Again guys, I'm not an engineer (which I know you're thinking is the problem, LOL). I actually thought a differential pressure of .01" wc from one reference room to another was significant. It is the AIA/ASHRAE standard for both ORs and Airborne Infectious Isolation rooms.
Again though, if you...
Thank you all for your input, but I'm wondering if I just didn't word the original question correctly. I'm going to try again. Please forgive my first attempt.
AIA/FGI Guidelines (since 2001?) call for at least .01" wc pressure in ORs when measured against a non-like area such as a corridor...
We provide maintenance and facility management for healthcare facilities throughout the southeast. I am NOT an engineer, so I apologize if my question doesn't rise to the technical level it should. Please forgive.
My question involves checking ventilation for ORs, Procedure Rooms, Soiled Rooms...
Yeah, ultimately it's up to the AHJ and/or their corporate safety policies. Of course, if they get hit with a lawsuit and try to hide behind grandfathering as opposed to coming up to best practices, they'll change their tune pretty quickly.
urgross -
Grandfathering is not a straight forward issue and in respect to life safety should be avoided in my opinion. I know, for instance, that the NFPA does not consider grandfathering a legitimate practice when it comes to medical gas systems. I can't definitively speak to how they or...
Thank you for all the replies. Our original position was that AII Toilet Rooms are required to maintain negative pressure supported by at least 10 ACH computed on exhausted air. This position seems to be confirmed by an unofficial email I received on Friday from the ASHRAE 170 Chairman. The...
Thank you DRWeig for your reply. As I indicated above, I have contacted groups like AIA/FGI and ASHRAE. I have even contacted the AHJ (in this case, the state of Georgia) to see what their interpretation is on the issue. However, as you may be aware, AHJs can take their time in getting back to...
Thank you for your reply KLH.
Our company assists hospitals in verifying proper ventilation and pressure relationships for a variety of areas, one being AII rooms. On a recent visit, my colleague had reported to the engineering dept that a couple of the AII rooms were not meeting the 10 ach...
Thank you for your reply tys90. And, I agree with your premise concerning negative pressure and local exhaust. The question I was seeking to be answered, however, is whether or not toilet rooms in AII rooms require 10 ACH. The argument opposing mine in respect to my colleague and his client...
Thank you for your answer urgross. However, I don't think ASHRAE 170-2008, addendum f really addresses the issue I was referring to. In reading the document, I don't see anything mentioned within the document about air changes for toilet rooms. Most of the document seems to be spent clearing...
The AIA/FGI Guidelines Ventilation table lists toilet rooms in hospitals as requiring 10 ACH at negative pressure. Is this for general toilets only? Does it also apply to toilet rooms inside negative pressure isolation rooms? If not, is there no/any ACH requirement for toilets inside negative...
urgross - Thanks for your reply. My comment, "The room is negative to the corridor (about -.005" wg) as I would expect with these readings" may have been misleading. I didn 't mean it was what the room was set up to be. I just meant that given I read more return in the room than supply, I...
Drazen - Thanks for your quick reply. Unfortunately, I have little experience with the source equipment/software side of HVAC. We only do the ventilation measurements in the rooms as one aspect of understanding IAQ and infection/exposure control. I do know our balometers are calibrated...
Our company does environmental testing for medical and surgery centers and I've run across something I need some help understanding. I have an OR that according to the plant ops dept has a master/slave VAV set up with the master reporting supply of about 1100 CFM and the slave reporting about...
Hey guys, thanks for the input.
cdxx139 - So, I've been to the Reed Construction site and looked up some codes. Let's say North Carolina. I can't seem to find where any of them address required ACH, etc for OR's. I must be missing something. Can you help out by pointing me to a specific...
