2020 ASHRAE TECHNOLOGY AWARD CASE STUDIES ¥ Rapidly adjusting OR temperatures (Photo 3): Specialty open-heart operating rooms were designed and tested to change the environment of the room from 80°F (27°C) maximum to 55°F (13°C) minimum, while maintaining humidity conditions between 30% and 60%. This design is feasible through use of a low temperature cooling system that rejects heat to the chilled water return system. Clinical requirements are to change the room temperature in five to 10 minutes from minimum to maximum and back. During commissioning, this cold OR system was demonstrated to clinical staff and passed with flying colors, meeting or exceeding the promised environmental temperature changes within the promised time frames. Maintenance and Operation Most of the critical air-handling units were designed using a "twin tunnel" air distribution system with N + 1 multifan arrays. This enables each AHU to operate at 60% to 70% of total capacity while normal maintenance is being performed and half the unit is turned off. This allows for filter replacement, coil cleaning or replacement and maintenance, all without shutting down air to ORs or patient rooms. The data center has been independently evaluated to be a Tier 3 configuration (as defined by the Uptime Institute), with a full N + 2 air distribution system. Electrical power was backed up with N + 1 generators and "fly wheel" UPS systems and arranged for inservice maintenance of electrical equipment. Critical plumbing systems like medical air, oxygen and medical vacuum were provided with N + 1 or N + 2 systems configurations and supplied with power from alternate sources, so both electrical and plumbing systems were concurrently maintainable. Spare capacity of 25% was built into airside and waterside systems to "future proof" the expansion and modification of the building for a 50-year life. Cost-Effectiveness The design team and owner 46 ASHRAE JOURNAL ashrae.org O CTO B E R 2020https://www.airflowbalancing.com/ https://www.ashrae.org/