Project Description

Prior to our involvement with this project, the Ambulatory Surgery Center had undergone a renovation. At the completion, the OR Suite and Sterile Processing areas were experiencing pressure, temperature and humidity issues. After several rounds of troubleshooting, we were called in to investigate the problems.  We reviewed the existing drawings and verified the as-built conditions. We obtained preconstruction airflow readings, worked with the facility engineer to operate the temperature controls, and performed calculations in the office to troubleshoot these conditions. We concluded that several issues were causing the problems, such as the failure to construct the OR walls to full height which allowed an excessive offset of air, a storage addition with a vented eve which also affected the ability to maintain pressure relationships, and a barometric relief damper in the air conditioning unit. Once our recommendations were implemented, the pressure, temperature and humidity problems were resolved.