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Operating Room Air Distribution
1. The HVAC system serving the operating rooms (OR) requires careful
design to reduce the concentration of airborne organisms. The greatest
amount of the bacteria found in the operating room comes from the surgical
team and is a result of their activities during surgery.
2. Dedicated supply and exhaust systems are required for operating rooms
to maintain inside design conditions of 19°C (68°F), 55% RH in summer and
23°C (75°F), 50% RH in winter. The supply air is delivered through a low
velocity, single duct, constant volume reheat terminal units.
3. The air handling units (AHU) serving the surgery suite must be equipped
with prefilters, after-filters, energy recovery coil, cooling coil, central
humidifier and a variable speed fan for air volume control. After-filters
shall be located downstream of the fan with a diffuser section in the middle
for uniform air distribution across the filter surface. The supply air duct
downstream of after-filter shall be stainless steel.
Air Distribution
The air distribution in each OR shall have stainless steel multiple slot
panel diffuser positioned around the operating table to discharge 70% of
the supply air in a vertical air stream inclined at a 15° outward angle.
The remaining 30% of the supply air shall be delivered through perforated
panels in a downward vertical direction over the operating table without
obstructions. Provide two exhaust registers in each OR located in the
walls diagonally opposite from each other, seven inches above floor. Air
should be supplied at a lower velocity above the operating table and at a
higher velocity at the perimeter of the operating table. The objective is
to draw the low velocity air into the outer higher velocity air and then
exhaust it. This arrangement removes most contaminants emitted at the table
and provides a satisfactory clean environment in operating rooms.
For additional information, contact the Consulting Support Service (183A),
Sat Gupta @ 202-565-5268, or Don Walden at 202-565-5014.
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