Section 518.2210  Mechanical Requirements

 

a)         General Requirements

 

1)         Mechanical systems shall be tested, balanced, and operated to demonstrate that these systems are installed and will perform according to the plans and specifications.

 

2)         Upon completion of the contract, the owner shall obtain a complete set of manufacturers' installation, operating, maintenance and preventive maintenance instructions, and a parts list with numbers and a description for each piece of equipment.  The owner shall also obtain instruction in the operational use of the systems and equipment as required.

 

b)         Thermal and Acoustical Insulation

 

1)         Insulation shall be provided for the following, which are located within the building:

 

A)        Boilers, smoke breeching, and stacks.

 

B)        Steam supply and condensate return piping.

 

C)        Hot water piping above 120~ F and all water heaters, generators, and converters.  Exposed hot water supplies to fixtures need not be insulated except where exposed to contact by physically handicapped persons.

 

D)        Chilled water, refrigerant, other process piping and equipment operating with fluid temperatures below ambient dew point.

 

E)         Water supply, storm and drainage piping on which condensation may occur.

 

F)         Air ducts and casings with outside surface temperature below ambient dew point.

 

G)        Other piping, ducts, and equipment as necessary to maintain the efficiency of the system.

 

2)         Insulation on cold surfaces shall include an exterior vapor barrier.

 

3)         Insulation, including finishes and adhesives on exterior surfaces of ducts and equipment, shall have a flame spread rating of 25 or less and a smoke developed rating of 50 or less as determined by an independent testing laboratory in accordance with NFPA Standard No. 255 (1990), "Standard Method of Test of Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Material."

 

A)        Pipe insulation shall have a flame spread rating of 25 or less and a smoke developed rating of 150 or less.

 

B)        All construction exposed to air flow in air distribution plenums shall have a flame spread rating of 25 or less and a smoke developed rating of 50 or less.

 

4)         No duct linings shall  be permitted downstream of the 90% filters serving areas requiring 90% filtration.

 

c)         Steam and Hot Water Systems

 

1)         Boilers shall have the capacity to supply the normal requirements of all systems and equipment.  The number and arrangement of boilers shall be such that when one boiler breaks down or is temporarily taken out of service, the capacity of the remaining boiler(s) shall be sufficient to provide hot water service, steam for sterilization, and heating for all treatment rooms and major procedure rooms.

 

2)         Boiler feed pumps, heating circulating pumps, condensate return pumps and fuel oil pumps shall be connected and installed to provide normal and standby service.

 

3)         Supply and return mains and risers of cooling, heating and process steam systems shall be valved to isolate the various sections of each system.  Each piece of equipment shall be valved at supply and return ends.

 

4)         Humidifiers used in conjunction with air handling systems shall be of the direct steam injection type.

 

d)         Air Conditioning, Heating and Ventilating Systems

 

1)         This Part is intended to provide a comfortable, clean, controlled environment for the FEC by employing the most economical and energy efficient systems consistent with these minimum requirements.

 

A)        The minimum requirements as set forth in this Part in no way relieve the designer from providing system capacities and components as required to maintain control of air quality, odor, ventilation rates, space temperatures and space humidity as set forth herein.

 

B)        The design of air conditioning, heating and ventilation systems shall be based on no less than the recommended outdoor design conditions listed in the ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals (1981) for 99% occurrence (Winter) and 1% occurrence (Summer).

 

2)         Ventilation Systems

 

A)        Air handling systems shall conform to NFPA Standard No. 90A (1989), "Installation of Air Conditioning and Ventilating Systems."

 

B)        Fire dampers, smoke dampers and smoke control systems shall be constructed, located and installed in accordance with the requirements of NFPA Standard No. 90A (1989), "Installation of Air Conditioning and Ventilating Systems."

 

C)        Ducts that penetrate construction intended for x-ray or other ray protection shall preserve the effectiveness of the protection.

 

D)        Outdoor air intakes shall be located at least 15 feet from exhaust outlets of ventilation systems, combustion equipment stacks, medical/surgical vacuum systems, plumbing vents or from areas that may collect vehicular exhaust or other noxious fumes unless other provisions are made to minimize recirculation of exhaust into outdoor air intakes.  Plumbing and vacuum vents that terminate above the level of the top of the air intake may be located as close as 10 feet.  The bottom of outdoor air intakes serving central systems shall be located as high as practical but at least 6 feet above ground level, or if installed above the roof, 3 feet above the roof level.

