Modern AHU Design for Safer Healthcare Environments

When aging rooftop AHUs at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University threatened to fall behind modern standards, RMF Engineering Inc. stepped in with a comprehensive, engineering-driven solution. After a thorough field survey and feasibility analysis, RMF developed a phased upgrade plan to replace three units serving critical zones, including Labor & Delivery, NICU, and PIRR/MRI, ensuring uninterrupted care throughout construction. 

The new custom-designed AHUs go beyond simply replacing old hardware. They deliver elevated outside-air capacity, improved filtration (MERV 14), and UV disinfection, dramatically enhancing indoor air quality while giving SUNY Downstate flexibility for future growth.

Despite the complexity of working in a live hospital environment, RMF’s carefully sequenced phasing and temporary air systems protected continuous 24/7 operations. The outcome: about a 10% boost in total airflow capacity, translating into stronger, safer air distribution where it matters most.

This project exemplifies how methodical engineering design, grounded in data, foresight, and real-world constraints, can modernize critical hospital infrastructure, safeguard patient safety, and deliver scalable systems ready for future demands.

Read the full Healthcare Design article by Rich Heim, PE, LEED AP, project manager at RMF Engineering, here: Fresh Ideas on Air Handling Unit Design for Healthcare Facilities