VOL 38 I NO 4  DECEMBER 2015

the australian

HOSPITAL
S U
engineer
P P O R T I N G H E A L T H F A C I L I T I E S M A N A G E M E N T

Replacing the main switchboard

Air filtration

Reminiscences of a regional engineer

PP 100010900
 TECHNICAL PAPERS

Air filtration for

pharmaceutical, biotech
and hospital laboratory
environments
DR ALLAN HECKENBERG (PHD) & SHANNON ROGER (B.ED) I AIREPURE AUSTRALIA

There are many aspects to consider when maintaining effective air quality and freedom from
contamination in Pharmaceutical, Biotech and Hospital Laboratory environments. Obvious
considerations include compliance (or better) with various state and federal standards for
air changes, room pressurisation and filtration levels. Most air filtration systems focus on
providing particulate free air (viable and non-viable); however, it is worth considering that
there are molecular, non-particulate contaminants that will not be controlled via conventional
filtration technology.

I
f we look broadly at air quality within
a facility; internal air quality is equally
as important as the quality of air being
exhausted from the building. Both are
considerable aspects in worker safety
and the wellbeing of workers in and
around the facility.
This article will seek to review some of
the more significant air quality controls
available for Pharmaceutical, Biotech
and Hospital Laboratory facilities.
PARTICULATE
CONTAMINATION:
HEPA FILTRATION
Most readers will be very familiar
with HEPA filtration units of various
configurations within the facility.
Generally large units are wall or roof
mounted to give the appropriate “face
area” that is appropriate to the required
air flow for the room.
Unit size is typically driven by two
considerations; the required air flow and
filter testing access. A comparatively
large surface area is required to achieve
an appropriately modest air flow rate
through the filter (for effective filtration
and reasonable static pressure drops). Less visible to the users of the facility are
An incorporated filter access panel is the array of critical items that support
convenient for NATA certification or HEPA these HEPA filtration units. These items
integrity testing to assure air quality on a include clean ductwork, effective and
yearly basis. reliable fan and thermal control units,
insect prevention inlet grills and pre-filters
Inner wall mounted HEPA fascia with access panel (left), and outer decorative
fascia (right) to remove larger particulates. In some
cases UV germicidal systems to limit
pathogen loads are also utilised. All of
these items must work in a coordinated
manner to assure cost effective and
reliable delivery of air that is particulate
free to acceptable levels.
PARTICULATE
CONTAMINATION:
ISOLATION AND
CONTAINMENT
In a variety of situations specified by AS/
NZS 2243.3; BIBO (Bag In/Bag Out)
airborne containment systems will be
required. A complete discussion of the
requirements for these systems is beyond
this article – sufficient to say that the
technical manufacturing requirements
for these critical items – in terms of
dimensions, sealing, welding, air flow
rates, filter construction and certification
are extremely demanding.

