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Studies of Ventilation Efficiency in a Protective Isolation Room by the Use of a Scale Model

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

John W. Marshall ,
James H. Vincent ,
Thomas H. Kuehn  and
Lisa M. Brosseau
John W. Marshall
Affiliation:
University of Minnesota Hospital and Clinics, Minneapolis, Minnesota
James H. Vincent*
Affiliation:
University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Division of Environmental and Occupational Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Thomas H. Kuehn
Affiliation:
University of Minnesota Department of Mechanical Engineering, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Lisa M. Brosseau
Affiliation:
University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Division of Environmental and Occupational Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota
*
Box 807 Mayo, 420 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN 554551
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Abstract

Objective:

To assess the ability of a protective isolation room ventilation system to reduce patient exposure to airborne infectious agents, using a small-scale model that permits cost-effective and unobtrusive study of relevant indices of performance.

Design:

A one-half scale model of a protective isolation room at the University of Minnesota Hospital was constructed and equipped for tracer gas experiments to assess ventilation efficiency.

Measurements:

Tracer gas (SF6) was injected into the model supply air. Tracer gas concentration was recorded over time and analyzed to determine local and room mean age of air. Age of air is a direct measurement of ventilation efficiency and can be used to predict patient exposure to contamination.

Results:

Although for the room taken as a whole, ventilation efficiency was close to 50% (a value corresponding to perfect mixing), the experimental results for the local mean age of air indicate that some parts of the model were ventilated much better than others.

Conclusion:

Room air exchange rate is only one parameter useful in assessing ventilation in patient areas. Effective distribution of ventilation air also is critical to the control of airborne contamination. Areas of the room with poor ventilation would be expected to have higher concentrations of airborne infectious agents and other contaminants. Patient exposure can be minimized by placing the patient in well-ventilated areas of the room. Improved ventilation designs may reduce patient exposure further without increasing actual airflow rate.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 17 , Issue 1 , January 1996 , pp. 5 - 10
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1996

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References

1. Sandberg, M. What is ventilation efficiency? Building and Environment 1981;16(2):123–135.10.1016/0360-1323(81)90028-7Google Scholar
2. Sandberg, M, Sjöberg, M. The use of moments for assessing air quality in ventilated rooms. Building and Environment 1983;18(4):181–197.10.1016/0360-1323(83)90026-4CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3. Air Infiltration and Ventilation Centre (AIVC). Technical Note AIVC 28: A Guide to Air Change Efficiency. University of Warwick, Great Britain: International Energy Agency; 02 1990.Google Scholar