Critical Infrastructure for Patient Safety In hospitals, Air Handling Units (AHUs) are more than just climate control; they are a critical component of infection prevention. Beyond maintaining precise temperature and humidity levels for sensitive medical equipment, their primary role is to create a sterile, germ-free environment. This protects immuno-compromised patients (e.g., in ICUs, neonatal units, or oncology) and prevents the spread of airborne pathogens.
Standards & Compliance Planning AHUs for the healthcare sector requires strict adherence to specific regulations. In Germany and Europe, the benchmarks are:
DIN 1946-4: Ventilation in buildings and rooms of health care.
DIN EN ISO 14644: Cleanrooms and associated controlled environments.
VDI 6022: Hygiene requirements for ventilation and air-conditioning systems.
Huber & Ranner units are engineered to meet and exceed these rigorous standards, ensuring legal compliance and operational safety.
The HY-CASE Solution: Designed for Hygiene According to VDI 6022 and DIN 1946-4, AHUs must feature surfaces that prevent microbial growth and facilitate easy cleaning. Our HY-CASE series is the answer to these challenges.
Construction Features:
Seamless Interiors: All internal surfaces are completely smooth, free of crevices or folds where dirt could accumulate. We use high-grade stainless steel or powder-coated finishes (epoxy/polyester).
Full Accessibility: Fans, filters, dampers, and heat exchangers are designed to be easily removed for thorough cleaning.
Hygiene Drain Pans: Stainless steel condensate pans are sloped for complete drainage and insulated to prevent secondary condensation.
Monitoring: All sections feature inspection windows with internal lighting and differential pressure monitoring to detect contamination early.
Casing Quality: Following UNE EN 1886, our casings offer maximum mechanical strength, water tightness, and superior thermal insulation (fire-resistant) to prevent condensation and thermal bridges.
Component Engineering
Heat Exchangers: Designed for cleanability with a minimum fin spacing of 3.2 mm (approx. 8 fins per inch) and rigid fin thickness (min. 0.12 mm) to withstand high-pressure cleaning. Air velocity is kept below 2 m/s to prevent moisture carry-over.
Fans: Vibration-damped mounting and variable speed drives ensure constant airflow, automatically adjusting to filter loading.
Energy Recovery: To prevent cross-contamination between extract and supply air, we prioritize run-around coil systems. Plate heat exchangers are only utilized if gas leakage is proven to be below 0.1% (depending on regional regulations).
Filtration Strategy & Operating Theaters
Progressive Filtration Filtration is the first line of defense. To protect expensive HEPA filters and extend their lifespan by up to 900%, we implement a “progressive filtration” strategy:
Stage 1: Pre-filter (e.g., ePM10 / F5-F7)
Stage 2: Fine filter (e.g., ePM1 / F9)
Stage 3: HEPA Filter (H13/H14) for critical areas.
Note: We always place a filter stage downstream of any mixing section or heat exchanger to ensure only clean air enters the ductwork.
Zoning & Airflow (DIN 1946-4 Classification) The design of the ventilation system depends on the room classification:
Class I (High Aseptic Requirements):
Examples: Type A Operating Theaters (Organ transplant, Orthopedics, Cardiovascular).
Technology: Unidirectional Airflow (Laminar Flow) to displace particles directly away from the surgical field.
Requirements: 3-stage filtration (H13/H14), min. 35 air changes per hour (ACH). Recirculation is permitted only within the same room.
Class II (Standard Requirements):
Examples: Type B (General surgery) and Type C (Ambulatory/Delivery) rooms.
Technology: Turbulent Mixed Airflow.
Requirements: 2-stage filtration, 15–20 ACH. Typically 100% fresh air systems.
Pressure Zoning Controlling the direction of airflow is vital. We design systems to maintain precise pressure cascades—keeping positive pressure in sterile areas (to keep germs out) and negative pressure in isolation rooms (to keep pathogens in).
Conclusion From acoustic control to bio-safety: Hospital air handling is the “Formula 1” of HVAC engineering. With Huber & Ranner’s HY-CASE, you invest in a system that balances maximum hygiene with energy efficiency.
Expect More. Sterile Air. Certified Safety. Patient Protection.
The Next Generation: Smart, Adaptive, Green
The Next Generation: Smart, Adaptive, Green We are leaving the era of standardized ventilation behind. The future belongs to highly intelligent, customized solutions that integrate renewable energy and self-learning controls. We would like to thank all visitors for their enthusiasm and trust. Together, we are not just building machines; we are engineering a future-proof, sustainable built environment.
Why was “Digitalization” the twin theme of Sustainability at ISH 2025? Because in modern HVAC engineering, you cannot have one without the other.
Physical efficiency has its limits. We have already optimized fans, heat exchangers, and casings to near-perfection. The next frontier in energy saving is operational intelligence.
How AI Reduces Your Carbon Footprint An AHU that runs at 100% when the building is only 50% occupied is wasting energy.
Dynamic Adaptation: Our smart systems use sensors to detect actual demand in real-time. Whether it is a crowded conference room or an empty production hall, the AHU adjusts airflow and temperature instantly.
Lifecycle Efficiency: Sustainability isn’t just about energy; it’s about longevity. By preventing wear through digital monitoring (Predictive Maintenance), we extend the lifespan of the entire unit.
At Huber & Ranner, we engineer systems that help you achieve your Net Zero goals. We prove that high performance and low emissions are not contradictions – they are the result of smart engineering.
Expect More. Innovation never stops.
AIR-BALANCE: The End of Downtime Reliability is our currency. AIR-BALANCE takes predictive maintenance to the next level. By using AI algorithms to analyze vibration patterns and component wear, the system notifies you before a failure occurs. The result? Reduced service costs, extended equipment lifecycles, and the peace of mind that comes with knowing your system is constantly monitoring its own health.
