SURVEY OF DESIGN PRACTICES OF HOSPITAL OPERATING ROOM
AIR CONDITIONING AND VENTILATION SYSTEM
Vinson R. Oviatt, M.P.H., F.A.P.H.A.
Survey questionnaires, similar in many
respects to those sent to hospital main-
tenance engineers, were directed to 287
individuals and firms identified as being
active in the field of hospital air con-
ditioning and ventilation design.
only did the survey sheets attempt to
collect design practice data suitable for
tabulation and comparison, but the re-
spondents were encouraged to contribute
any original information bearing on de-
sign practice and theory in the follow-
ing health or safety related areas:
1. Air quality within the operating room
from a bacteriological point of view.
2. Physical comfort of operating room oc-
3. Removal of flammable anesthetic vapors
4. Control of electrostatic hazards.
The discussion and tabulated material
below summarize the information con-
tained in the 99 replies received from
The survey indicated a multiplicity
of sources for design standards, ranging
from original design by the respondent to
56 of the respondents reported that ele-
ments in their designs were based on
standards. Whether or not the remain-
ing 43 consider recognized standards
as being significant enough to use or
mention could not be determined.
the 56 referring to standards, USPHS
standards were listed
28 times,1 ASHRAE ("Guide") stand-
ards were listed 17 times,2 NFPA Code
56, 17 times,3 and various state codes,
that only 23 of the respondents indi-
official or quasi-official
is of particular interest to note
cated that the hospital staff had been
consulted about the design.
consult the hospital staff, but at least
only 23 felt that this item was signifi-
cant enough to check on the question-
naire. This indication can lead to several
conclusions, one of the more important
being that there appears to be a mini-
mum of communication between the de-
sign group and the hospital staff who
will use the facilities.
Almost unanimous agreement on two
design considerations was elicited from
the survey returns. The first was that
98 of the 99 respondents replied that
both supply and exhaust ventilation are
used; one respondent failed to reply to
this question. The second was to supply
clean air to the operating room.
significant to note that there were a
number of requests for information re-
ceived in the returned questionnaires
as to the degree it is considered neces-
sary to clean the air. Other comments
and the enforcement of standards for
Air Intake and Exhaust Outlet Location
The numerical preferences for gen-
eral locations for fresh-air intakes and
exhaust air outlets are summarized in
As shown, sidewall locations for fresh-
air intakes are strongly favored.
largest number of designers prefer the
roof level for exhaust air outlets. Since
sources occur at grade level, the com-
mittee was gratified to note that grade
level locations for fresh-air intakes are
rarely used today.
An examination of Table 2(B), which
summarizes design practice with respect
VOL. 51. NO. 12. A.J.P.H.