Minnesota Administrative Rules
Agency 144 - Health Department
Chapter 4658 - NURSING HOMES
MECHANICAL SYSTEMS; NEW CONSTRUCTION
Part 4658.4550 - FILTERS; NEW CONSTRUCTION

Subpart 1. Air supply.

All air supplied to the nursing home must be free from harmful particulate matter, any type of combustion products or contaminates, obnoxious odors, or exhausted air from the building or adjoining property.

Subp. 2. Filters.

All outside air introduced into living and service areas of a nursing home must be filtered. Return air to central ventilation systems must be filtered. All central ventilation or air conditioning systems must be equipped with a minimum of one filter bed. The filter bed must be located upstream of the air conditioning equipment, unless a prefilter is employed. If a prefilter is employed, the prefilter must be upstream of the equipment and the main filter may be located further downstream. Filter frames must be durable and proportioned to provide an airtight fit with the enclosing ductwork.

Subp. 3. Filter efficiencies.

Filters installed in all central ventilation or air conditioning systems must have a minimum efficiency of 25 percent. All filter efficiencies must be average atmospheric dust spot efficiencies tested according to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE) Standard No. 52.1-1992.

Subp. 4. Autoclave room.

If there is a large autoclave in the nursing home, it must be located in a separate room provided with supply and exhaust ventilation. If an autoclave is built into a separate equipment room, the equipment room must be provided with exhaust ventilation.