hospital

Many significant ASHRAE papers devoted to hospital ventilation have been published. In contrast, literature regarding ventilation in nursing facilities is rare. Nursing facilities are distinctly different from hospitals. This article provides some insight and guidance toward the design for such facilities.

This report is from a study of the performance of eight exhaust systems of a large medical center in Tennessee. The mechanical contractor of the project initiated this study when confronted with a claim of unacceptable deficiencies in all building exhaust systems. These systems were reportedly exhausting 32% to 43% less than design airflow as a consequence of excessive leakage in the duct system.

The use of air solar collector realised on the north facade of a new hospital building in Rome is hereby described. The integration of solar and structural element has been studied during the design phase; the development of air gaps integrated within enclosures is related to the possibility to activate both natural (ejecting indoor air outside) and forced (preheating outside air incoming to the air handling units) ventilation. The energy gained by the solar elements has been evaluated.

This article presents the study of a surgical block with serious deficiencies of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) located in the Hospital del Rio Hortega (Valladolid, Spain). Block characteristics were identified and symptoms reports collected from 118 workers. At the end of the initial investigation, it was concluded that there was Sick Building Syndrome. Measurements of ventilation and contaminants were made of indoor air (CO, C02, TVOC, anaesthetic gases, at six different points simultaneously) and outdoor air (hospital incinerator).

Investigations of particle concentration levels and size distribution were conducted in the complex hospital system of the Royal Children's and the Royal Brisbane Hospitals in Queensland, Australia. The aim of the measurements was to provide an indication of particulate sources in the hospital environment and relate particle characteristics to the operating parameters of the hospitals. The measurements were performed using the most advanced instrumentation for size classification in the submicrometer and supermicrometer levels.

Political and economical changes that have been started in Poland since 1989 strongly influenced the building construction market. New owners or managers of institutional buildings have begun the process of retrofitting, focusing on: