« Back to Facilities Management News Home
« Facilities Management
Product Release: Huntair CLEANSUITE System
New CLEANSUITE system from Huntair helps prevent healthcare-associated infections in hospital operating rooms
All-inclusive modules accommodate integral structures and reduce installation timelines
Tualatin, OR—Huntair, Inc.’s new CLEANSUITE <http://www.huntair.com/products/Cleansuite/Cleansuite.html> ® system helps prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) caused by airborne contaminants in hospital operating rooms, outpatient surgery centers and other mission-critical healthcare applications. Compared to conventional systems, CLEANSUITE’s modular design reduces installation timelines.
CLEANSUITE systems can be designed to Class 1 manufacturing cleanroom standards to meet specific airflow requirements, while also providing the added benefit of contamination control. (A Class 1 cleanroom is defined as allowing no more than 10 particles at a size of up to 0.1 micrometers per cubic meter and no more than 2 particles at a size of up to 0.2 micrometers per cubic meter.) Currently, however, hospital operating rooms are required to meet ASHRAE Standard 170-2008, which includes airflow requirements but does not address contaminant levels.
According to a study commissioned by the CDC, over 1.7 millions HAIs <http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/pdf/Scott_CostPaper.pdf> were reported in 2002, resulting in over 99,000 deaths. HAIs also create an estimated $28 to $33 billion in excess healthcare costs each year, which led Medicare to stop reimbursing for HAIs as of 2008. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced a preventative-action initiative <http://www.hhs.gov/ash/initiatives/hai/actionplan/index.html> that aims to reduce HAIs by 40 percent over the next 5 years.
“The CLEANSUITE system gives healthcare facilities one part of the solution—it can help prevent HAIs caused by airborne contaminants,” said Kevin Schreiber, Global Director of Healthcare Products for Huntair, Inc. Features including an aseptically detailed design, HEPA filtration and anti-microbial construction materials provide the added benefit of contamination control. Additionally, a Cleanscreen® laminar flow diffuser at each airflow opening provides unidirectional airflow with minimal turbulence, reducing the risk of contaminant particles entering the sterile field.
Each all-inclusive CLEANSUITE system is custom-designed to meet airflow, structural and component specifications. The modular air-delivery plenums can include integral boom mounts, lights, medical gas connections, air balancing, HEPA filters, sprinklers and other critical components. Modules can also be designed to fit through standard doorways to provide faster, less-disruptive installation.
“Installation of a typical CLEANSUITE system takes one-sixth of the time of a comparable field-built system,” said Schreiber. “The all-inclusive modules arrive at a job site ready to be lifted into place and attached to the building structure. Very little time is spent coordinating trades between structural, mechanical and utility requirements, which accelerates the construction timeline, decreases costs and clears a faster path to a revenue-generating facility.”
“CLEANSUITE is a natural extension of our extensive design and manufacturing experience with cleanroom systems under the HUNTAIR, CLEANPAK and SERVICOR brands,” added Schreiber. Huntair can also provide complete air delivery systems for operating rooms and other mission-critical environments, including air handlers and controls. HUNTAIR invented FANWALL TECHNOLOGY®, the industry’s first fully integrated fan array system consisting of state-of-the-art fans, motors, cabinetry and controls. Air handlers with FANWALL systems can offer a compact footprint, low sound and vibration, and built-in redundancy, making them an ideal fit for use in operating room environments served by CLEANSUITE systems.
To learn more about the benefits CLEANSUITE systems offer healthcare facilities, visit www.huntair.com
More From 9/16/2011 on FacilitiesNet
