Montpellier University Hospital chooses the Acosi+ heating and cooling ceiling to ensure thermal comfort in its new geriatrics unit

The Montpellier University Hospital is continuing construction of its new geriatrics and palliative care center at the Colombière site. To ensure thermal comfort in the 137 rooms, the project owner selected Thermacome's Acosi+ hydraulic heating and cooling ceiling system, a solution that provides heating in winter and radiant cooling in summer, without the need for forced-air air conditioning.

In a hospital environment housing particularly vulnerable individuals, the specifications required a solution capable of guaranteeing optimal thermal comfort while preserving indoor air quality. The absence of forced air was a key criterion in order to limit the resuspension of dust, allergens, and microorganisms.

A solution that meets the requirements of healthcare facilities

To meet these requirements, the design office WSP 31 recommended the Acosi+ heating-cooling ceiling from Thermacome, the only reversible ceiling on the market to have a Technical Approval (ATEC) and compatible with establishments open to the public (ERP).

Installed from the ground floor to the second floor, the system addresses four major challenges:

Patient and staff comfort: thanks to its operation using over 80% radiant heat, Acosi+ provides gentle warmth in winter and uniform coolness in summer, evenly distributed throughout the room. The system is completely silent.
Improved indoor air quality: thanks to cooling provided exclusively by radiation, the radiant heating and cooling ceiling operates without air circulation. This technology limits the circulation of dust, allergens, and pathogens, a particularly desirable benefit in healthcare facilities.
Free and secure spaces: fully integrated into the ceiling, the system frees the walls and floor from any visible units. Rooms remain entirely available for medical equipment and facilitate movement for both patients and healthcare staff.
Controlled energy consumption: Operating at very low temperatures for heating and with chilled water in summer, Acosi+ optimizes generator performance and reduces energy consumption, while also limiting operating costs. Hydronic cooling also has a lower carbon footprint than forced-air solutions. Room-by-room regulation allows for precise control of energy consumption in each space. Its simple and reliable hydraulic technology requires no specific annual maintenance.

An optimized installation for hospital constraints

In total, 1.980 m² of radiant heating and cooling ceiling and 59 manifolds were installed across the building's three floors. The detailed design studies allowed for the integration of numerous suspended components, including patient lift rails, without compromising the ceiling's thermal performance. A specific installation method was developed to meet the technical constraints inherent to the hospital sector.

Ultimately, the facility will have 137 rooms, 5 day hospital places, as well as a rehabilitation technical platform and care and wellness areas. The geriatrics and palliative care unit will also include a reinforced accommodation unit (UHR) and a reception platform dedicated to aging patients with disabilities.

Acosi+: quick installation and performance even in heatwave conditions

The latest generation of low-temperature heating and cooling ceilings, Acosi+, is installed twice as fast as previous systems. Its principle: flexible tubes embedded in aluminized expanded polystyrene (EPS) "diffuser" panels, which are fixed directly to the metal framework of the ceiling designed to receive the finishing plasterboard panels.

Fully integrated into the building structure, Acosi+ does not affect room height (no recesses are required) and requires neither encapsulation nor drying time before ceiling finishing. Its lightweight design also eliminates any difficult handling.

For this project, Thermacome has integrated a specific regulation strategy allowing, when conditions permit, to lower the water temperature to 16 °C, under the permanent control of the dew point.

The system:

measures humidity and temperature to calculate the dew point;
compare this dew point to the ceiling temperature;
adjusts the water temperature to stay safe;
adjusts the water law to optimize comfort and performance.

Comfort and safety conditions are thus perfectly controlled, in all seasons.

A sustainable solution for healthcare facilities

With the increasing frequency of heat waves, healthcare facilities are seeking solutions that can ensure summer comfort without the constraints associated with forced-air air conditioning systems.

By combining heating, cooling, quiet operation, indoor air quality and energy efficiency, the Acosi+ heating-cooling ceiling stands out as a particularly suitable solution for hospital buildings, in new construction as well as renovation.

The foundation stone of this new building was laid on January 21, 2026, at the Colombière site in Montpellier. It is scheduled to open in the second half of 2027.