|
“Current
Comments On Healthcare IAQ Issuesä”
August 2,
2003
Volume 1 No. 3 |
Air Change Rates
The amount of ventilation in an isolation room is usually
expressed in Air Changes per Hour (ACH). By calculating the air change
rate, the room ventilation can be compared to published standards, codes, and
recommended guidelines. It can also be used to estimate the length of time
required for removal of infectious particles.
One air change occurs in a room when a volume of air
equal to the volume of the room is supplied or exhausted. The air
change rate, called ACH, is the volume of air circulating every hour divided by
the room volume.
The current JCAHO standard for negative pressure
infectious isolation rooms is twelve (12) ACH minimum, with fifteen (15) ACH
preferred. This air change rate may be different for other "critical areas" in
the healthcare facility. See the table below. Beginning January 1, 2003, new
construction or major renovation of "critical areas" are not grandfathered, and,
must be brought up to the new standard.
|
Area Designation |
Air Movement* |
Minimum ACH |
Exhaust to outdoors? |
|
SURGERY AND CRITICAL CARE |
|
|
|
|
Operating/Surgical Rooms |
Out |
15 |
|
|
Delivery Room |
Out |
15 |
|
|
Recovery Room |
|
6 |
|
|
Critical and intensive care |
|
6 |
|
|
Newborn intensive care |
|
6 |
|
|
Treatment Room |
|
6 |
|
|
Trauma Room |
Out |
15 |
|
|
Anesthesia gas storage |
In |
8 |
Yes |
|
Endoscopy |
In |
6 |
|
|
Bronchoscopy |
In |
12 |
Yes |
| ER
waiting rooms |
In |
12 |
Yes |
|
Triage |
In |
12 |
Yes |
|
Radiology waiting rooms |
In |
12 |
Yes |
|
Special Procedure room |
Out |
15 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
NURSING |
|
|
|
|
Patient room |
|
6 |
|
|
Toilet room |
In |
10 |
Yes |
|
Newborn Nursery Suite |
|
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Protective environment room |
Out |
12 |
|
|
Airborne infection isolation room |
In |
12 |
Yes |
|
Isolation alcove or anteroom |
In/Out |
10 |
Yes |
|
Labor/delivery/recovery |
|
6 |
|
|
Labor/delivery/recovery/postpartum |
|
6 |
|
|
Patient corridor |
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
ANCILLARY |
|
|
|
|
X-ray (surgical/critical care/catheterization |
Out |
15 |
|
|
X-ray (diagnostic & treatment) |
|
6 |
|
|
Darkroom |
In |
10 |
Yes |
|
|
|
|
|
Area Designation |
Air Movement* |
Minimum ACH |
Exhaust to outdoors? |
|
|
|
|
|
LABORATORY |
|
|
|
|
General work areas |
|
6 |
|
|
Biochemistry |
Out |
6 |
|
|
Cytology |
In |
6 |
Yes |
|
Glass Washing |
In |
10 |
Yes |
|
Histology |
In |
6 |
Yes |
|
Microbiology |
In |
6 |
Yes |
|
Nuclear Medicine |
In |
6 |
Yes |
|
Pathology |
In |
6 |
Yes |
|
Serology |
Out |
6 |
|
|
Sterilizing |
In |
10 |
Yes |
|
|
|
|
|
Autopsy Room |
In |
12 |
Yes |
|
Non-refrigerated body-holding room |
In |
10 |
Yes |
|
Pharmacy |
In |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT |
|
|
|
|
Examination Room |
|
6 |
|
|
Medication Room |
Out |
4 |
|
|
Treatment Room |
|
6 |
|
|
Physical Therapy and Hydrotherapy |
In |
6 |
|
|
Soiled Workroom or Soiled Holding |
In |
10 |
Yes |
|
Clean Workroom or Clean Holding |
Out |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
| *
Air movement "Out" = positive pressure room, "In" = negative pressure room |
| No
movement indication = Ambient (Neutral) pressure room |
ã 2003, Medical Air Solutions, LLC.,
All Rights Reserved
               
|
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Air Solutions, LLC
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