VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING OF

STERILE SPACES IN HOSPITALS

By
Twana Smko Fathullah
Mech. Engineer

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INTRODUCTION

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STERILE SPACES IN HOSPITALS

1. OPERATING SUITE

1.1. OPERATING ROOM

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1.2. PRE-OP ROOM

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1.3. ANESTHESIA EQUIPMENT ROOM

1.4. POST-OP ROOM

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1.5. STERILE AND SOILED EQUIPMENT ROOMS

2. DELIVERY ROOM

3. INTENSIVE CARE UNITS

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4. ISOLATION ROOMS

4.1. POSITIVE PRESSURE ROOMS

4.2. NEGATIVE PRESSURE ROOMS

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5. CENTRAL STERILE SERVICES

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 HVAC DESIGN PARAMETERS FOR STERILE SPACES

1. TEMPERATURE

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2. RELATIVE HUMIDITY

3. FILTRATION

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4. AIR VELOCITY AND AIR DISTRIBUTION

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5. PRESSURIZATION

5.1. VOLUMETRIC FLOW RATE

5.2. ROOM DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE

6. TOTAL AND FRESH AIR CHANGES

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COMPARISON OF STANDARDS ON STERILE SPACES

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1. OPERATING SUITE

1.1. OPERATING ROOM

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1.2. PRE-OP AND POST-OP ROOMS

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2. DELIVERY ROOM

3. INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

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4. POSITIVE PRESSURE ROOM

5. CENTRAL STERILE SERVICES DEPARTMENT

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 References

American Institute of Architects. 2006. Guidelines for Design and Construction of

Heath Care Facilities. Washington: American Institute of Architects.

American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers. 2003.

HVAC Design Manual for Hospitals and Clinics. Atlanta: American Society of Heating
Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc.

Balaras, Constantinos A, Elena Dascalaki, and Athina Gaglia. 2007. "HVAC and Indoor
Thermal Conditions in Hospital Operating Rooms." Energy and Buildings 39:454- 470

Chow, T T, and X Y Yang. 2005. "Ventilation Performance in the Operating Theatre

Against Airborne Infection: Numerical Study on an Ultra-clean System." Journal of
Hospital Infection 59:138-147.

Deutsches Institut für Normung. 1999. DIN 1946-4 Ventilation and Air Conditioning -
Part 4: Ventilation in Hospitals. Berlin: Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V.

Dorchies, Fabrice. 2005. "Nosocomial Infections and Air Filtration in Operating Theatre
Suites - Application of French Standard NFS90-351:2003." Business Briefing: Hospital
Engineering & Facilities Management:1-3.

Humphreys, H, and E W Taylor. 2002. "Operating Theatre Ventilation Standards and

the Risk of Postoperative Infection." Journal of Hospital Infection 50:85-90.

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