Africa-Press – South-Africa. The further breakdown of steam supply boilers at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital on Monday has affected the hospital and other steam-dependent nearby facilities nearby.
Gauteng Health Department spokesperson, Motalatale Modiba, said he could not disclose precisely what impact the breakdown has caused but confirmed the supply was inadequate.
However, he said the breakdown had not caused a total shutdown of facilities and that repairs were under way.
According to Modiba, steam is used within the operational environment for various purposes such as central air-conditioning (cooling) and air heaters, cooking, hot water, autoclaving [sterilising], refrigeration, and freezers, among other services.
“The hospital has three boilers used interchangeably to supply surrounding institutions with steam.
“Two of the boilers are coal-powered while the third one is a dual or hybrid gas/light fuel/diesel powered.
“One boiler has been undergoing statutory preparation and is expected to be back online during May 2023,” he said.
Modiba said the second boiler collapsed on 17 April and was now pending off-line repair.
“The department is expecting the third boiler to be online within two to three days so that SBAH can have a functional boiler,” said Modiba.
Areas that the Steve Biko Academic Hospital’s boiler infrastructure supplies steam to are:
Modiba said the boiler breakdown was not a dire situation.
“It’s not a bad situation. With the mortuary, the refrigerators are still working. The situation would be bad if the boilers go for over a week without being fixed, and that won’t happen,” said Modiba.
Modiba said the hospital only needs one boiler to function fully.
“One boiler can handle everything. But we still want all three boilers functioning interchangeably.”
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