ABSTRACT
Transmission of airborne diseases in healthcare facilities is an increasingly important concern. This, in part, is due to the reduction in funding from insurance companies for hospital-acquired infections (HAI) and the consequent economic impact of an influenza outbreak in a hospital. With increasing cases of HAI in the USA, it became necessary to examine the current ventilation standards for healthcare facilities. While design guidelines have focused on recommending appropriate ventilation rates, it ignored the delivery of conditioned air to occupied spaces and the impact of room layout relative to the placement of air supply and return. The paper will also estimate the probability of infection based on air change effectiveness, and the relative spatial relationship between HVAC air delivery system and room design. The resulting outcome is a guideline intended to support health facility designers.
