South Carolina Code of Regulations
Chapter 61 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
Subchapter 61-91 - Standards for Licensing Ambulatory Surgical Facilities
Sec2 61-91.2400 - HEATING, VENTILATION, AND AIR CONDITIONING
Section 61-91.2400.2403 - Ventilation Requirements

Universal Citation: SC Code Regs 61-91.2400.2403

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 9, September 27, 2024

A. The ventilation rates shown herein shall be considered as minimum acceptable rates and shall not be construed as precluding the use of higher ventilation rates for operating rooms.

B. Temperatures and humidity. HVAC systems shall be designed to provide the temperature and humidity shown below:

AREA

DESIGNATION

TEMPERATURE

RELATIVE

HUMIDITY

FAHRENHEIT

CENTIGRADE

Operating Rooms

70-76°

21-24°

50-60%

Recovery Areas

75-80°

24-27°

50-60%

Procedure Rooms; Other

72-78°

22-26°

50-60%

C. All air-supply and air-exhaust systems for the surgical suite shall be mechanically operated.

D. All fans serving exhaust systems shall be located at the discharge end of the system.

E. Outdoor intakes shall be located as far as practical from the exhausts from any ventilating system, combustion equipment, and plumbing vents and at least three feet above the ground or roof.

F. All air supplied to operating rooms shall be delivered at or near the ceiling of the area served and all exhaust from the area shall be removed near floor level.

G. At least two exhaust outlets shall be used in all operating rooms.

EXCEPTION: Only one exhaust outlet is required for facilities that perform endoscopy.

H. The bottom of any room supply air inlets, re-circulation, and exhaust air outlets shall be located not less than three inches above the floor.

I. All ventilation or air conditioning systems serving operating rooms shall have a minimum of two filter beds.

1. Filter bed #1 shall be located upstream of the air conditioning equipment and shall have a minimum efficiency of 25%.

2. Filter bed #2 shall be downstream of the supply fan and of recirculating spray water and water reservoir-type humidifiers. Filter bed #2 shall have a minimum efficiency of 90%.

3. All filter efficiencies shall be certified by an independent testing agency and shall be based on the atmospheric dust spot efficiency determination in accordance with ASHRAE Standard 52-68, except that the exhausts from all laboratory hoods in which infectious or radioactive materials are processed shall be equipped with filters having a 99% efficiency based on the DOP (dioctyophthalate) test method and there shall be equipment and/or procedure for the safe removal of contaminated filters.

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

5. Each filter bed serving sensitive areas or central air systems shall have a manometer installed across each filter bed.

EXCEPTION: A single-step filter bed of 20% filters is required for endoscopy facilities.

J. All air supplied to soiled linen holding, janitor's closets or soiled workrooms shall be exhausted to the outside and shall not be re-circulated within the room. (II)

K. Air handling duct systems shall not have duct linings.

L. The ventilation systems shall be designed and balanced to provide the pressure relationship as shown in the table below:

AREA DESIGNATION

PRESSURE RELATIONSHIP TO ADJACENT AREAS

MINIMUM TOTAL AIR CHANGES PER HOUR SUPPLIED TO ROOM

ALL AIR EXHAUSTED DIRECTLY TO OUTDOORS

RE -CIRCULATED WITHIN ROOM UNITS

Operating Room

P

16

Optional

Only with approved filters

Recovery and Procedure Rooms

P

6

Optional

Only with approved filters

Soiled Workroom or Soiled Holding

N

10

Yes

No

Clean Workroom or Clean Holding

P

4

Optional

Optional

P = Positive N = Negative

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. South Carolina may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.