In this issue of Healthcare Matters, we are pleased to feature Powrmatic as our HVAC Solutions Company of the Month.
For more than 75 years, Powrmatic has been helping shape the UK’s commercial heating and ventilation landscape. Established in 1949, the British manufacturer has built its reputation on designing and manufacturing reliable HVAC solutions, evolving alongside the changing demands of modern buildings. Today, its portfolio extends far beyond traditional warm air heating to encompass packaged heat pump air conditioning, electric heating, smoke control and natural ventilation systems, providing comprehensive climate control solutions for healthcare, care homes and assisted living developments.
As the healthcare sector continues its drive towards improved energy efficiency and lower carbon emissions, Powrmatic has focused on developing technologies that balance occupant comfort with sustainability. Whether supporting new-build healthcare facilities or refurbishing existing care homes, the company’s solutions are designed to create healthier indoor environments while reducing energy consumption and minimising disruption during installation. This approach is particularly valuable in occupied buildings, where maintaining resident wellbeing and operational continuity is essential.
Headquartered in Ilminster, Somerset, Powrmatic continues to design and manufacture many of its products in the UK. This local capability provides significant advantages for healthcare projects, enabling shorter lead times, responsive technical support and direct access to engineering expertise throughout specification, installation and commissioning. It also means clients benefit from working with a manufacturer that understands UK building regulations, fire safety legislation and the practical challenges associated with healthcare and care environments.
Powrmatic’s offering addresses every aspect of indoor environmental quality. Its climate control systems provide efficient heating and cooling for patient rooms, bedrooms and communal spaces, while its natural ventilation solutions help improve indoor air quality by introducing fresh air and supporting healthier living conditions. Alongside these systems, the company’s smoke ventilation products perform a vital life safety role, removing smoke during a fire to protect escape routes, assist fire service access and help safeguard building occupants.
By combining decades of manufacturing expertise with modern low-carbon technologies, Powrmatic continues to support healthcare providers in creating safe, comfortable and energy-efficient environments. As expectations around building performance continue to evolve, the company remains committed to delivering practical HVAC solutions that meet both today’s operational requirements and tomorrow’s sustainability ambitions.
One of Powrmatic’s flagship solutions is the Vision Packaged Heat Pump Air Conditioner, developed specifically to meet the needs of healthcare, care homes and assisted living environments. Delivering both heating and cooling from a single compact unit, Vision requires no external condenser or refrigerant pipework, making installation quicker and less intrusive than conventional air conditioning systems. Its Low Surface Temperature (LST) design makes it particularly suited to vulnerable occupants, while quiet operation, individual room control and efficient heat pump technology help improve comfort, reduce running costs and support decarbonisation objectives.
Because healthcare buildings have such unique environmental requirements, we asked Adam Tovey, Marketing Manager at Powrmatic, how the company helps create comfortable, safe and energy-efficient spaces for patients, residents, staff and visitors, “Resident wellbeing and safety are fundamental within care environments. Vision has been specifically developed for occupied buildings, providing both heating and cooling from a single packaged heat pump that can be installed in just 3-4 hours, making it ideal for refurbishment and retrofit projects where minimising disruption is essential.”
“The units feature Low Surface Temperature (LST) casings, making them safe to touch, while the smooth design has no exposed moving parts that could present an injury risk. Controls can also be locked to prevent unauthorised temperature adjustments, allowing facilities teams to maintain comfortable conditions throughout the building. Combined with high heat pump efficiencies, Vision provides a safe, reliable and energy-efficient solution for residents, staff and visitors.”
Adam also highlighted the features that differentiate Powrmatic’s solutions within healthcare environments, “Vision is a fully packaged heat pump air conditioner, offering a simpler alternative to traditional split and VRF systems. Unlike conventional systems, Vision requires no outdoor condenser, no refrigerant pipework, no F-Gas certified installation and no intrusive building works. Most installations are completed in just 3-4 hours, entirely from inside the room, allowing bedrooms and apartments to remain operational with virtually no downtime.”
“This makes Vision particularly suited to retrofitting existing care homes, where maintaining resident comfort and minimising disruption are key priorities. The unit’s Low Surface Temperature (LST) design, lockable controls and absence of exposed moving components also provide additional safety benefits for vulnerable residents.”
This approach has already been demonstrated in several healthcare projects, including a recent modular assisted care home development in Cardiff. When Linc Cymru developed the new facility, the project required a heating and cooling solution that could deliver year-round comfort without compromising the building’s modern appearance.
Powrmatic installed 73 Vision packaged heat pump air conditioning units across the individual apartments, providing efficient heating and cooling while meeting the specific requirements of a care environment. With no external condensers, pipework or brackets required, the system helped preserve the building’s clean exterior aesthetic while simplifying installation.
