| (III) Outside air intake locations. Outside air intakes shall be located at least 25 feet from exhaust outlets of ventilating systems, combustion equipment stacks, medical-surgical vacuum systems, plumbing vents, or areas which may collect vehicular exhaust or other noxious fumes. (Prevailing winds and proximity to other structures may require more stringent requirements). Plumbing and vacuum vents that terminate five feet above the level of the top of the air intake may be located as close as 10 feet. (IV) Low air intake location limit. The bottom of outside air intakes serving central systems shall be located as high as practical but at least six feet above ground level, or if installed above the roof, three feet above the roof level. (V) Contaminated air exhaust outlets. Exhaust outlets from areas (kitchen hoods, etc.) that exhaust contaminated air shall be above the roof and be arranged to exhaust upward unless the air has been treated by an appropriate means where sidewall exhaust will be allowed. Ethylene oxide sterilizers shall be terminated above the roof and be arranged to exhaust upward. (VI) Directional air flow. Ventilation systems shall be designed and balanced to provide directional flow as shown in Table 3 of §133.169(c) of this title. For reductions and shutdown of ventilation systems when a room is unoccupied, the provisions in Note 4 of Table 3 of §133.169(c) of this title shall be followed. (VII) Areas requiring fully ducted systems. Fully ducted supply, return and exhaust air for HVAC systems shall be provided for all critical care areas, sensitive care areas, all patient care areas, all areas requiring a sterile regimen, storage rooms, food preparation areas, and where required for fire safety purposes. Combination systems, utilizing both ducts and plenums for movement of air in these areas shall not be permitted. (VIII) Ventilation start-up requirements. Air handling systems shall not be started or operated without the filters installed in place. This includes the 90% and 99.97% efficiency filters where required. Ducts shall be cleaned thoroughly and throughout by a certified air duct cleaning contractor when the air handling systems have been operating without the required filters in place. When ducts are determined to be dirty or dusty, the department will require a written report assuring cleanliness of duct and clean air quality. (IX) Humidifier location. When duct humidifiers are located upstream of the final filters, they shall be located at least 15 feet from the filters. Ductwork with duct-mounted humidifiers shall be provided with a means of removing water accumulation. An adjustable high-limit humidistat shall be located downstream of the humidifier to reduce the potential of condensation inside the duct. All duct take-offs should be sufficiently downstream of the humidifier to ensure complete moisture absorption. Reservoir-type water spray or evaporative pan humidifiers shall not be used. (ii) Filtration requirements. All central air handling systems serving patient care areas, including nursing unit corridors, shall be equipped with filters having efficiencies equal to, or greater than, those specified in Table 4 of §133.169(d) of this title. Filter efficiencies shall be average efficiencies tested in accordance with American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), Inc., Standard 52.2, 1999 edition, Method of Testing General Ventilation Air-Cleaning Devices for Removal Efficiency by Particle Size. All joints between filter segments, and between filter segments and the enclosing ductwork, shall have gaskets and seals to provide a positive seal against air leakage. Air handlers serving more than one room shall be considered as central air handlers. All documents published by ASHRAE as referenced in this section may be obtained by writing or calling the ASHRAE, Inc. at the following address or telephone number: ASHRAE, Inc., 1791 Tullie Circle, N. E., Atlanta, GA 30329; telephone (404) 636-8400. (I) Filtration requirements for air handling units serving single rooms requiring asepsis control. Dedicated air handlers serving only one room where asepsis control is required, such as, but not limited to, operating rooms, delivery rooms, special procedure rooms, and nurseries shall be equipped with filters having efficiencies equal to, or greater than, those specified for patient care areas in Table 4 of §133.169(d) of this title. (II) Filtration requirements for air handling units serving other single rooms. Dedicated air handlers serving all other single rooms shall be equipped with nominal filters installed at the return air system. (III) Location of multiple filters. Where two filter beds are required by Table 4 of §133.169(d) of this title, filter bed number one shall be located upstream of the air conditioning equipment, and filter bed number two shall be downstream of the supply air blowers and cooling and heating coils. (IV) Location of single filters. Where only one filter bed is required by Table 4 of §133.169(d) of this title, it shall be located upstream of the supply fan. Filter frames shall be durable and constructed to provide an airtight fit with the enclosing ductwork. (V) Pressure monitoring devices. A manometer or draft gauge shall be installed across each filter bed having a required efficiency of 75% or more including hoods requiring high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters. (iii) Thermal and acoustical insulation for air handling systems. Asbestos insulation shall not be used. (I) Thermal duct insulation. Air ducts and casings with outside surface temperature below ambient dew point or temperature above 80 degrees Fahrenheit shall be provided with thermal insulation. (II) Insulation in air plenums and ducts. Linings in air ducts and equipment shall meet the Erosion Test Method described in Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Inc., Standard Number 181 (relating to Factory-Made Duct Materials and Air Duct Connectors), April 4, 1996 edition. This document may be obtained from the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., 333 Pfingsten Road, Northbrook, IL 60062-2096. (III) Insulation flame spread and smoke developed ratings. Interior and exterior insulation, including finishes and adhesives on the exterior surfaces of ducts and equipment, shall have a flame spread rating of 25 or less and a smoke developed rating of 50 or less as required by NFPA 90A, Chapters 4 and 5. (IV) Linings and acoustical traps. Duct lining and acoustical traps exposed to air movement shall not be used in ducts serving critical care areas. This requirement shall not apply to mixing boxes and acoustical traps that have approved nonabrasive coverings over such linings. (V) Frangible insulation. Insulation of soft and spray-on types shall not be used where it is subject to air currents or mechanical erosion or where loose particles may create a maintenance problem. (VI) Existing duct linings. Internal linings shall not be used in ducts, terminal boxes, or other air system components supplying operating rooms, delivery rooms, birthing rooms, labor rooms, recovery rooms, nurseries, trauma rooms, isolation rooms, and intensive care units unless terminal filters of at least 90% efficiency are installed downstream of linings. (iv) Ventilation for anesthetizing locations. Ventilation for anesthetizing locations, as defined in NFPA 99, §3.3, shall comply with NFPA 99, §13.4.1.2, and any specific ventilation requirements for the particular unit in accordance with §133.163 of this title. (I) Smoke removal systems for windowless anesthetizing locations. Smoke removal systems shall be provided in all windowless anesthetizing locations in accordance with NFPA 99, §6.4.1.2. (II) Smoke removal systems for surgical suites. Smoke removal systems shall be provided in all surgical suites in accordance with NFPA 99, §6.4.1.3. (III) Smoke exhaust grilles. Exhaust grilles for smoke evacuation systems shall be ceiling-mounted or wall-mounted within 12 inches of the ceiling. (v) Location of return and exhaust air devices. The bottoms of wall-mounted return and exhaust air openings shall be at least four inches above the floor. Return air openings located less than six inches above the floor shall be provided with nominal filters. All exhaust air openings and return air openings located higher than six inches but less than seven feet above the floor shall be protected with grilles or screens having openings through which a one-half inch sphere will not pass. (vi) Ray protection. Ducts which penetrate construction intended for X-ray or other ray protection shall not impair the effectiveness of the protection. (vii) Fire damper requirements. Fire dampers shall be located and installed in all ducts at the point of penetration of a required two-hour or higher fire rated wall or floor in accordance with the requirements of NFPA 101, §18.5.2. (viii) Smoke damper requirements. Smoke dampers shall be located and installed in accordance with the requirements of NFPA 101, §18.3.7.3, and NFPA 90A, Chapter 5. Cont'd... |
