I would like to know if the discharged fluid from a sterilizer (which is a fluid, not a piece of medical equipment) can be cooled with potable water if it is done with a tempering device that runs potable water only when the equipment is discharging hot water. The first bullet of the requirements says no potable water for open loop cooling of MEDICAL EQUIPMENT. The sterilizer is not using the potable water for cooling the equipment, if there were no regulations on discharge temperature the fluid would just be sent down the drain and there would be no cooling required at all. So it seems as though the second bullet is the applicable requirement for discharge fluid, which does not forbid potable water use. If anyone has achieved or been denied this prereq on this basis I would love to hear about it so that I can clarify the requirements for my project. I know there are other ways of cooling the discharge, but would like to know about this one specifically.
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Susan Walter
HDRLEEDuser Expert
1296 thumbs up
July 10, 2014 - 2:16 pm
The first bullet in the requirements states "no potable water use for once through cooling for ALL medical equipment that rejects heat". The sterilizer does count as medical equipment for this credit. I believe that they were using the term 'medical equipment' to distinguish it from 'mechanical equipment'. They specifically reference sterilizers under the Benefits and Issues to Consider section of the credit.
They want you to not run cooling water into the drain line and then dump it (once through). You can either find a way to use this water again or use reclaimed water to bring down the temp of the drain water.
Eric Dixon
Energy Performance AnalystHDR
21 thumbs up
July 28, 2014 - 4:56 pm
Is this your experience or opinion? I received a response to this inquiry from the USGBC stating "if there is a discharge temperature limit required by the local municipality, which is lower than the discharge water temperature of the equipment, then potable water can be used to cool the discharge ONLY when the equipment discharges hot water". Thanks.
Susan Walter
HDRLEEDuser Expert
1296 thumbs up
July 28, 2014 - 4:48 pm
Opinion based on your question of if the sterilizers were included or not in the credit. It sounds like the USGBC does but that they will allow potable water to cool during hot water discharge. Thanks for posting the interpretation for us!