Desigo with a view

The Tauernklinicum project comprises three components, with building 1 demolished and rebuilt, and the other two components renovated, renovated and rebuilt. And this is where Siemens’ solutions come into play: With the aim of offering patients, visitors and employees the highest level of comfort and safety while ensuring energy-efficient operation, a brand-new MSR system (measurement, control and regulation technology) including modern visualization was planned and installed.  One of the many challenges involved: In order to continue to provide optimal care for patients, around 60 patient beds and at least one operating room had to be available during the entire renovation. 

Today, after the modernizations have been completed, two ultra-modern operating rooms are permanently in use and integrated into the building automation system. The installed ventilation control allows precise adjustment of room temperature and humidity, so that the optimal conditions are created for every operation — from hygienic safety to maximum comfort for the surgical team. All other rooms in the hospital were also equipped with sophisticated systems. Heating and cooling ceilings ensure a pleasant indoor climate, while _CO2-controlled ventilation control guarantees optimum air quality at all times and also saves energy. The new, energy-optimized and powerful refrigeration system is supplemented by well water cooling — which uses renewable resources and significantly reduces energy cons
umption.

Safe landing and healthy airIn w
inter, when it is high season for sports accidents on the ski slopes in the hospital, a continuous heat supply ensures that the helicopter landing pad on the roof of the Tauern Clinic remains ice-free and that the rescue helicopters can land without any problems. During the landing process, the ventilation system must also be deactivated for a short period of time — otherwise kerosene and exhaust gases would enter hospital rooms. In very critical rooms, such as operating rooms, recirculated ventilation provides fresh air and the intelligent room valves, “Intelligent Valves”, enable not only precise hydraulic balancing, but also maximum efficiency and transparency in operation. 

“Our technology provides patients with the best possible care, provides employees with optimal support and uses resources efficiently. ”

Thomas Lonauer, Project Manage
r, Siemens AG Austria

With the Desigo CC syst
em, the system now has a comprehensive building management system to take over visualization and monitoring — the advantages here: Thanks to continuous visualization, all technical systems can be centrally monitored and efficiently controlled. In order to meet hospital-specific room requirements, separate Digital Direct Control (DDC) controllers were installed in the MSR control cabinet for individual room control. The DDC system consists of a central unit (controller) and modularly expandable input and output modules and is connected to the building management system. The controllers also serve as uninterruptible power supply systems and are protected with emergency power in critical situations. The new building management system was designed in such a way that monitoring is also possible by connecting to the existing Siemens Desigo CC system at the associated clinic in Zell am See. MSR technology is remotely monitored by Siemens experts — so acti
on can be taken immediately should it be necessary. The implemented energy monitoring for the entire Tauern Clinic enables a detailed analysis of energy consumption, creates transparency and forms the basis for long-term optimizations and cost savings. 

“When planning and implementing building automation, we had three major goals in mind: Our technology should ensure that patients receive the best possible care, that hospital employees receive optimal support and that all resources are used efficiently — we can proudly say that we did it! This project impressively demonstrates how sustainable solutions are created through partnership and expertise,” says Thomas Lonauer, project manager at Siemens Austria. 

And that’s not all, in addition to building automation, the fire alarm system has also been modernized. Due to the large number of different areas, some of which have enormous risk potential and entail different requirements for fire protection planning, expertise is required from technicians. 500 detectors and 450 loudspeakers for sound and a fire damper bus system ensure safe, automated control and rapid response in the event of a fire. This is particularly important in hospitals, for example because of patients who are unable to save themselves in an emergency due to their health condition.