Maintaining good air quality through air conditioning and ventilation is vital to keep each other safe. By assuring that the exposure to airborne diseases and viruses is limited as much as possible, we’re all doing our part in protecting one another – but perhaps the most critical location to do this is within hospitals.
By definition, hospitals exist to protect and heal the public. Therefore, following the proper steps to install, maintain and service HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems continuously is of the highest importance. Especially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s become clear just how vital these systems are to maintaining good air quality and public health.
Here at Accurate Mechanical Services (AMS), our team are experts in commercial mechanical contracting and ventilation, and we want to ensure the safety of our clients and their inhabitants.
How Air Conditioning and Ventilation Protects Hospitals
HVAC units play a significant role in maintaining the safety of hospitals. Most hospitals admit patients with a wide variety of illnesses, some of which are highly dangerous via airborne transmission. In combination with the vulnerable nature of patients, it becomes vital to maintain correct air ventilation and temperature control, as recycled contaminated air moving between wards could prove fatal.
When installing HVAC systems within hospitals, it’s essential to consider their design to ensure that all rules and guidelines are followed. The systems need to be accessible to be regularly cleaned and positioned in locations where a large and regular amount of fresh outside air is available to be filtered throughout the hospital. This also ensures that health and safety guidelines are met.
Maintaining the differing required temperatures around the building is necessary, as medical equipment can misfunction at the wrong temperature, with catastrophic consequences. When installed and maintained correctly, HVAC machines ensure that every hospital room is correctly maintained and ventilated, meaning that even the most vulnerable patients can be protected from airborne illnesses.
COVID-19 and Air Conditioning in Hospitals
Never has the issue of air quality and ventilation in regards to public health been discussed as much as it has been during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a higher risk of coronavirus transmission in hospitals due to the mixture of infected and healthy patients being kept in one place. Therefore wards with COVID-19 patients must be well ventilated to protect both patients and staff whilst also being isolated from the rest of the hospital to ensure that other vulnerable patients aren’t exposed to contaminated air.
It’s important to clarify that having a well-maintained commercial ventilation system won’t protect the building’s inhabitants from becoming ill with coronavirus. Still, it can significantly reduce the risk of exposure when installed correctly. When all of the necessary steps are taken to ensure that the airflow from various hospital wards aren’t combined and that temperature and humidity levels are kept at the preferable range for both people and medical machines, COVID-19 exposure will be minimised.
How to Maintain Quality of Air Conditioning in Hospitals
Having an HVAC system installed is only the beginning of the process to ensure good air quality within hospitals. Maintenance and regular cleaning are required to keep the ventilation system working efficiently.
There’s a common misconception that air conditioning units can make you ill – that’s not true, as the bacteria, fungi and viruses that build up within the system over time can make you sick. That’s why it’s vital for accredited and qualified air conditioning and ventilation technicians to regularly clean HVAC machines, ensuring that the system is handled correctly and shields those present from potentially harmful diseases.
Leaving your HVAC unit running is recommended to maintain the circulation of air and correct temperature continuously. Using air purifiers (which are a great way of providing additional protection against airborne diseases) can help create a maintained high airflow quality. When these processes are used alongside the established cleaning systems in place at hospitals, staff, patients, and their families can rest assured that all preventative measures are in place.
Commercial Air Conditioning and Ventilation Engineers
As discussed, we’ve all become a lot more aware of the need for high-quality air quality given the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges it has provided.
If the above information has been of use to you, why not consider contacting one of our experts to discuss our commercial air conditioning and ventilation capabilities? AMS can provide regular servicing, contracting and maintenance for air conditioning and ventilation systems in hospitals and other commercial buildings.