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Look for links to printable pdf
literature in equipment specifications sections, above in this column, & on
site map.
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iaq design for hospital &
understanding pharmacy clean room designs
(Refer to:
"Guidelines for Design and Construction of
Health Care Facilities", 2006, American Institute of Architects)
HEPA & Ultraviolet (UVGI)
Air Treatment Systems for
Hospital, Medical, & Dental Applications
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Function: Used for positive & negative
pressure isolation infection control in hospitals &
medical facilities, or any place where there is a high risk of
infectious bacteria/disease.
Also:
Click Here for Chemical, Biological, Radiological (CBR) threats (chapter
5)
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Air Purifier Models:
(Click
Here for Printable Hospital, Medical, Dental Catalog)
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Creating
Positive or Negative Pressure
Isolation Rooms for hospitals or medical facilities
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Room Differential
Pressure Monitoors
for ensuring negative and positive pressure isolation rooms
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Technology: Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI)
and HEPA filtration
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High Efficiency Particulate Air Filters (HEPA):
HEPA filters were developed during WWI as a means of protecting soldiers
against chemical warfare.
 Since
then, they have been the primary mechanism used for removing airborne
pathogens, microorganisms, and particles from the air at very high
efficiencies. HEPA filters are 99.97% efficient on particles of 0.3 microns
or larger. Please click on and review the graphic to the right ("Characteristics
of Particles and Particle Dispersoids") showing the
diameters of various particles. (The chart may take a minute or two to
display.) Notice that viruses are much smaller than 0.3 microns. Every
true HEPA is certified by a testing body using a DOP test, whereby uniform
0.3 micron particles are sent through the filter to test the efficiency.
HEPA filters have been the standard filtering means for clean rooms in the
medical and industrial markets. Sizes of airborne pathogens
are available from Penn State University
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Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI): UVGI
has also been used as a means of destroying airborne bacteria and disease,
as airborne microorganisms have been shown to be destroyed when subjected to
certain levels of UV radiation. One important aspect of this is that
viruses, which are very susceptible to UVGI, cannot be trapped by media
filters because they are too small in size, so that one of the only ways of
eliminating viruses is by UVGI. Furthermore, unlike our Air Treatment
Systems, most UV systems on the market today do not create a high UV dosage,
so that they cannot destroy airborne bacteria and viruses, as their goal is
to simply keep filters/coils free from mold and bacteria growth. Please
review the data showing dosage
of UV-C necessary for complete destruction of various airborne pathogens.
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Making a case against UVGI:
UV Light is not required
Applications: Medical facilities in
operating rooms, isolation rooms (where they hold contagious patients with TB,
Hepatitis, etc..), Intensive Care Units, examination rooms, Emergency Rooms,
bronchoscopy/sputum rooms, waiting areas (for Emergency Rooms and General
Practice areas), doctor’s offices. Also used in laboratories, (tissue culture
or other high-risk labs), homeless shelters, AIDS clinics, or anywhere there
is a risk of airborne disease and bacteria.
Recommended ACH: 12 ACH
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