Understanding Positive Air Pressure Rooms

There are four different types of isolation rooms, each designed to meet different contamination control needs: Class S, Class P, Class N, and Class Q. Class P isolation rooms are positive pressure. We have gone over the uses and benefits of negative pressure isolation rooms previously. Let’s explore positive air pressure rooms and their benefits and applications. 

What Is Positive Air Pressure? 

A positive air pressure room is engineered to have a higher air pressure inside the room than the air pressure of the surrounding environment. How this happens is: a ventilation system pumps clean, filtered air into the room at a rate that exceeds the air leaving the space. The engineering mechanism is simple but effective and helps prevent unwanted particles and contaminants from entering the space. 

Why Are Positive Air Pressure Rooms Important? 

The key benefits of positive air pressure rooms are: 

Infection Control – Within healthcare settings like hospitals or clinics, positive air pressure rooms are instrumental in protecting patients with compromised immune systems. These rooms prevent airborne contaminants like bacteria and viruses from entering. Patients who are immune compromised or at risk of infection can then rest and recuperate in an environment that is virtually free from these risks.

Environmental Control – Positive air pressure rooms are also used in situations that must continually maintain a specific type of atmosphere in a room. This includes nurseries for babies and young animals as well as in vitro fertilization labs and operating theaters.

Implementing Air Pressure in Cleanrooms

Proper cleanroom design is crucial to create a positive air pressure environment so that air flows correctly within the room. A minimum of 12 air-flow changes each hour must be maintained to sustain the desired environment. If the room is large or cleanliness requirements are more stringent, more air changes may be necessary.

A number of cleanroom components are necessary, including:

• A self-closing entryway with a good seal
• An intermediate environment between the positive air pressure room and the outside environment 
• Sealed floors, ceiling, walls, and windows
• HEPA filters to control the movement of airborne contaminants
• Fans and ductwork to move air in the desired directions
• A monitoring system that allows users to adjust pressure when necessary and ensure effective filtration

Positive pressure cleanrooms can protect against entering contaminants, so positive air pressure rooms are used to help to safeguard the health of vulnerable patients in hospitals and other healthcare settings and also by companies that require stringent cleanliness to manufacture products. 

Technical Air Products manufactures the components necessary to build and maintain Class P rooms for hospitals and other facilities. Which cleanroom pressure best suits your needs? If you have questions or need guidance on which type of cleanroom would work for your application, contact us today.