 

E)         Exhaust outlets from areas that may be contaminated by dangerous or noxious dust, fumes, mists, gases, odors, infectious material or other contaminants harmful to people shall be above the roof level. The discharge to the atmosphere shall be located as far as possible but not less than 25 feet from any operable window, door, and/or outdoor intake for a fan that discharges air to an occupied space.

 

F)         The ventilation systems shall be designed and balanced to provide the ventilation and pressure relationships hereinafter specified.

 

G)        If the ventilation rates required (as hereinafter specified) do not provide sufficient make-up air for use by hoods, safety cabinets, and exhaust fans, the additional make-up air shall be provided to maintain required pressure balance.

 

H)        An all outdoor air system may be used where required by local codes, provided that some form of air-to-air or air-to-water heat recovery system will be included to reclaim the energy otherwise discharged with the air exhausted to the outside.

 

I)          To provide maximum energy conservation, air supplied to patient care areas not required as make-up air for 100% exhaust systems shall be recirculated.  Any air within the FEC that is circulated between patient rooms, or patient rooms and other areas of the FEC, shall pass through filters having an efficiency of 90% (see subsection (d)(3) on filters below).

 

J)         To provide maximum energy conservation, air supplied to housekeeping, administration and other nonsensitive areas not required as make-up air for 100% exhaust systems shall be recirculated.  These areas require filters having a minimum efficiency of 30% on the inlet side of the Air Handling Unit.

 

K)        When a central system serves areas with different filtration requirements, the most stringent filtration requirement will be provided for the complete system.

 

L)         All outside air supplied to patient care areas shall pass through 90% filters (see subsection (d)(3) on filters below).

 

M)       Minimum air circulation requirements indicated hereinafter are applicable to occupied spaces.  During unoccupied periods, minimum air circulation may be provided as required to maintain space design temperature conditions.

 

N)        Where fan coil or terminal room unit systems are provided in areas to be occupied by patients, through the wall outside air ventilation is not acceptable.  A separate central ventilation system, with final filters having a minimum efficiency of 90%, shall supply the required outdoor air ventilation.

 

3)         Filters

 

A)        All central ventilation or air conditioning systems shall be equipped with filters having efficiencies no less than those specified in the area requirements.

 

B)        Where two filter beds are required, filter bed No. 1 shall be located upstream of the conditioning equipment and filter bed No. 2 shall be located downstream of the supply fan and conditioning equipment.

 

C)        Where only one filter bed is required, it shall be located upstream of the air conditioning equipment.

 

D)        All filter efficiencies shall be average atmospheric dust spot efficiencies tested in accordance with ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals (1981).

 

E)         Filter frames shall be durable and shall provide an airtight fit with the enclosing duct work.  All joints between filter segments and enclosing duct work shall be gasketed or sealed to provide a positive seal against air leakage.

 

F)         A local indicating device shall be installed across each filter bed serving central air systems to measure the static pressure drop across the bed.

 

e)         Area Requirements: These requirements are listed in outline format.

 

1)         Administration, Public Area, Medical Records, and Housekeeping Offices

 

A)        Filters:

 

i)          Central ventilation systems shall be provided with prefilters having a minimum efficiency of 30%

 

ii)         Units that recirculate air within a room shall be provided with filters having a minimum efficiency of 10%

 

B)        Space Design Conditions:

i)          Temperature, dry bulb  75°F

 

C)        Air Circulation:

i)

 

D)        Space Pressurization:

 

2)         Laboratories

 

A)        Filters:

i)          Central ventilation systems shall be

 

B)        Space Design Conditions:

i)          Temperature, dry bulb  75~ F   C)        Air Circulation:

 

D)        Space Pressurization:

i)

 

G)        All air exhausted from fume hoods shall be made

i)

I)

i)

 

3)         Radiology Suite; X-Ray Diagnostic, Fluoroscopy, and Special Procedures

 

A)        Filters:

i)          Central ventilation systems shall be

 

B)        Space Design Conditions:

i)          Temperature, dry bulb  75°F

 

C)        Air Circulation:

i)

 

D)        Space Pressurization:   Ventilation system shall be designed and balanced so that space pressure, in relation to surrounding areas of the building, is .............................................................neutral

 

E)         Recirculation of air within room permitted .............................................................yes

 

F)         Air from the following areas shall be exhausted directly to the outdoors:   Nuclear medicine and isotope storage.