40 THE AUSTRALIAN HOSPITAL ENGINEER I DECEMBER 2015


BIBO Airborne Containment System
These containment units inevitably take
considerable space within a building –
partially for comparatively low air flow
rate capacities, and additionally for safe
access to the units, which is required for
routine testing and regular filter changes.
Workers and users are protected by
specific protocols for these BIBO units,
which prevent contamination contact for
the environment, users, and change out
service persons.
NON PARTICULATE
CONTAMINATION:
MOLECULAR
CONTAMINANTS
Molecular contaminants have significant
impacts on the health and wellbeing of
the staff and clients in these facilities.
Generally unnoticed, unless associated
with offensive odours, these contaminants
form a very important aspect of the air
quality within a facility.
Molecular contaminants can commonly
include; acidic gases, bases,
condensables (that can condense on
clean, cool surfaces), organometallics,
and sulphur and nitrogen oxides. Ozone
can be an issue in some circumstances
as well.
These items can be sourced from
outdoor entrainment, scientific or medical
devices, fugitive emissions from process
equipment, chemical storage areas or
laboratories and temporary emissions
from construction or repairs.
Significant loads of undesirable chemicals
can also be introduced into buildings
from heavily used car parks, emergency
delivery docks or helipads, which in turn
affect the “clean air” systems of these
facilities. The reader will be familiar
with the types of airborne chemicals of
concern in this area, carbon monoxide
TECHNICAL PAPERS
and dioxide, sulphur and nitrogen PARTICULATE
dioxide, reduced sulphur compounds,
halogen gases, ozone, and chemicals CONTAMINATION
associated with fine diesel particulates. EXAMPLE: IVF LABORATORY
In more rural areas, materials associated
with fertilisers and insect control measures
ENVIRONMENT
may also feature on the list. By way of example, we can consider
the impact of airborne chemical
Table One: Sources and Contaminants in Outdoor Air 1,2 contamination on IVF clinical
Source Contaminants Emitted environments. Success rates have been
automotive combustion CO, HBr, HCl, NOx, SO2, SO3, linked to aspects of chemical air quality
hydrocarbons, organics in the clinical environment.7
cooling towers inorganic chlorides
Examples of the sources and chemicals
diesel combustion CO, NOx, many organics that may impact on these IVF
forest fire CO, CO2, HCl environments are tabulated below.
fossil fuel processing H2S, NH3, S, SO2, hydrocarbons,
mercaptans, other organics
Table Three: Example Source List for Makeup Air to an IVF Lab8
Source Related Contaminants
geothermal processes H2, H2S, SO2
livestock areas CH4, CO2, H2S, NH3 automotive exhaust CO, HBr, HCl, NOx, SO2, SO3,
hydrocarbons, organics
oceans NaCl, chloride ions
cooling towers NACl, HCl, Cl-ions
plastic manufacture NH3, SO2, alcohols, aldehydes, organics
power generation C, CO, NOx, SO2, hydrocarbons, organics
diesel exhaust CO, NOx, many organics
helicopter pad similar to automotive & diesel exhaust
sewage CO, H2S, H2, NH3, S, aldehydes, described in Table One
mercaptans, organics
C= carbon, CH4=methane, CO= carbon monoxide, CO2= carbon
dioxide, H2= hydrogen, HBr= hydrogen bromide, HCl= hydrogen A control strategy for these items
chloride, H2S= hydrogen sulphide, NaCl= sodium chloride, NH3= includes both conventional particulate
ammonia, NO= nitrogen oxides, S= sulphur, SO2= sulphur dioxide, removal and chemical absorption by
SO3= sulphur trioxide dry media materials housed in filters
or scrubbing units.8
Indoor contaminants are seldom
considered, but can be especially In general terms, chemically
relevant in new or recently renovated contaminated air is passed through
buildings. The off gassing of building beds of dry media particles at a
materials and furniture, human activities, predetermined rate and residence time.
cleaning chemicals and test and Designed and implemented correctly,
maintenance materials can introduce these filter beds are able to remove
significant chemical load to the interior more than 99% of many common
of the building. contaminants.
Table Two: Contaminants Emitted from Internal Sources 3-6
The process of chemisorption,
Source Contaminants absorption and reaction that are
cleaning products ammonia, alkanes, alkenes, aromatics, employed are complex but well
turpenes understood. Materials are readily
combustion sources CO, NOx, formaldehyde, polycyclic available and consistent in terms of
aromatic hydrocarbons, respirable quality and performance. The media
particles have extremely high surfaces area,
damp/wet areas bacteria, insects, mould similar to activated carbon, however,
furnishings, pressed benzene, chlorinated hydrocarbons, base materials like activated alumina
wood products formaldehyde, VOCs and impregnates like permanganate
personnel aromatics, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, may be used to provide superior
organic acids retention and binding capacity
sterilisation processes ethylene oxide, chlorine, chlorine of contaminants.
dioxide, formaldehyde, hydrogen
peroxide, and ozone
tobacco smoke benzenes, CO, formaldehyde, NOx,
PAHs, respirable particles, VOC’s
THE AUSTRALIAN HOSPITAL ENGINEER I DECEMBER 2015 41
 TECHNICAL PAPERS

Figure 1: (A) Modular side access chemical filtration system; (B) drawing exhaustion, then this efficiency plummets 1985; Research Triangle Park, NC:
describing components.8 Instrument Society of America
to zero.

