Indoor Air Quality in Healthcare Facilities

Nearly 60 percent of all healthcare buildings in the US were built during or after the 1970s, the decade during which energy conservation became a national concern and priority. The vast majority of these were for out patient care.[1] In response to changes in building design, construction, operation and maintenance to save energy as well as the increasing use of synthetic building materials, the quality of indoor air diminished. Healthcare facilities, whether they are hospitals, clinics or doctor offices, have to pay particular attention to indoor air as people who visit them are frequently ill and often have depressed or compromised immune systems, which make them more susceptible to developing adverse health reactions to poor indoor air quality. Also, healthcare workers may spend many hours per day in less than optimal indoor environments with potentially greater likelihood of exposure to infectious agents. In addition, some hospitals have special units that have special indoor air quality (IAQ) requirements, such as bone marrow units, neonatal intensive care units, isolation rooms and burn units.

Healthcare facilities comprise less than three percent of all buildings in the US, but have some of the most specialized indoor environmental requirements (see Table 1).[1]

Designing and constructing a healthcare facility that provides acceptable indoor air quality, whether it is new construction or renovation of an existing structure, is a process during which each step is interdependent on those coming before and after. Failure in one step risks failure in subsequent steps and ultimately in the building itself. The lack of communication and coordination among the design professionals and construction team, and between the general contractor and subcontractors often compounds the risk of failure, especially if the project gets behind schedule. Once occupied, proper operation and maintenance of building are also of prime importance as poorly operated and maintained buildings are prone to more IAQ problems. Another inherent risk is the lack of expertise and understanding of how the interrelationship of numerous factors can contribute to poor IAQ, both during design and construction and after occupancy.

Sustainable and green building is becoming more popular. These buildings also are environmentally friendlier by preserving both the indoor and outdoor environments through water and energy conservation measures and careful selection of building sites; building design; recycled materials; lighting, and materials, finishes and furnishings that emit low amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

This portion of the Aerias site takes a closer look at variables that impact IAQ in heathcare facilities, as well as what to do to solve and prevent IAQ problems, including:

• Building materials
  

• Building occupants
  

• Potential IAQ problems
  

• Indoor pollutants
  

• Furnishings, finishes and products
  

• Assessment
  

• Prevention

Detailed articles addressing specific topics are accessible from each of these sections, by clicking on the topic listed in the navigation menu to the right side of this page.

Reference

1. 1999 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey, Energy Information Administration. Washington, DC. www.eia.doe.gov.  Visited March 24, 2004.