Does a hospital soiled waste room require filtration on the exhaust?

[BronYrAur]

Local code aside, is there a requirement to filter exhaust air from bio hazard spaces, such as a hospital trash room? I see required air changes in ASHRAE, but I see no mention of filtering the exhaust air before it is discharged.

I have a situation where I will be exhausting from a hospital trash room and discharging at grade level. I don't see anything in the local code (Chicago) nor do I see anything in ASHRAE. The hospital maintenance man mentioned putting a HEPA on the exhaust, but I have never see that on a hospital exhaust. Any thoughts?

 

[cdxx139]

2006 AIA Guidelines rule here, and HEPA exhaust is required if you are recirculating, which your probably not.

As for grade exhaust, it cant cause a nuisance to the public and should be within 25 feet of an intake.

Good luck

knowledge is power

 

[mauricestoker]

I never considered a trash room as a bio hazard. If by trash you mean red bag waste, and ventilation is at ground level, it should be HEPA'd. If you are talking strictly trash (is that the same as trash talking?) then a HEPA might give the wrong impression that bio hazard is present. If a public nuisance or in a maintenance area, you may want to think about extending discharge 10' above maintenance surface, and provide discharge velocity for the plume. ASHRAE 62.1 would give guidance from separation from air intakes.

 

[imok2]

Here is the Ca.Code

http://www.dir.ca.gov/title8/5154_2.html