In most cases, the media is general 3. EPA. “The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor
Air Quality.” EPA Document # 402-K-93-
waste, which makes it relatively easy and
007. United States Environmental Protection
inexpensive to dispose of. When used in
Agency and United States Consumer Product
radio-nucleotide or particularly hazardous
Safety Commission. 1995
environments, testing before disposal will
need to be done. 4. Etkin D. “Volatile Organic Compounds in
Indoor Environments.” 1996 Arlington, MA:
The range of uses in clinical environments Cutter Information Corp p65
for this chemical scrubbing material
is extensive. Examples include odour 5. Guerin M, Jenkins R and Tomkins B. “The
control for insulin production, ammonia Chemistry of Environmental Tobacco Smoke:
Composition and Measurement.” 1992:
scrubbing for research animal enclosures
Chelsea, MI: Lewis Publishers, Inc. p8
and removal of fugitive emissions for
sterilisation units.9 There are literally 6. Wang T. “A Study of Bioeffluents in a
solutions for any chemical material that College Classroom.” ASHRAE Transactions.
In the context of an IVF lab, a typical air can be safely absorbed and recirculated. Vol 81, Part 1 Atlanta, GA: American
Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-
flow layout is shown in the figure below.
CONCLUSIONS Conditioning Engineers, Inc. 1975 p32-44
Figure 2: Diagram of setups used to control airborne molecular contaminants at an
IVF Lab. (A) scrubbing outside air, (B) scrubbing mixed supply air, (C) scrubbing There are several layers of air filtration 7. Cohen J, Gilligan A, Esposito W,
recirculated air from the space, and (D) scrubbing internally recirculated air.8 and purification that can be used together Schimmel T and Dale, B. “Ambient air
to assure high quality air in hospital, and its potential effects on conception
clinical and pharmaceutical/biotech in vitro.” http://www.researchgate.
environments. A systematic approach to net/profile/Timothy_Schimmel/
these techniques, including an assessment publication/13912858_Ambient_air_and_
its_potential_effects_on_conception_in_vitro/
of what contaminants are present and
links/09e415080512a84080000000.pdf
their levels, is the starting point for
successful remediation. All of these critical 8. Stanley, W and Muller, C. “Application
Air is purified at several potential points. air services, do require space and service of dry-scrubbing air filtration to control
Supply air from outside sources can be access for effective performance and any airborne molecular contaminants in the
polished at point A, mixed recirculated compromise in those parameters will incur pharmaceutical, biotechnology and life
air may be dealt with at point B or C; both cost and performance penalties for science industries.” European Journal of
the end users. Parenteral & Pharmaceutical Sciences.
and additionally, air within the chamber
2004; 9(1) pp3-9.
can be improved with free standing
Airepure Australia offer a range of products,
recirculation units at point D. While the 9. Muller, C. “Applications of Chemical
services and consulting expertise that can
design and location of these scrubbers assist you with your compliance to ACHS, Contamination in Biotechnology Cleanroom
are relatively routine; once the air DHS VIC Guidelines (and equivalent for HVAC Systems” http://www.cemag.us/
flow, contaminant make-up and levels QLD, WA and NSW), ISO/IEC 17025:2005 articles/2003/06/applications-chemical-
are known, the sealing of the room Requirements, AS/NZS 2243.3:2010 and contamination-biotechnology-cleanroom-
and relative room pressurisation can AS/NZS 2243.8:2014. Airepure is a leading hvac-systems
make or break these systems. Thus a national air filtration company providing
comprehensive evaluation of the site will unique, powerful and integrated air filtration
yield the best results in the long run. solutions, ranging from basic HVAC filtration
and odour control right through to high end
The consumption of the dry filter media HEPA/ULPA filtration and airborne containment
is directly driven by the contamination technologies. For more information, visit
load – the more contamination – the more www.airepure.com.au or call 1300 886 353.
material that will be used. Generally
an aim of the system design will be to REFERENCES
give one year of life between change- 1. A
 SHRAE. “2001 ASHRAE Handbook:
out of filter media. However, real life Fundamentals.” Atlanta, GA: American
application can only be determined Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-
in practice. Sampling of the media is Conditioning Engineers, Inc. p10.4-10.5
possible, for exhaustion testing – so
2. ISA. “Environmental Conditions for Process
that the remaining media life can be Measurement and Control Systems: Airborne
calculated. The media essentially works Contaminants (ANSI/ISA-S71.04-1985).”
at 100% of the nominal efficiency until

42 THE AUSTRALIAN HOSPITAL ENGINEER I DECEMBER 2015

 TECHNICAL PAPERS

Focus (UCV) Ultra Clean

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COMPLIANT
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SOLUTIONS Airborne & Biological

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HOSPITAL DESIGN
STANDARDS
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We can assist you with your compliance to:

NATA On-Site Testing Australian Council on Healthcare Standards
& Certification Services DHS VIC Guidelines (& equiv. for QLD, WA & NSW)
Accreditation No19257 ISO/IEC 17025:2005 Requirements
AS/NZS 2243.3:2010 and AS/NZS 2243.8:2014

ph:1300 886 353 www.airepure.com.au airepure

australia
®

THE AUSTRALIAN HOSPITAL ENGINEER I DECEMBER 2015 43