RRPPS
Overview
The Radiation Physics and Protection Service (RRPPS) at Kings Norton, part of University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, required improvements to its existing Building Management System to deliver better ventilation control, stronger gas safety protection and more efficient day-to-day operation.
With the available budget not supporting a full system replacement, Hills Energy Management Solutions developed a targeted upgrade strategy that built on the existing installation. By extending the controls and redesigning the operating strategy, we helped the client achieve meaningful improvements in performance, safety and energy efficiency without the cost and disruption of a major replacement project.
Client requirement
The client needed to improve the performance of the existing system in a number of key areas, including:
- more responsive ventilation based on actual building demand
- better indoor environmental conditions for occupants
- reduced unnecessary fan energy use
- improved gas safety monitoring within the boiler room
- continued alignment with relevant healthcare, ventilation and safety requirements
A full BMS replacement was not viable within budget, so the priority was to deliver the greatest possible operational benefit from the existing infrastructure while keeping the solution practical, reliable and cost-effective.
The challenge
The challenge was to deliver a clear improvement in control, safety and efficiency without replacing the full BMS installation.
That meant making best use of the existing plant and controls infrastructure, retaining serviceable components where appropriate and focusing investment where it would have the greatest operational impact. The revised strategy needed to improve building performance, support compliance and create a healthier internal environment, while remaining proportionate to the client’s budget and the needs of the site.
What we delivered
We extended the existing BMS controls and introduced a revised operating strategy designed to make the ventilation system more responsive, more efficient and better aligned with real building demand.
The upgrade included new air quality sensing within the ductwork, allowing the system to respond more intelligently to occupancy and environmental conditions rather than operating at a fixed output. Temperature demand was also incorporated into the control strategy so that ventilation performance could better reflect the conditions within the space.
By retaining the existing variable speed drives and using them more effectively, we enabled the fan system to operate in a more controlled and proportionate way, reducing unnecessary full-speed operation and improving overall efficiency.
We also strengthened boiler room safety by installing new gas monitoring and integrating automatic shut-off functionality into the BMS, providing an additional layer of protection and improving the site’s overall safety arrangement.
Plant and system functionality
The revised BMS strategy now provides more intelligent control of the site’s ventilation and gas safety systems.
This includes demand-led ventilation, variable fan speed control, improved response to internal environmental conditions and enhanced gas monitoring within the boiler room.
By making better use of the existing controls platform and integrating additional sensing and safety functionality, the site now benefits from a more balanced approach to ventilation, improved operational oversight and stronger protection around critical plant areas.
The outcome
The completed upgrade delivered clear operational, environmental and safety benefits without the need for full system replacement.
Ventilation is now better matched to actual demand, helping the client maintain healthier indoor conditions while avoiding the inefficiency of continuous full-speed operation. This has improved the overall performance of the system and reduced unnecessary energy use, particularly during periods of lower occupancy or lower demand.
The revised operating strategy has also supported a more efficient and measured approach to plant operation, helping reduce avoidable strain on key mechanical components and supporting longer-term reliability.
From a safety and compliance perspective, the addition of enhanced gas monitoring and automatic shut-off functionality has strengthened protection within the boiler room and provided greater assurance around the operation of critical services.
Overall, the project demonstrates how a well-targeted BMS upgrade can unlock meaningful improvements in performance, safety and efficiency — delivering strong value from existing assets while avoiding the cost and disruption of a full replacement.
