also serves the existing, active hospital, this presented a unique challenge for our TAB and Cx team. The existing hydronic chilled water system was utilized at a low capacity until the new tower requiring chilled water was brought online. New pumps and a chilled water heat exchanger were added to accommodate the new tower load. There were multiple challenges faced with identifying obstacles and implementing solutions to provide functional operation with the mix of the new and existing combined system. These solutions came in the form of after-hours testing and frequent communication with the many parties involved.

Our TAB team operated under the general contractor while the commissioning team worked as a 3rd party owner’s representative. This allowed our team to provide great communication and clarity to all parties involved and facilitate weekly meetings with owners, contractors, and subcontractors from both sides.

The client was able to successfully meet city requirements for a Core & Shell stair pressurization system while simultaneously still progressing building construction under a separate tenant improvement buildout package. This was achieved by close coordination and strategic planning between the contractor and EAB.

Baylor College of Medicine and CHI St. Luke’s Health could feel the difference on this project because of our team’s technical expertise and commitment to teamwork. The team on this project worked together to provide input, find solutions, and deliver an optimum operating facility.

Jennie Sealy Replacement Hospital – University of Texas Medical Branch

Jennie Sealy Replacement Hospital in University of TexasThe Jennie Sealy Replacement Hospital, located in Galveston, Texas, is a full service 12-story hospital facility with 310 new patient rooms, 60 new ICU beds, a new 28 bed day surgery area, and 20 new state-of-the art operating rooms.  

EAB was initially engaged in 2011 during the design phase of the project to provide design review for balance-ability on the HVAC Systems. As a result of our contributions to the design phase of the project, the Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing and HVAC Commissioning scope was awarded to EAB in 2012.   

The Testing and Balancing scope initially included review of the construction documents and submittal for balance-ability, construction observations, terminal unit lab and site testing, and witnessing AHU pressure testing.  Then, our team performed testing and balancing on all HVAC and domestic hot water systems.  This included operating rooms, critical rooms and building pressurization verification. Finally, our team performed all local BAS point verification and control sequence verification in preparation for functional testing by our commissioning team.

The HVAC commissioning scope included assisting with the commissioning plan, site observations and support, witness of factory equipment testing, commissioning meetings, creation of all system verification checklists for the HVAC systems, review of contractor completed checklists, HVAC Functional Performance Test development, facilitating all Functional Performance Testing on the HVAC systems and participating in the Integrated Systems Testing for the entire facility. 

Our expertise in the healthcare field provided us with the knowledge to overcome an aggressive schedule. EAB was able to partner with the owners, engineers, and contractors to ensure that issues preventing correct operations were resolved. 

Jennie Sealy Replacement Hospital in University of TexasJennie Sealy Replacement Hospital – University of Texas Medical Branch

The Jennie Sealy Replacement Hospital, located in Galveston, Texas, is a full service 12-story hospital facility with 310 new patient rooms, 60 new ICU beds, a new 28 bed day surgery area, and 20 new state-of-the art operating rooms.  

EAB was initially engaged in 2011 during the design phase of the project to provide design review for balance-ability on the HVAC Systems. As a result of our contributions to the design phase of the project, the Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing and HVAC Commissioning scope was awarded to EAB in 2012.   

The Testing and Balancing scope initially included review of the construction documents and submittal for balance-ability, construction observations, terminal unit lab and site testing, and witnessing AHU pressure testing.  Then, our team performed testing and balancing on all HVAC and domestic hot water systems.  This included operating rooms, critical rooms and building pressurization verification. Finally, our team performed all local BAS point verification and control sequence verification in preparation for functional testing by our commissioning team.

The HVAC commissioning scope included assisting with the commissioning plan, site observations and support, witness of factory equipment testing, commissioning meetings, creation of all system verification checklists for the HVAC systems, review of contractor completed checklists, HVAC Functional Performance Test development, facilitating all Functional Performance Testing on the HVAC systems and participating in the Integrated Systems Testing for the entire facility. 

Our expertise in the healthcare field provided us with the knowledge to overcome an aggressive schedule. EAB was able to partner with the owners, engineers, and contractors to ensure that issues preventing correct operations were resolved. 

