What is the minimum supply air volume for a 20' x 20' x 15' procedure room used for Class A Surgery?

In healthcare facilities, specifically in procedure rooms like those used for Class A Surgery, maintaining a sterile and controlled environment is critical for patient safety and the effectiveness of surgical procedures. The minimum supply air volume is determined based on the room's size and the need for sufficient air changes per hour to minimize contamination and maintain appropriate temperature and humidity levels.

For a procedure room measuring 20 feet by 20 feet with a ceiling height of 15 feet, the volume of the room is 20 x 20 x 15, which equates to 6000 cubic feet. Class A surgery rooms typically require a high minimum supply air volume to ensure adequate air changes that meet infection control standards.

The standard guidelines generally recommend a minimum air change rate for surgical procedure rooms. A typical value might be around 15 to 20 air changes per hour for Class A Surgery environments. If we take an average of 20 air changes per hour as a standard, we can calculate the required airflow as follows:

6000 cubic feet x 20 air changes per hour = 120,000 cubic feet per hour. Dividing this figure to get the flow rate in cubic feet per minute (CFM) means dividing by 60 (minutes in an hour):

120,