Special Care Needed for Hospital Duct Cleaning

It’s not a physician’s job to inform you of the importance of indoor air quality, which is essential in hospitals. The spores of mold, contamination from bacteria, and others may contribute to the deadly hospital-acquired infections (HAI), also called nosocomial infections. 

Tragically, it is estimated that there is a massive gap in the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 1.7 million nosocomial illnesses occur every year, with close to 100,000 deaths due to them. Regular cleaning of hospital ducts should be a part of each institution’s infection control and indoor air quality strategy. Keep reading for more info!

The hospital’s air conveyance system can move upwards of 30 cubic feet of air into its conduits. Due to the massive amount of air being pushed through and the need to exchange external air in a medical environment, accumulating pollutants in the ducts is inevitable. 

The accumulation of debris, such as human hair, skin cells, linen, and dust within ducts, allows bacteria to multiply. This is the reason why special treatment is required for cleaning hospital ducts. Cleaning ensures hygienic ductwork is clean and does not alter in the hospital or the healthcare setting. However, the method of keeping a safe space for staff and patients in the healthcare facility is changing.

Communication and Compliance

The primary concern of the Department of Facilities Engineering in hospitals is ensuring contamination is not dispersed throughout the building. Accomplishing this collaboration between the hospital and Pure Air Control Services is essential for the success of the hospital’s duct cleaning program. Communication, along with coordination between the facility staff and nurses, as well as environmental health and safety, along with other hospital personnel, is essential. 

For instance, Pure Air Control Services and the facility’s staff members examine their hospital’s Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) to determine if those guidelines apply to the project. Further steps are followed if necessary to comply with the specific hospital ICRA guidelines.

Additionally, Pure Air Control Services recognizes the significance of being a Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) member. Although JCAHO doesn’t currently have specific standards for hospital duct cleaning, they do have guidelines for occupied spaces. They might directly impact cleaning ducts if a novice HVAC contractor is employed. 

To ensure conformity with JCAHO guidelines that require pre- and post-indoor environmental tests, they can be conducted to check the hygienic condition of the ductwork and adjoining occupied areas. Pure Air Control Services’ documentation for every project is meticulously documented. The people who work at the facility receive complete documentation and a written document proving that the proper safety measures were in place while cleaning hospital ducts.

Containment and Safety

The most crucial part of hospital duct cleaning safety is establishing adequate containment barriers under negative pressure. Pure Air Control Services’ containment systems are always made using the most advanced standards of HEPA filtering. Mobile containment devices, also called “pop-up cubes,” are commonly used whenever a ceiling tile needs to be accessed, or work is carried out in an area different from an air transport system. 

In other instances, larger containment areas have to be designed with the help of Pure Air Control Services technicians. Containment is not only an idea that can be applied to the space occupied by the hospital. Containment also occurs behind the ceiling in the hospital’s ductwork. 

The ductwork is located beneath the positive 5. Pascal area to ensure that the particles being agitated are pushed towards the HEPA filtering air collection device. The ductwork in the hospital is closed off. Filter media is then placed inside all return and supply registers. The registers are then covered with duct masks to stop cross-contamination.

The disinfectants are only used during cleaning hospital ducts when Pure Air Controls Services and personnel from the facility are informed about the kind of product you want. Then, review the MSDS sheet and analyze the possibility of VOC in gaseous form. Click here for details!

The minor details make the most significant difference in the hospital cleaning of ducts. Pure Air Controls Services’ IAQ/HVAC technicians regularly train in the essential aspects of security in the hospital. For example, our employees are instructed to examine their clothing, personal items, and equipment to ensure they are clean before leaving the containment. 

Technicians are also taught to monitor every register within the ductwork section to ensure no traces of contamination have escaped. Additionally, our equipment and HEPA filters are regularly checked and replaced as needed.

Pure Air Control Services staff is tested for health issues. Pure Air Control Services staff is also screened for any existing health issues to determine the necessary background procedure for hospital employment.

Cleaning of Ducts & Interstitial Spaces: Common Needs 

• Preventive Maintenance for Optimal Environmental Conditions
• Before & After Air Handler Upgrades or HVAC Remodels
• Part of the remedial clean-up after the water damage or fire
• After an Environmental Concern or Infection/Disease Outbreak
• Before and After pure duct Cleaning

How often should hospitals be able to clean their ducts?

There is no specific standard nor instructions on how often hospitals should cleanse their air ducts. Our experience suggests that hospitals must clean their ducts at least every 3 to 5 years because of the nature and environment in healthcare settings. 

Pure Air Controls Services’ Building Sciences division can provide HVAC Hygiene assessments completed before the pure duct cleansing to assess the degree of contamination in the ducts before the project of cleaning hospital ducts. Building Sciences can also monitor the cleaning ducts project as it is in progress and conduct tests after completion to prove that good baseline conditions were maintained and enhanced.

Hospitals are in constant operation compared to other institutions, and commercial institutions are only used in the morning. They are constantly occupied. The primary purpose behind cleaning the ducts and the entire HVAC unit is to improve indoor air quality. Therefore, adhering to stringent procedures, being aware of confinement, and testing environmental conditions throughout the process are essential additional steps to ensure the health of occupants while cleaning hospital ducts.