Passive Cooling for Modern Medical Center

A new state-of-the-art health center in Deutsch Kaltenbrunn (Burgenland) showcases two alternative and sustainable cooling methods. Using concrete core activation and cooling panels, the project was executed with Pipelife products, setting a benchmark for contemporary healthcare infrastructure.

_{State-of-the-Art in All Respects} 

In 2022, the engineering consultancy Sautter ZT GmbH was commissioned by Panorama Road Health Centre to construct a cutting-edge medical center in the town of Deutsch Kaltenbrunn. The center, covering 1500 m², provides access to general practitioners and specialists in orthopedics, ENT, pediatrics, physiotherapy, psychotherapy and neurology. Furthermore, the health facility includes an in-house pharmacy, a laboratory and a day clinic, offering comprehensive healthcare services.

The medical center project aimed not only to offer modern medical care to the local community but also to implement contemporary construction methods and materials. The project contractor, Gutmann Installations, led by engineer Bianca Wagner, opted for highly efficient alternative solutions for the health center's heating and cooling.

_{Practical Cooling Alternatives}  

Wagner worked closely with Pipelife Austria Sales Representative Christian Gutman to identify and develop an optimal solution for sustainable and economical heating and cooling throughout the building. Each floor required a tailored approach based on its specifics. Pipelife Austria's Building Services Tech Specialist, Günter Lutterschmied, provided the necessary technical advice and planning. 

The upper floor, housing the private rooms of the residentiary community doctor, relies on prefabricated ceiling cooling panels in lengths of 1000, 1500, 2000 and 2500 mm for passive cooling. The prefabricated panels, with energy-guiding plates made of galvanized sheet steel and inserted 5-layer piping, are available in various lengths, offering a highly versatile solution for planning and installing ceiling systems. Equally suitable for new builds or renovations, they are optimal for efficiently cooling areas where suspended ceilings can be set up.

In Panorama Road Health Centre, the panels were installed over a total area of 112 m² using the Tichelmann system. The sloping ceilings posed a challenge due to shallow installation depth, but the issue was resolved by consulting with the drywall builder.

Furthermore, in the health center's basement and garage, Pipelife's prefabricated panels are used to ensure the heating of an area of approximately 40 m². 

_{Concrete Core Activation Cooling}

On the first floor, where modern treatment rooms are located, passive cooling is achieved through concrete core activation over an area of 226 m². This method involves laying pipe systems at close intervals in walls, floors, and/or ceilings, using concrete as a storage mass for efficient cooling throughout the building. 

For concrete core activation systems, high-quality, durable pipes are essential. Pipelife's multilayer composite pipes were selected for their suitability for thermal component activation and straightforward installation properties and laid in 15-centimeter intervals. 

Precise planning and calculation are of equal importance for concrete core systems, and Pipelife's design service was a valuable support to the installation company.

"We have been working with Pipelife for years and greatly appreciate their technical advice and excellent planning service. This is especially crucial for designing concrete core activation systems, as the planning is extremely demanding," says Bianca Wagner. 

_{Alternative Cooling Solutions on the Rise} 

With rising temperatures, sustainable, efficient and energy-saving cooling solutions are in high demand, and Pipelife systems prove that air conditioning is not the only option. Alternative cooling solutions, such as ceiling panels or concrete core activation systems can be easily installed on-site and combined with alternative energy sources. 

Panorama Road Health Centre is now completed and officially opened in January 2024. Pipelife Austria's team remains ready and committed to bringing modern, economical cooling solutions to more facilities across the country.