Ventilation of Health Care Facilities

Abstract

I have an application where an existing Sterilizer Equipment Room meets all requirements noted above. The room is negatively pressurized with 10 ACH of exhaust air all being exhausted directly to the outdoors. Make-up air to the space is via a central air handling unit meeting all filtration and outside air requirements of ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170. In its existing compliant condition, the room is overheating due to sterilizer equipment heat output and additional cooling is required. I believe that since the existing base mechanical systems fully meet the requirements of the standard and will remain in place, the use of a recirculation unit solely as a means for additional cooling is acceptable