Hospital HVAC systems are essential for maintaining healthy environments in healthcare facilities. In addition to providing fresh air, reducing carbon dioxide levels, and regulating temperature and humidity like regular HVAC systems, hospital HVAC systems also ensure clean and contaminated air remain separate to promote isolation and recovery. Hospitals face unique challenges due to the diverse types of rooms they house, and the ASHRAE Standard 170 establishes requirements for over 80 different room types, taking into account nine variables to ensure proper functionality, including air pressure and filtration.
The unique air pressurization requirements allow specific hospital rooms to maintain either positive or negative air pressure compared to adjacent spaces, ensuring there is no cross-contamination of air between rooms.
This is particularly important in sterile operation rooms and isolation rooms. A failure in the HVAC system can jeopardize a patient’s care and lead to significant financial losses, as medications and treatments may become unusable. Hospitals prioritize regular maintenance and employ backups such as uninterruptible power sources such as battery backups for important HVAC components to mitigate these threats.
The ASHRAE Standard 170 has different filter requirements for the different types of rooms. They range from a MERV-8 in rooms such as emergency waiting rooms and general exam rooms up to a HEPA filter in a protective environment room.
Hospital intelligent HVAC systems utilize algorithms to continuously monitor and adjust airflow based on real-time data, including CO2 levels, humidity, indoor air quality, and temperature. The use of sensors and variable speed motors and pumps further contributes to reduced energy usage in different types of rooms, including those that require continuous HVAC operation and others that can return to stasis when unoccupied.
While the advanced features of intelligent HVAC systems may not be present in your home, regular maintenance is just as important to ensure optimal performance. Whether your system is basic or sophisticated, maintaining it will help it run efficiently and extend its lifespan. Call Quigley today to schedule professional maintenance for your home HVAC system and enjoy a comfortable and well-functioning environment year-round.
