The Effect of Airflow Velocity through a Laminar Airflow Ceiling (LAFC) on the Assessment of Thermal Comfort in the Operating Room

Abstract

Forced ventilation is applied in clean rooms, specifically operating rooms, to ensure the health of both the patient and the medical staff. Ventilation reduces the risk of patient contamination, and its parameters are legally prescribed. In addition to preventing contamination, the ventilation system also ensures the creation of a comfortable environment for personnel who spend a large amount of working time in the operating room. This research focuses on the appropriate design of the air flow rate from the distribution element to the operating room. The PMV and PPD indexes were used to evaluate thermal comfort for human beings. The measurements of parameters determining thermal comfort took place in a laboratory with an accurate model of the operating room, including equipment and HVAC system, during the summer months, in cooling mode. Discharge speeds in the range of 0.15–0.175 m/s were evaluated as the most comfortable, with the PPD index ranging up to 22%. There was a significant increase in user dissatisfaction up to the limit of 70% at higher discharge speeds.