Operations Room (OR) being the most critical area in a hospital complex, is necessary to control the air with respect to temperature, humidity and particulate matter to a content of air and micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and etc.
Laminar Air Flow (LAF) is non-turbulent air distribution system which is in bell-shaped lanes vertically on the operating table. At the entrance of the plenum is provided with a HEPA filter of 0.3 microns with 99.99% efficiency. The plenum also functions as a light source above the operating area, it has energy efficient LED lights and provides shadow less lighting.
It is necessary to maintain the air velocity in the operating area at the required level and is ensured by LAF. Clean, treated and filtered air coming from LAF over the operative area carries away bacteria from the patient and from the inmates. As per NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare) the air velocity should be between 2.5–3.5 cm (meter per minute).
A highly clean air of LAF falls in class 100/ISO 5 category. When the air moves further in Operation Theatre (OT) after leaving LAF area, it mixes with lesser clean air in the room along with the heat, moisture and bacterial load from the operative area. And gradually loses its clean state while it reaches the last point in OR from where it is sucked back to the AHU. The air in peripheral area of LAF normally falls in class 10,000/ISO 100,000 categories depending on the OT size. LAF can be made in various sizes as per the requirement. AHU can be mounted in different ways and kept outside the OT, normally floor mounted or can be ceiling suspended above the OR with maintenance accessibility provisions. Return air is taken from almost floor level in OT, sent to the AHU through the VU treatment module, and returned through plenum with fresh air as per the requirements through LAF. Filtered, treated and cooled fresh air is added within AHU. This addition of fresh air also maintains positive pressure in the OR and since the OR has a positive pressure, the outside room air entering the OR is restricted while the doors are opened. We also provide necessary cascade pressure relief dampers on the wall to relieve excess pressure in hermetically sealed areas.
