S.C. Code Regs. § § 61-91.2400.2403
Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 11, November 22, 2024
Section 61-91.2400.2403 - Ventilation RequirementsA. The ventilation rates shown herein shall be considered as minimum acceptable rates and shall not be construed as precluding the use of higher ventilation rates for operating rooms.B. Temperatures and humidity. HVAC systems shall be designed to provide the temperature and humidity shown below: AREA DESIGNATION | TEMPERATURE | RELATIVE HUMIDITY |
FAHRENHEIT | CENTIGRADE |
Operating Rooms | 70-76° | 21-24° | 50-60% |
Recovery Areas | 75-80° | 24-27° | 50-60% |
Procedure Rooms; Other | 72-78° | 22-26° | 50-60% |
C. All air-supply and air-exhaust systems for the surgical suite shall be mechanically operated.D. All fans serving exhaust systems shall be located at the discharge end of the system.E. Outdoor intakes shall be located as far as practical from the exhausts from any ventilating system, combustion equipment, and plumbing vents and at least three feet above the ground or roof.F. All air supplied to operating rooms shall be delivered at or near the ceiling of the area served and all exhaust from the area shall be removed near floor level.G. At least two exhaust outlets shall be used in all operating rooms. EXCEPTION: Only one exhaust outlet is required for facilities that perform endoscopy.
H. The bottom of any room supply air inlets, re-circulation, and exhaust air outlets shall be located not less than three inches above the floor.I. All ventilation or air conditioning systems serving operating rooms shall have a minimum of two filter beds. 1. Filter bed #1 shall be located upstream of the air conditioning equipment and shall have a minimum efficiency of 25%.2. Filter bed #2 shall be downstream of the supply fan and of recirculating spray water and water reservoir-type humidifiers. Filter bed #2 shall have a minimum efficiency of 90%.3. All filter efficiencies shall be certified by an independent testing agency and shall be based on the atmospheric dust spot efficiency determination in accordance with ASHRAE Standard 52-68, except that the exhausts from all laboratory hoods in which infectious or radioactive materials are processed shall be equipped with filters having a 99% efficiency based on the DOP (dioctyophthalate) test method and there shall be equipment and/or procedure for the safe removal of contaminated filters.4. Filter frames shall be durable and carefully dimensioned and shall provide an airtight fit with the enclosing duct-work. All joints between filter segments and the enclosing duct-work shall be gasketed or sealed to provide a positive seal against air leakage.5. Each filter bed serving sensitive areas or central air systems shall have a manometer installed across each filter bed. EXCEPTION: A single-step filter bed of 20% filters is required for endoscopy facilities.
J. All air supplied to soiled linen holding, janitor's closets or soiled workrooms shall be exhausted to the outside and shall not be re-circulated within the room. (II)K. Air handling duct systems shall not have duct linings.L. The ventilation systems shall be designed and balanced to provide the pressure relationship as shown in the table below: AREA DESIGNATION | PRESSURE RELATIONSHIP TO ADJACENT AREAS | MINIMUM TOTAL AIR CHANGES PER HOUR SUPPLIED TO ROOM | ALL AIR EXHAUSTED DIRECTLY TO OUTDOORS | RE -CIRCULATED WITHIN ROOM UNITS |
Operating Room | P | 16 | Optional | Only with approved filters |
Recovery and Procedure Rooms | P | 6 | Optional | Only with approved filters |
Soiled Workroom or Soiled Holding | N | 10 | Yes | No |
Clean Workroom or Clean Holding | P | 4 | Optional | Optional |
P = Positive N = Negative |
S.C. Code Regs. § 61-91.2400.2403