Time savings on a plate

William Harvey Hospital is saving two weeks a year in maintenance time by switching its domestic hot water supplies from shelland- tube heat exchangers to EasiHeat systems from Spirax Sarco. Because they are based on plate heat exchangers, EasiHeat systems do not have to be stripped down each year for insurance inspections.

"The insurance cost itself wasn't a lot, but the craftsmen's time was the big thing," says estates manager, Len Hobbs. "That time is now devoted to improving the patient environment, carrying out other maintenance work around the hospital." Eliminating the need to remove heavy tube bundles for inspection has also reduced the risk of manual handling injuries for his staff, according to Mr. Hobbs.

EasiHeat systems heat water on demand. Removing the need for hot water storage reduces the risk from Legionella bacteria, as well as saving energy by reducing heat losses.