 

4)         Pharmacy Suite

 

A)        Filters:

i)          Central ventilation systems shall be

 

B)        Space Design Conditions:

i)          Temperature, dry bulb  75°F

 

C)        Air Circulation:

i)

 

D)        Space Pressurization:  Ventilation system shall be designed and balanced so that space pressure, in relation to surrounding areas of the building, is.............................................................neutral

 

E)         Recirculation of air within room permitted .............................................................yes

 

5)         Observation/Treatment Rooms

 

A)        Filters:

i)          Central ventilation systems shall be

 

B)        Space Design Conditions:

i)          Temperature, dry bulb  75°F

 

C)        Air Circulation (Patient Rooms):

i)          Total air supplied, cfm per bed 15

 

D)        Air Circulation:

i)

 

E)         Space Pressurization:   Ventilation system shall be designed and balanced so that space pressure, in relation to surrounding areas of the building, is .............................................................neutral

 

F)         Recirculation of air within room permitted .............................................................yes

 

G)        Isolation Rooms: These rooms may be used two ways: to protect the patient from the facility environment or to protect the facility environment from the patient. Isolation rooms shall have the same conditions as other treatment rooms, except the air flow shall be capable of being either into the room or out of the room. When the facility is being protected (communicable disease), all air shall be exhausted directly to the outdoors.

 

6)         Major Procedure Rooms

 

A)        Filters:

i)          Central ventilation systems shall be

 

B)        Space Design Conditions:

i)          Temperature, dry bulb (adj. range) 70°-76°F

 

C)        Air Circulation:

i)          Total air supplied, air changes

 

D)        Space Pressurization:  Ventilation system shall be designed and balanced so that space pressure, in relation to surrounding areas of the building, is ............................................................. positive

 

E)         Recirculation of air within room permitted ............................................................. yes

 

7)         Central Air Supply

 

A)        Filters:

i)          Central ventilation systems shall be

 

B)        Space Design Conditions:

i)          Temperature, dry bulb (adj. range) 75°F

 

C)        Air Circulation:

i)

 

D)        Air flow shall be from the clean area toward soiled or decontamination area.

 

E)         Sterilization Room:

i)

 

8)         Linen Services; Laundry

 

A)        Filters:

i)          Central ventilation systems shall be

 

B)        Space Design Conditions:  Temperature, dry bulb (winter) 70°F

 

C)        All air from the soiled storage and sorting area shall be exhausted directly to outdoors.

 

D)        Air flow shall be from the clean area to the soiled area. Air from the clean area may be used to make up air exhausted from the soiled area.

 

E)         Air from the clean area may be recirculated within the laundry complex, but shall pass through a lint screen or trap before returning to the air handling unit.

 

F)         The entire laundry ventilation system shall be controlled so that air flow is into the laundry from the FEC.

 

G)        Circulation and ventilation rates may be variable, but sufficient outside air must be supplied to make up for exhaust. Minimum circulation of unconditioned air at summer design conditions shall be 2 cfm (cubic feet per minute) per square foot or 12 air changes per hour, whichever is larger.

 

9)         Miscellaneous Supporting Areas

 

A)        Space temperatures shall be maintained for occupant comfort.

 

B)        Ventilation system shall be designed and balanced so that air flows into these spaces from adjacent areas.

 

C)        Anesthesia Storage Rooms:

i)

 

D)        Soiled Holding and Work Rooms:

i)

 

E)         Toilet Rooms:

i)

 

F)         Janitor Closets, Linen and Trash Chute Rooms:

i)

 

G)        Boiler rooms shall be provided with sufficient outdoor air to maintain combustion rates of equipment and limit temperatures in working stations to 97°F effective temperature (97°F and 50% relative humidity or its equivalent) as defined by ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals (1981).

 

H)        Rooms containing heat-producing equipment, such as boiler rooms, heater rooms, food preparation centers, laundries, sterilizer or mechanical equipment rooms, shall be insulated and ventilated to prevent any floor surface above from exceeding a temperature of 100°F.