Creating the optimal hospital environment
A pleasant and, above all, healthy indoor climate contributes to the recovery of patients and the well-being of staff and visitors. Grand Hôpital de Charleroi relied on VMA’s proven expertise for part of its HVAC systems.
VMA installed 11 MW of heating capacity using boilers, combined heat and power (CHP) units, and heat pumps to ensure a warm and comfortable environment. A cooling capacity of 10 MW maintains optimal temperatures across 170 m² of cold rooms in laboratories and kitchens. In addition, we provided 5 MW of steam for sterilization and other applications.
Ventilation and air purification are critical in a medical setting. VMA installed 76 hygienic air purification units and laid 60 km of ductwork for air distribution. Special care was taken with fire dampers, filters, and laminar flow hoods in the operating theaters.
“VMA has experience in the healthcare sector and understands the quality standards that hospital buildings must meet. Our collaboration has been very pleasant, and coordination runs smoothly. In short, we are very satisfied with VMA’s work.”
Kevin Leseine, projectingenieur GHDC
Focused attention on sanitary systems
Hygiene is paramount in any hospital. VMA handled one-third of the sanitary installations at Grand Hôpital de Charleroi. Located in the Powerhouse are the boilers and heat exchangers that supply hot water to sinks and showers. Wastewater is transported to the treatment plant via PEHD drainpipes.
Part of the water is purified through osmosis and reverse osmosis. The softened water not only prevents corrosion and limescale buildup—extending equipment lifespan and reducing maintenance—but is also essential for sterile and laboratory use.
Drinking water is stored in 100 m³ tanks. And not to be overlooked: around 10 km of piping was installed for the fire suppression systems.
Reliable power for the healing process
A hospital cannot function without electricity. Power supply must be uninterrupted—unexpected outages can have fatal consequences for patients. That’s why Grand Hôpital de Charleroi entrusted VMA with its complete electrical installation, including emergency power systems.
VMA was responsible for the entire medium-voltage setup—from the main substation and 14 transformers to 7 distribution panels—ensuring electricity flows reliably to all outlets and lighting (indoors and outdoors). VMA also installed automatic barriers and payment systems in the various parking areas.
Technical building expertise for the healthcare sector
We also implemented a variety of low-voltage applications such as nurse call systems, access control, video intercom, fire detection, time synchronization, and data networks. The patient bedhead units (with lighting and emergency call features) were also provided by VMA.
Multiple building systems were connected to VMANAGER, our smart building management system. This allows the client to control building technologies intelligently, monitor energy consumption in real time, and take targeted actions to reduce energy usage—benefiting both sustainability and operational costs.
Seamless collaboration
A project of this scale requires a professional and flexible organization. VMA’s on-site teams held daily status checks to ensure every worker had the necessary tools and tasks. Weekly team meetings tracked project progress and aligned on next steps, leaving nothing to chance.
But our role extends beyond the construction site. We planned our work two weeks in advance, ensuring no downtime for our teams. We also prepared contingency tasks in case other contractors experienced delays—allowing us to maintain momentum. Thanks to this foresight and the responsibility we grant our workers, we played a key role in the project’s success.
VMA installations at Grand Hôpital de Charleroi
Electrical Installations
- Medium voltage: main substation, 14 transformers, 7 PIX MV switchboards
- Primary power supply, generator & UPS systems
- Secondary distribution
- Interior, exterior & emergency lighting
- Low voltage: fire detection, nurse call, data network, access control, intercom, videophone, time display, bedhead units
- Parking: barriers, payment system
- Building Management System: VMANAGER
HVAC Systems
- 11 MW heating, 10 MW cooling, 5 MW steam
- 175 km of hydraulic piping, 28,000 m² of ceiling cooling, 200 fan coil units, 600 m² of underfloor heating, 30 air heaters, air curtains, split air conditioners, 170 m² of refrigeration
- 76 air purification units (standard & hygienic), 60 km of ductwork, 1,500 fire dampers, laminar flow hoods, filters, control valves
- Testing, commissioning & certification by inspection authorities
Sanitary Installations
- Cold & hot water (10 heat exchangers), rainwater, osmosis water (90 km of piping)
- Wastewater drainage: 40 km of PEHD piping
- 2,050 sinks, 1,200 toilets & urinals, 50 bathtubs, 1,000 showers
- 6 pressure boosters, 2 water softeners, 2 tanks of 100 m³ for potable water storage
- 10 km of firefighting water pipes
Why choose VMA?
With over 50 years of experience, VMA is a trusted name in building technologies across various sectors. As a dynamic company specializing in turnkey solutions, we offer complete peace of mind in electrical systems, HVAC, smart/sustainable building management, and cooling.
Thanks to our regional presence in Belgium and abroad, we deploy our experts flexibly and collaboratively. Our teams are well-aligned, ensuring smooth project execution—from design and engineering to installation, commissioning, and maintenance. You benefit from short communication lines and a constructive partnership.