Hospital

How an optimal hygiene climate can protect patients & operating theatre staff from dangerous germs.

Even if hygiene standards in operating theatres are very good, inadequate air hygiene can lead to considerable risks. Patients fear infection with multi-resistant germs, which are an increasing problem, especially in hospital environments. And doctors and operating theatre staff are also at risk from so-called surgical smoke, which can cause permanent damage to their health. But with the right clean air systems, doctors and patients can be effectively protected.

Standards & guidelines

In principle, strict regulations apply to operating theatres:

• Microbial air purity of the supply air: guideline value 4 CFU/m3, limit value 10 CFU/m3,
• Particle load of the supply air (particle diameter > 0.5 µm): guideline value 4000/m3, limit value 10000/m3 [15],
• Temperature range: 22 to 26 °C (exceptions in neonatology/paediatrics or in special situations),
• Relative humidity 35 to 65 %,
• Air velocity maximum 0.2 m/s,
• CO2 content < 0.1 vol.%.
   

Reliable systems also meet national and international norms and standards:

• DIN 1946 T4
• HTM 03-01
• SNI

Recirculating air ceilings

Functionality
The optimised, low-turbulence recirculation ceiling consists of an air outlet element, terminal HEPA filters, a pressure body with silencers and recirculation modules. To ensure maximum safety with optimum efficiency, the ULA mixes room and supply air in the recirculation module. For this purpose, the room air is drawn in via the recirculation module and mixed with the supply air coming from the air handling unit. The mixed air is conveyed into the pressurised body located above the filters. From there, it is fed particle-filtered as clean air into the operating room and the set-up room, where it creates a protected area.

Protected area
The protected area is created by a low-turbulence displacement flow (TAV). It encompasses the entire aseptic environment of the surgical procedure. This also includes material and instrument tables as well as sterilely dressed persons. Thus, patient, surgical team, material and instruments are optimally protected against particles and airborne germs. The size of the protected area is marked on the floor.

Advantages:

• Optimum energy consumption
• Reduction of duct cross-sections coming from the A/C unit
• Air volume adjustment possible independently of the air handling unit and duct system
• Mixing of room and supply air in the recirculation module, i.e. outside the ceiling corpus, and thus no temperature differences
• For refurbishment of existing systems

Recirculation wall module

Function
The recirculation wall module can be installed either in front of the wall, as an integral part of a lightweight wall or in an adjacent room. The recirculated air is drawn in from the operating room directly at the recirculation wall module via lint separators, filtered, guided through silencers and optionally cooled. Subsequently, the recirculated air is conveyed by the fan with the supply air coming from the air handling unit into the pressurised body of the filter surface ceiling located above the filters.

Your advantages:

• Reduced sound pressure level when installed in the adjacent room
• Service and maintenance work can be carried out from outside the operating theatre
• Lint separator easily accessible and designed for mechanical cleaning
• Optional use of a dry cooler