ATLANTA, Ga. — Healthcare HVAC systems serve facilities in which the population is uniquely vulnerable and exposed to elevated risks of health, fire and safety hazard. These heavily regulated, high-stake facilities undergo continuous maintenance, verification, inspection and recertification, typically operate 24/7 and are owner occupied for long life.
A newly published manual from ASHRAE provides guidance on addressing these issues for mechanical and consulting engineers, designers, architects, facility managers, infection control personnel, maintenance staff, contractors, developers and code accreditation and licensure officials.
“HVAC Design Manual for Hospitals and Clinics, Second Edition,” provides in-depth design recommendations based on best practices and presents proven, cost-effective and reliable solutions that result in low-maintenance cost and high reliability with systems providing desired performance and efficiency. The book, a complete rewrite of the first edition, focuses specifically on HVAC system design for healthcare facilities, omitting general system descriptions readily available in other ASHRAE publications.
“The manual presents a unified and comprehensive summary of engineering background on the standard, how to meet it and alternatives for best engineering practices beyond the minimum requirements,” said Daniel Koenigshofer, P.E., editor of the manual. “A principle objective of the manual is to present what is different about designing HVAC systems for hospitals and healthcare facilities.”
Chapter two describes how the principles of infection control have influenced the regulations, which in turn are the basis for the unique design principles needed for hospitals.
ASHRAE’s first “HVAC Design Manual for Hospitals and Clinics,” which serves as a comprehensive source for the design, installation and commissioning of HVAC systems for hospitals and clinics, was published in 2003.
Koenigshofer, of Dewberry, noted the writing of this manual was a highly collaborative effort by 20 of the top consulting and hospital engineers in the country. For more information, visit www.ashrae.org/bookstore.
