Efficiently Controlling Temperature And Humidity In Surgery Suites
Tony Mormino
HVAC Addict, Host of HVAC TV (YouTube @HVAC-TV), and the HVAC TV Podcast. It is brought to you by Air Control Concepts. “HVAC TV is the best YouTube channel in the world.” - Marie Mormino, Tony’s Mom.
In this article, and embedded video, I discuss the challenges faced with successfully cooling and dehumidifying surgery suite applications.
Surgery suite HVAC design needs to address air quality, air flow, air pressure, temperature, and humidity in the operating room and adjacent critical spaces such as the recovery room and scrub room.
Given the low temperature and dewpoint requirements, this can be a challenge. Low temperatures are required to keep the surgeons from sweating and the low dewpoint is needed to prevent condensation in the operating room. Low dewpoint HVAC systems are certainly a specialty. Features like modulating hot gas reheat, modulating compressors (digital scroll, variable capacity compressor (VCC) or VFD Compressors), modulating condenser fans and the proper application specific controls are a must.
I define low space dewpoint as 42F to 55F DP. In this range, when attempting to accurately control space humidity and temperature over all load conditions, special considerations must be taken when selecting DX systems. Bad design can result in condensation in the operating room and increase the risk for SSI (Surgical suite infections).
The air source in the OR must be as free as possible from microorganisms. Operating rooms require a minimum of 20 total air changes per hour, four of which come from outdoor air.
ASHRAE Standard 170 – 2017 addresses the following considerations for operating room HVAC design:
Reduce SSI (Surgical Suite Infections)
Required Air Changes per Hour
Low Temp, Low humidity
Low Humidity - prevent condensation in surgery suite
Cooler Temps – good for doctors and patients
Positive Pressure to adjacent spaces
High filtration (MERV 7, 14, sometimes HEPA)
Other low dewpoint HVAC applications would be Labs, Archival Storage and some Manufacturing Facilities.
Have an application you want to discuss?
Set up an online meeting with me here: https://calendly.com/tmormino/aaon-application
Email Me: Tony Mormino
About me:
I sell commercial air conditioning equipment in Western North Carolina (Greater Asheville). I also sell AC equipment to national corporations through AAON's National Account Program. My passion for teaching and giving back to the HVAC community has inspired me to create free educational videos, virtual lunch and learn presentations and webinars.
See all my webinars here: https://hvacwebinars.com
Visit my YouTube Channel for all of my training videos: https://bit.ly/2W3z8no
Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/tony-mormino
Subscribe to this YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/2SYI2zm
Email Me: Tony Mormino
Thank you for watching and please let me know if you have any questions!