In healthcare environments where consistent indoor air quality (IAQ) is expected and critical to the lives of patients and staff, and airborne contamination directly impacts the quality of care, it is vital to maintain hygiene along with superior indoor air quality.

High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration is typically used to supply ultraclean air to a range of healthcare areas. Inline/induct terminal HEPA filter systems are generally preferred for supply air applications within hospitals, as the clean air is supplied directly to the room or space served. Terminal HEPA filters used in immune-suppressed areas include cancer wards, positive isolation rooms and burns rooms (low flow). Terminal HEPA filters used in clean spaces include pharmacy, cytotoxic areas, research/laboratory areas, pathology areas and cyclotron/nuclear medicine areas. Terminal HEPA filters and ultraclean ventilation systems (UCVs) are typically used within operating theatres, setup and recovery areas and sterile store stock areas.

HEPA filtration is also used to contain airborne contaminates from being discharged to outside or other spaces within the hospital through terminal or inline exhaust HEPA containment filtration systems. These may be located within isolation rooms, cytotoxic areas, research/laboratory areas, pathology areas and cyclotron/nuclear medicine areas.

Typically, HEPA filters require large amounts of air to pass through the ventilation system, so the airflow requirements of the HVAC system should be taken into account. An increase in efficiency and thus pressure drop in a HVAC system can mean possible changes in the fan, power consumption and a requirement for duct or framework modifications. Accommodating these changes is not always possible.

An effective and swift alternative to a HEPA filter upgrade in the HVAC system is the use of portable air cleaners equipped with HEPA air filters. They remove dust and harmful particles from the indoor air and can drastically reduce the risk of infection.

Mobile HEPA air cleaners can help healthcare facilities remove airborne contaminants, particulates, dust, odours, gases, and pathogens without the need to replace or reconfigure their entire HVAC system. Camfil air cleaners are designed to supplement the HVAC system to not only protect people, products, and processes but also to reduce energy consumption.

Negative pressure containment or quarantine areas are designed to contain the spread of pathogens from the working area, and air pressure within these areas are negative relative to adjacent rooms. This prevents air, which may contain dangerous viruses, from flowing out of the room through open doors, windows, or even through unseen cracks in the facility boundary as it is blocked by the higher air pressure outside the room. Subject to how they are connected, mobile air cleaners can be a key piece of equipment to temporarily convert regular rooms into negative pressure containment or quarantine areas.

Mobile air cleaners can perform four critical functions: two methods to generate negatively pressurised isolation areas and two methods to recirculate HEPA-filtered air.

To generate negatively pressurised isolation areas:

To recirculate HEPA filter air:

For some healthcare facilities, odour or noxious contaminants such as ammonia, formaldehyde or other VOCs can be an issue requiring gaseous (molecular) air filtration for removal. Installing mobile air cleaners equipped with both HEPA and molecular filters can assist as a solution.

Global clean air solutions manufacturer Camfil offer a complete range of in-room air cleaners designed to improve indoor air quality through the removal of ultrafine airborne particles, specific odours and hazardous gases.

Available now through Camfil Australia, air cleaner configurations include particulate filtration using Camfil Absolute™ HEPA filters or E11 rated filters and molecular filtration using activated carbon or custom gaseous filtration options.

General benefits of the Camfil air cleaner range include cleaner indoor air quality for a healthier indoor environment, a reduced need for surface cleaning through the efficient removal of dust and airborne contaminants and reduced energy costs through efficient air purification.

Available in various models to suit small-sized rooms up to 60 m2 through to larger open-plan spaces up to 1500 m2, Camfil air cleaners are ideal for use within communal shared spaces and waiting areas, canteens and food prep areas, offices, hospital suites and consulting rooms, dental surgeries, cleanrooms and research laboratories.

For more information regarding our range of air cleaners, please go to https://www.camfil.com/en-au/insights/air-cleaners-and-air-purifiers/camfil-australia-air-cleaners.

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