A Breath of Fresh Air

Enhancing Indoor Air Quality in Medical Spaces

Maintaining superior indoor air quality (IAQ) is crucial in healthcare facilities. It protects patients, staff, and visitors from airborne contaminants and infectious diseases. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) sets the gold standard for ventilation and air quality. Let's look at three key ASHRAE standards—62.1, 170, and 241—and how the right solutions can help meet and even exceed them.

The Trifecta of Air Quality: ASHRAE Standards 62.1, 170, and 241

These three standards work together to create a safer, healthier environment by establishing clear requirements for ventilation and air filtration.

ASHRAE Standard 62.1: The Foundation

ASHRAE Standard 62.1 provides the baseline for ventilation in all commercial buildings, including healthcare facilities. It specifies minimum ventilation rates to ensure acceptable IAQ and minimize adverse health effects. The 2022 edition has been updated to reflect new research and technologies, focusing on how building systems contribute to overall air quality beyond just minimum ventilation rates.

ASHRAE Standard 170: The Specialist

ASHRAE Standard 170, the ventilation standard specifically for healthcare facilities, builds upon 62.1. It sets more stringent requirements for controlling contaminants and managing air quality in patient care settings. This standard addresses critical aspects like air exchange rates, space pressure relationships (to prevent the spread of airborne contaminants), filtration, and humidity levels. Compliance with Standard 170 is often mandatory for regulatory and accreditation purposes, such as with The Joint Commission.

ASHRAE Standard 241: The Shield

ASHRAE Standard 241, Control of Infectious Aerosols, is a new and vital standard that aims to reduce disease transmission. It sets minimum requirements for the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of building systems to mitigate the risk of exposure to infectious aerosols, such as those that cause influenza and COVID-19. This standard elevates the focus on filtration and air system design to actively combat airborne pathogens.

The Challenge of Increased Fresh Air Intake

To meet the stringent ventilation requirements of these standards, especially 170 and 241, HVAC systems must draw in significant amounts of fresh outside air. While this is essential for a safe environment, it introduces new challenges that can compromise both IAQ and system efficiency.

• Pollution and Contaminants: Outdoor air can introduce pollutants, allergens, and other contaminants that degrade indoor air quality, even when it's "fresh."

• Corrosion: In coastal or industrial areas, outdoor air can carry corrosive elements, such as salt, which can damage HVAC components, particularly coils, leading to premature failure and costly repairs.

• Energy Inefficiency: Outside air is often at drastically different temperatures and humidity levels than the conditioned return air inside the building. The HVAC system has to work harder to condition this mixed air, leading to increased energy consumption and higher operating costs.

A Smarter Approach: Solutions That Protect and Perform

To address these challenges, facilities need solutions that protect their HVAC systems and enhance the quality of the incoming air before it circulates.

CoilSafe Plus provides a dual-action solution. Its antimicrobial and antiviral properties kill contaminants and airborne pathogens upon contact, helping prevent mold and mildew growth. This helps ensure that the air entering the HVAC system is clean, helping to meet the filtration and pathogen-control goals of standards like 170 and 241. Simultaneously, its protective coating shields HVAC coils from corrosive elements, significantly extending their lifespan and maintaining system efficiency.

ThermalBlock is an advanced coating that works to combat energy inefficiency. It rejects heat load and helps keep the interior of HVAC units cooler. This allows the return air to stay cooler, which in turn helps reduce the temperature of the incoming outside air. The result is a lower workload for the HVAC system, as it doesn't have to work as hard to cool the mixed air. This leads to substantial energy savings and improved system performance.

By integrating solutions like CoilSafe Plus and ThermalBlock, healthcare facilities can confidently meet and exceed ASHRAE standards. They can improve air quality, ensure patient and staff safety, and protect their valuable HVAC assets while simultaneously reducing energy costs. This intelligent approach to air quality management provides a tangible return on investment, creating a healthier, more efficient environment for all.

Contact Us