Operating room ventilation requirements Calif.
Operating room ventilation requirements Calif.
(OP)
Greetings,
I recently had an E.M.S. system installed on the air handler/chiller utilized by (4) outpatient operating/recovery area rooms in southern Ca.
It was an upgrade to a previously pneumatically controlled constant volume supply/return/exhaust fan with v.a.v. reheat terminals system with a mixed air damper arrangement. The air distribution system runs 24/7, but the chiller can be scheduled off after hours.
My questions are, can I utilize v.s.d. control of the 25 h.p supply fan, and 10 h.p. return fan motors, if the system is designed as constant volume?
Would this acutally save energy?
Is this 24/7 operation an actual code requirement for Calif?
Also, how should the mixed air dampers be controlled?
By outside air temp, humidity, enthalpy, or building pressue? Maybe all 4?
The previous control was via a pneumatic "logic module", but I never saw the dampers change position, even at 100 degrees o.s.a, they were always in the full o.s.a/exhaust mode.
I'm assuming this was due to air change requirements.
Any help/comments would be appreciated!
I recently had an E.M.S. system installed on the air handler/chiller utilized by (4) outpatient operating/recovery area rooms in southern Ca.
It was an upgrade to a previously pneumatically controlled constant volume supply/return/exhaust fan with v.a.v. reheat terminals system with a mixed air damper arrangement. The air distribution system runs 24/7, but the chiller can be scheduled off after hours.
My questions are, can I utilize v.s.d. control of the 25 h.p supply fan, and 10 h.p. return fan motors, if the system is designed as constant volume?
Would this acutally save energy?
Is this 24/7 operation an actual code requirement for Calif?
Also, how should the mixed air dampers be controlled?
By outside air temp, humidity, enthalpy, or building pressue? Maybe all 4?
The previous control was via a pneumatic "logic module", but I never saw the dampers change position, even at 100 degrees o.s.a, they were always in the full o.s.a/exhaust mode.
I'm assuming this was due to air change requirements.
Any help/comments would be appreciated!





RE: Operating room ventilation requirements Calif.
Good Luck,
RE: Operating room ventilation requirements Calif.
I located some info. regarding pressure differential and air change requirements on the OSHPD site, but am still in the dark about having to run the 35 h.p of air handler 24/7.
I also have the P.E. whose company installed the EMS stopping by next week to hopefully shed some light on the v.s.d. issue(s)
RE: Operating room ventilation requirements Calif.
VSD on the fans makes sense. You should use the VSD to compensate for the fouling (increased pressure loss) of the filters. That way you can be sure of the correct air volumes going to the various rooms.
I am not familiar with your specific codes/regulations (I am in Europe) but running the system at 100% 24/7 does not make a lot of sense to me if the rooms are not in use.
However, maintaining the right pressure levels seems a likely requirement. But pressures can also be maintained at, say, 50% air volumes.
RE: Operating room ventilation requirements Calif.
We do a lot of work for one of the large 'Permanent' health care providers here and there MOB's and outpatient care facilities do not completely shut down. They've done studies which show that this actually reduces their operating costs. (No pun intended).
Keep us updated on what your Engineer thinks.
Regards,
EEJaime
RE: Operating room ventilation requirements Calif.
To do so would involve approximately 5 year payback.
Surgery center administrators indicate air handler will run 24/7 irrespective of cost. (even though this is not a code requirement)
So, they will get neither v.s.d. control nor reduced energy savings by shutting down equiptment durning unoccupied hours. Problems solved!