The units’ Low Surface Temperature design supports resident safety, while automatic climate control, WiFi management and energy-efficient heat pump technology provide reliable comfort with reduced energy consumption. The complete installation was completed in just over three weeks, demonstrating Vision’s suitability for fast, low-disruption healthcare and care home projects.
Another example can be seen at Gladwell Lodge, where Powrmatic worked with retirement developer Churchill Living to deliver a bespoke ventilation solution for a three-storey retirement apartment development designed around resident comfort, security and independence.
The project required a system that could provide effective everyday natural ventilation while also meeting essential fire safety requirements. Powrmatic supplied three Krystalite Glazed Louvred Natural and Smoke Ventilators, installed across the building’s floors to support airflow through communal corridors and assist emergency smoke ventilation strategies.
Combining discreet architectural design with reliable performance, the solution helped create a healthier, safer and more comfortable environment for residents, demonstrating the importance of integrating ventilation and life safety systems into the wider design of retirement and care developments.
Powrmatic’s approach to healthcare projects is built around collaboration, working closely with every stakeholder involved in the design, construction and ongoing operation of a building. The company regularly supports consultants, architects, M&E consultants, M&E contractors, principal contractors, developers, NHS organisations, private healthcare providers, care home operators and facilities managers, providing specialist HVAC expertise from the earliest stages of a project through to completion.
This collaborative approach ensures solutions are not only technically compliant but also tailored to the requirements of each building and its occupants. Powrmatic’s technical team provides free site surveys, application advice, product selection support and design assistance, helping project teams identify the most appropriate systems for their specific needs.
For healthcare and care home environments, where reliability, safety and ease of maintenance are essential, HVAC specification requires a detailed understanding of how buildings operate day-to-day. Resident comfort, staff requirements, energy performance and long-term maintenance all need to be considered as part of the overall solution.
By combining engineering expertise with innovative products such as the Vision Packaged Heat Pump Air Conditioner and its smoke ventilation systems, Powrmatic helps customers deliver safer, more energy-efficient spaces while reducing installation complexity and disruption. This commitment to quality, innovation and customer satisfaction remains central to the company’s approach as it continues to support the evolution of healthcare environments across the UK.
With increasing emphasis on decarbonisation, indoor air quality and energy efficiency, Adam also discussed how Powrmatic is helping healthcare and care providers prepare for the future, “Healthcare and care home operators are balancing decarbonisation, resident comfort, fire safety and indoor air quality. Vision supports this transition through efficient heat pump technology that delivers both heating and cooling while helping reduce energy consumption, improve EPC ratings and support Net Zero strategies. Its simple retrofit capability also enables existing buildings to modernise their climate control with minimal disruption to residents.”
“Alongside this, our natural ventilation systems improve everyday indoor air quality, while our smoke ventilation systems provide an essential life safety solution, protecting occupants and assisting safe means of escape by removing smoke during a fire.”
Looking ahead, Powrmatic remains focused on supporting the healthcare and care home sector as it navigates the challenges of improving energy performance, reducing carbon emissions and creating healthier indoor environments. The company’s priority is to continue developing low-carbon HVAC technologies that are practical, reliable and specifically suited to occupied buildings, where safety, comfort and minimal disruption remain key considerations.
By investing in innovative packaged heat pump solutions, life safety smoke ventilation systems and natural ventilation technologies, Powrmatic aims to help healthcare providers create environments that support resident wellbeing while meeting increasingly ambitious sustainability targets. These solutions are designed to improve building performance, enhance indoor air quality and provide long-term reliability for facilities teams.
For estates managers and care home operators planning future upgrades, Powrmatic recommends taking a whole-building approach and considering how heating, cooling, ventilation and smoke control systems can work together to create safer, more efficient spaces. Engaging manufacturers early can also provide valuable support, from site surveys and application advice to specification and design assistance, helping ensure the right solution is selected from the outset.
For refurbishment projects in particular, choosing systems that minimise disruption is essential. Technologies such as the Vision Packaged Heat Pump Air Conditioner demonstrate how modern HVAC solutions can be integrated into existing care environments quickly and efficiently, helping operators maintain resident comfort while preparing buildings for a lower-carbon future.
For more information, please see below:
T +44 (0)1460 53535
info@powrmatic.co.uk
www.powrmatic.co.uk
Brochure:
https://www.powrmatic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2026-Powrmatic-Vision-Range-Trade-Brochure-1.1.pdf
Powrmatic’s guide on care home air conditioning:
https://www.powrmatic.co.uk/blog/care-home-air-conditioning-guide-to-choosing-the-right-heating-and-cooling-solution