Clements University Hospital – Dallas

Clements University Hospital in DallasThe Clements University Hospital is a 12-story, 1.3 million square foot facility located in Dallas, Texas. Dispersed throughout the entire building are 460 new patient rooms, 46 operating rooms, and 133 isolation rooms.

Since 1966, EAB has had a long-term relationship with UT Southwestern Medical Center. During the construction of Clements University Hospital, EAB was asked to assist with their Testing and Balancing and Building Commissioning needs.

During the initial design phase, we reviewed mechanical plans for balance-ability. During construction, we tested and balanced the HVAC systems, verified HVAC control sequences, developed and performed HVAC Functional Performance Tests and documented fire and smoke damper operation. We documented room pressure control and the air changes for isolation rooms, operating rooms and procedure rooms. We assisted with the Functional Performance Testing of the smoke control systems and assisted with the overall building commissioning.

Our teams were specifically equipped with the expertise to handle such a sensitive project. We believe that our work in the Clements University Hospital tower truly makes a difference you can feel.

Clements University Hospital in DallasClements University Hospital – Dallas

The Clements University Hospital is a 12-story, 1.3 million square foot facility located in Dallas, Texas. Dispersed throughout the entire building are 460 new patient rooms, 46 operating rooms, and 133 isolation rooms. 

Since 1966, EAB has had a long-term relationship with UT Southwestern Medical Center. During the construction of Clements University Hospital, EAB was asked to assist with their Testing and Balancing and Building Commissioning needs.  

During the initial design phase, we reviewed mechanical plans for balance-ability. During construction, we tested and balanced the HVAC systems, verified HVAC control sequences, developed and performed HVAC Functional Performance Tests and documented fire and smoke damper operation. We documented room pressure control and the air changes for isolation rooms, operating rooms and procedure rooms. We assisted with the Functional Performance Testing of the smoke control systems and assisted with the overall building commissioning. 

Our teams were specifically equipped with the expertise to handle such a sensitive project. We believe that our work in the Clements University Hospital tower truly makes a difference you can feel. 

Walter Tower – Houston Methodist Hospital

Walter Tower – Houston Methodist HospitalEAB had the privilege of working on Houston Methodist Hospital’s new Paula and Joseph C. “Rusty” Walter III Tower, a 23-story, one million square foot facility that consisted of dedicated patient floors with 366 patient rooms, 18 operating rooms, 14 Cath labs, 3 intensive care units, and bone marrow transplant rooms. The building also contains two kitchens, a research lab space and diagnostic and treatment floors.  

EAB acquired all of the equipment necessary to conduct preconstruction consultations which allowed them to pretest thermal performance and functionality of each type of control sequence in our test lab. 

This pretesting allowed for the successful testing and balancing of the operating rooms, Cath labs, isolation rooms, patient rooms, as well as general hospital spaces. 

In the midst of this project, Hurricane Harvey hit Houston! Despite the devastation caused by this natural disaster, our team worked alongside the owner’s team and design team to modify control sequences to achieve functionality based on installed equipment conditions.   

The ability to work during a natural disaster grew our team personally and professionally. Due to our passionate integrity, we didn’t leave the project until we delivered an optimum operating facility. 

Walter Tower – Houston Methodist HospitalWalter Tower – Houston Methodist Hospital

EAB had the privilege of working on Houston Methodist Hospital’s new Paula and Joseph C. “Rusty” Walter III Tower, a 23-story, one million square foot facility that consisted of dedicated patient floors with 366 patient rooms, 18 operating rooms, 14 Cath labs, 3 intensive care units, and bone marrow transplant rooms. The building also contains two kitchens, a research lab space and diagnostic and treatment floors.  

EAB acquired all of the equipment necessary to conduct preconstruction consultations which allowed them to pretest thermal performance and functionality of each type of control sequence in our test lab. 

This pretesting allowed for the successful testing and balancing of the operating rooms, Cath labs, isolation rooms, patient rooms, as well as general hospital spaces. 

In the midst of this project, Hurricane Harvey hit Houston! Despite the devastation caused by this natural disaster, our team worked alongside the owner’s team and design team to modify control sequences to achieve functionality based on installed equipment conditions.   

The ability to work during a natural disaster grew our team personally and professionally. Due to our passionate integrity, we didn’t leave the project until we delivered an optimum operating facility. 

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