ASHRAE Journal - March 2009 - (Page 36)

systems for some specialized surgeries. Such systems shall be considered acceptable if they meet or exceed the requirements of this standard.” However, the intended use of the operating room may suggest that air curtains are a preferred solution. Laufman wrote7 “Airborne organisms assume a proportionately more important role as a cause of wound infection when (2) a large foreign body is surgically implanted, as in complete joint replacement; (3) the patient’s immune mechanism is suppressed; or (4) the quantity and/or virulence of the invading microorganisms is overwhelming.” For surgeries that are protracted; particularly invasive; affect sensitive areas of the body (such as the chest or cranial cavities); and for patients with compromised immune systems, airborne infections take on a proportionately larger role. For these types of surgeries and patients, the extra protection afforded by proven air curtain systems should be considered. Summary Vertical laminar flow may not behave predictably when laminar diffusers are used outside of the cleanroom environment for which they were primarily designed. This may result in general room flow that does not result in optimal asepsis. Air curtain systems help optimize vertical laminar flow, bringing it closer to the “one pass, then out” ideal of the cleanroom. The Committee on Operating Room Environment has written a Definition of Surgical Microbiologic Clean Air that establishes a means of determining the level of air asepsis in the OR. Air curtain systems can be designed to be scalar, preengineered systems that facilitate their being tested to this definition. References 1. 2005 ASHRAE Handbook—HVAC Applications, Chapter 7. 2. Int-Hout, D., G. Cook. 2006. “A new idea that is 40 years old—air curtain hospital operating rooms systems.” ASHRAE Transactions 113(1). 3. Memarzadeh, F., A. Manning, 2002. “Comparison of operating room ventilation systems in the protection of the surgical site.” ASHRAE Transactions 108(2):pp. 4 and 9. 4. ASHRAE. 2003. HVAC Design Manual for Hospitals and Clinics. 5. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. 1993. Design Guide: Surgical Service, Draft 11-15-93. 6. Goodrich, E., et al. 1976. Definition of surgical microbiologic clean air. American College of Surgeons Bulletin. 7. Laufman, H. 1999. Surgeon’s Requirements for Operating Room Air Environment. Healthcare Facilities Management Series. Chicago: American Society for Healthcare Engineering of the American Healthcare Association. www.info.hotims.com/23933-9 36 ASHRAE Journal March 2009 http://www.motivaircorp.com http://www.motivaircorp.com http://www.info.hotims.com/23933-9

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of ASHRAE Journal - March 2009

Contents Commentary Industry News Letters Meetings and Shows Special Section 2009 ASHRAE Technology Awards Feature Articles Heat Recovery for Office Tower Air Motion Control in the Hospital Operating Room Anniversary Feature: Five Defrost Methods for Commercial Refrigeration Groundwater Issues: Commercial Open Loop Heat Pump Systems Used Filters and Indoor Air Quality Building Sciences Emerging Technologies Washington Report Products Special Products People Classified Advertising Advertising Index

ASHRAE Journal - March 2009

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