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Introduction
Having successfully tendered for the supply and installation of 14 cold rooms/freezer rooms and xl incubation room at the above site, Automatic Cooling Engineers Ltd completed and commissioned the rooms on time at the beginning of 2001. Automatic Cooling Engineers Ltd continue to support the rooms and supporting plant, encompassing planned preventative maintenance and emergency breakdowns.

The requirement for refrigerated storage is extensive and comprises the following:-
x8 +4°C rooms
x4 -30°C rooms with —20°C ante rooms
x2 -40°C rooms with —20°C ante rooms

Air conditioning associated with 22°C incubation room is also accommodated.

Installation and Commissioning
Automatic Cooling Engineers Ltd subcontracted the fabrication and installation of the rooms to Food Processing Technology. The associated refrigeration plant and control systems were installed by Automatic Cooling Engineers Ltd. The design is such that security of operation is achieved with 100% standby plant. This resulted in a final package of good quality. Since commissioning, the rooms have been operating to specification. Any defects or modifications required were attended to promptly and without complaint during the warranty period.

Scope of support
The provision of this low temperature storage is of paramount importance to the successful operation of the Blood Transfusion facility and it is essential that interruptions to the controlled temperatures are kept to a minimum. The support provided by Automatic Cooling Engineers Ltd to maintain the cold rooms at their optimum performance has been tailored to meet the BTS requirement. Four preventative maintenance visits according to a rolling programme are completed each year. Corresponding documentation reflecting the works performed is completed at each visit. In addition and invaluable to the Service is access to emergency support at all times.

Within the facility are items of equipment (e.g. —80°C freezer cabinets, ice flaker, plasma freezer) requiring planned maintenance at a level of two visits per annum. Again emergency support is available.

Performance
In the five years since Automatic Cooling Engineers Ltd have been looking after the installations at the WSBTC the objective of ensuring there is continuity of operation with respect to refrigeration has been met unequivocally. Obviously there have been benefits in contracting the maintenance work to the company that completed the original installation but this does not detract from the fact that the company is well managed and the engineers are competent and experienced. Response times to emergency call outs have been short and all problems have been dealt with in a professional manner.

Mr R Howieson
Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service National Engineering Services Contracts Manager