The ventilation system in the premises is designed to provide continuous access to fresh air and remove from the room exhaust, saturated with carbon dioxide. Also, due to the systematic replacement of air inside a closed room, the microclimate is maintained and the bacteria and mold negatively affecting the health are prevented.
Compliance with the norms for ventilation systems is especially relevant in medical institutions. Thus, sanitary and epidemiological requirements regulate air exchange in dentistry, thereby contributing to the provision of the necessary microclimate of the room for dental treatment.
This article will examine in detail the requirements established by law for the arrangement and operation of ventilation systems in dental offices.
Sanitary requirements for cabinet ventilation
The main standards for the premises in which dentists' offices are organized are developed and fixed at the legislative level inSanPiN 2.1.3.2524-09.
You should definitely familiarize yourself with this document in order to have a general idea of how the ventilation system in the dental office should be arranged.
The ventilation system in the dental offices is designed to recreate a healthy atmosphere, preventing microbes, bacteria and possible microparticles from settling in the room on work surfaces during dental services
The requirements prescribed in the document for compliance with hygiene standards, the placement of equipment and the organization of ventilation of dental offices are reduced to the mandatory fulfillment of the following:
- ensuring the temperature regime in the room in the range from 18 to 23 degrees in the winter and from 21 to 25 degrees in the summer;
- ventilation should be designed in such a way as to exclude the transition of air masses from "dirty" zones to "clean", that is, the hood should be designed so that air does not flow directly to the treatment site;
- conducting systematic monitoring of compliance with regulatory indicators of microbial contamination of air in the room and in the ventilation ducts;
- ventilation can be both natural and forced, but separate from the general house ventilation system;
- Mandatory installation of an autonomous ventilation system for rooms used for dental laboratories;
- availability of openable windows, regardless of the type of ventilation system installed.
It is worth noting that in order to maintain the temperature regime in dental offices, the use of air conditioning systems built into ventilation systems is allowed.
At the same time, filters are changed at least once every six months.
Even with a ventilation system, it should be possible for clean air to enter the room through open windows. That is why the installation of continuous windows without the possibility of opening them is considered a gross violation and may lead to the deprivation of a license to conduct dental services in this room
The document also provides for special cases for dental offices located in administrative buildings or on non-residential floors of residential apartment buildings.
They say the following:
- if there are less than three dental chairs, it is possible to organize ventilation of the room due to natural ventilation or an opening window transom;
- when there are more than three dental chairs in the room, the organization of a systematic air change by using the supply and exhaust ventilation is mandatory. In this case, fans must be used that provide a 2/3 air exchange rate (two for air supply, 3 for its exhaust per hour);
- the ventilation system in dental offices with four or more dental chairs should go separately from the ventilation of a residential apartment building.
It is worth noting that in the absence of autonomous ventilation ducts in dental offices, it is allowed to use special devices with photocatalytic filters through which the hood from the room passes.
Arrangement of ventilation in the dental office
Properly functioning ventilation, which meets all the established standards described above, is a paramount condition for obtaining a license to organize dental services in an operated room.
It is necessary to take responsibility for the design and installation of ventilation very responsibly and, if possible, involve third-party highly specialized organizations.
The location of the ventilation ducts inside the room should be designed in accordance with the location of the remaining communications. It is not allowed to pass the ventilation system over heating or cooling devices, combined with electric cables
Before starting work, it is necessary to carry out calculations in which you need to consider:
- the future flow of visitors to the dental office - the number of chairs, the number of medical personnel, the duration of use of the office in time for one day;
- the amount of installed equipment and the possible load on the power grid;
- the climate of the area, in order to comply with the established temperature and humidity conditions indoors at different times of the year;
- the quality of the material from which ventilation will be performed and the functionality of the equipment included in the ventilation system;
- necessary air exchange rate in the dental office.
It should be noted that after-sales service of ventilation equipment in dental offices should be carried out in accordance with established standards, unless otherwise specified in the recommendations of the equipment manufacturer.
When mounting exhaust ventilation, the distance between the place of intake of external air and the place of discharge of the exhaust air into the atmosphere should be taken into account.
The distance from each other along the horizontal plane should be at least 10 meters, and vertically spaced from each other by at least 6 meters. If the exhaust air outlet is made to the roof of the building, then the height of the ventilation duct must be at least one meter from the roof of the roof.
Installation and cleaning of the ventilation systems of the dental office must be trusted to specialized companies licensed to carry out this type of work. Do not clean ventilation ducts yourself
The installation of filters to clean the air discharged from the ventilation depends on the calculations made to protect the atmospheric air. For dental clinics and rooms with more than three seats, the installation of filters is mandatory.
The ventilation requirements in dentistry do not include ventilation chambers for exhaust systems.
Another requirement that is not spelled out in SanPiN is the noise level of the supply and exhaust ventilation. When purchasing fans that provide air inflow and outflow, you should pay attention to the vibration and noise caused by them during operation.
They must fit into the established requirements for ventilation systems prescribed in SP 336.1325800.2017 - from 35 to 45 dB.
Features of ventilation in dentistry
As mentioned above, ventilation systems in dental offices affect the licensing of medical services. At the same time, the ventilation itself undergoes a certification procedure.
This procedure is carried out already upon completion of the installation of the system. The ventilation system passport is updated annually and is valid for only one year.
To obtain a new passport for the next year, the following work must be done:
- Disinfection system.
- Cleaning the filters.
- Verification of work efficiency.
- Resolving all identified issues.
The procedure for certification of ventilation is simplified by the conclusion of a service agreement with the company that carried out the work.
When carrying out routine work to check the supply and exhaust ventilation system, any medical work is prohibited. The dental office must be prepared for inspection, the equipment is covered with special covers. After cleaning and working with the devices, it is necessary to disinfect the room
Another feature of dental ventilation systems is the need to heat the air supplied to the room. This measure is extremely necessary in places with a harsh climate and is provided by special devices that are built into the ventilation system.
In places with a warmer climate, additional heating of the air entering the room is not required. For places with a hot climate, it is possible to integrate duct coolers into the ventilation systems.
The ventilation grill should be located in the upper area of the room. In dental offices equipped with an x-ray, it is advisable to opt for supply and exhaust ventilation.
Cleaning the ventilation grilles should be carried out daily during the cleaning of the room. Detection of a large amount of dust during cleaning may indicate premature clogging of the ventilation system. Also, a daily inspection of the grill will prevent mold in case of increased humidity in the room
To place the equipment involved in the ventilation system, it is necessary to allocate utility rooms, access to which should be limited, and their placement should not be adjacent to the room where dental work is carried out by dentists.
All ventilation ducts must be under the ceiling in the corridors and workrooms. They must be hidden, that is, sheathed with a false ceiling.
The ventilation system plays a major role in maintaining the desired microclimate in the dental office. Proper ventilation prevents the appearance of unwanted bacteria and contributes to maintaining the health of both dental personnel and those undergoing treatment.
That is why such close attention is paid to its installation, installation and operation, and regulatory authorities systematically check the compliance of ventilation with the standards established by law.
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