With cases of COVID-19 growing exponentially day-by-day, there has never been a more important time to ensure that your healthcare facilities are providing a safe environment for patients, staff and visitors.
Although not a preventative measure, ensuring your air distribution, air quality and pressurisation of critical/isolation zones can significantly reduce the risk of cross-contamination and transmission of viruses within your facility.
HTM 03-01 provides guidance for optimum air distribution and pressurisation schemes within healthcare facilities. It is recommended that all healthcare facilities should engage a specialist to audit their facility and re-commission the air distribution systems to help safeguard patients, staff and visitors.
Some key considerations for effective air distribution measures in a healthcare facility, are:
- General and communal areas should have an air change rate of 6 air changes per hour
- Isolation for infectious diseases and critical care areas should have an air change rate of 10 air changes per hour
- Isolation rooms should be under negative pressure to contain viruses and infections within the room
- High-efficiency HEPA filters should be provided in ducts serving isolation rooms, critical care areas and operating theatres – Coronavirus is reported to be 0.1 micron in size and although a HEPA filter may not be 100% effective at capturing particles of this size, it will reduce the volume passing through
- Cleaning and disinfection of ductwork and air distrubution units can significantly improve the air quality and remove any contaminants within the ductwork
Email us today at info@smithcommgrp.com to find out how we can help you create a safer environment and combat this threat to humanity, together.