Tecomak offer a complete range of services for Patient Isolation Rooms including;
- Annual HTM Verification
- HEPA Filter replacement and DOP Integrity Testing
- Biological Decontamination
- Facility upgrade and refurbishment
- Pressure monitoring alarm systems
- Nurse Station Alarm Systems
Health Building Note 04-01 Supplement 1 ‘Isolation facilities for infectious patients in acute settings’ was published in 2013 and is the latest in a series of ‘best practice’ guidance for the NHS written by the Department of Health. The documents part superseded HBN 04-01 Supplement 1 (2005), with regards rooms used for source isolation but not for the guidance on protective isolation.
HBM 04-01 (2013) can be used for both new-build schemes and the upgrade of existing facilities.
The guidance document describes:
- How single-bed rooms with en-suite facilities can be used to provide isolation for patients with non-airborne diseases;
- How a ventilated single-bed room with en-suite facilities can provide an isolation room for patients who have an infection that can be spread by the airborne route.
Options for Provision:
The two options available are single bed rooms
- A room with negative pressure ventilation
- A room neutral pressure room with a positive pressure ventilated lobby (PPVL)
Ventilation Requirements:
Negative Pressure Rooms |
PPVL |
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General Strategy: | The inflow of air into the room (negative pressure) prevents the escape of contaminated air to the surrounding areas and the ventilation in the room dilutes the airborne pathogens. | The mechanical air supply is delivered to the Lobby and the extract system removes air from the en-suite. The Lobby is pressurised (positive pressure) to both the patient room and the outer corridor to provide a barrier, prevent contaminated air escapes from the patient’s room and air from the corridor entering the patient’s room. |
Air Change Rates: | The patient’s room should have at least 10 air changes per hour (mechanical air supply).
The en-suite facility is to have at least 10 air changes per hour via extract. |
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Room Differential Pressures: | There must be a negative pressure cascade from the corridor to the patient room.
The pressure to surrounding areas should be greater than 5 Pascal’s. |
The entry lobby should have a positive pressure of between 8 and 12 Pascal’s with respect to the corridor.
The en-suite must be at a negative pressure with respect to the patient’s room |
Other Key Requirements: | A failure of either the supply or extract fan will be indicated at a designated nurse station and the estates department.
As a minimum requirement, the air permeability should be no worse than that required by Approved Document L2A of the Building Regulations for the entire building. (This is a variable value with a minimum required air permeability of less than 10 m3/hr per m2 at a reference pressure of 50 Pascal’s.) |