Basic Documentation

Room Pressurization Applications
Table 1 lists various room pressurization applications and the normal static pressure
relationships required.
Table 1. Room Static Pressurization Applications.
Recommended
Static
Pressurization
Level
Application
Inches Pascals
Relationship
to Adjacent
Area(s)
Comments
Chemical Laboratory 0.01
to
0.02
2.5
to
5
Negative These values apply to general chemistry
laboratories. (Higher hazard laboratories
such as those handling toxic chemicals or
radioactive substances should be at an
increased negative pressurization level.
Such labs may require double door entry
provisions and a two-stage pressurization
level.)
Biological lab: BL-1 & BL-2 0.01 2.5 Negative Although negative pressurization is not
specifically required for BL-1 labs, it is
recommended for odor control.
Biological lab: BL-3 0.01
to
0.03
2.5
to
8
Negative Lab support areas should be at lesser
negative pressurization levels than the
laboratory itself to ensure airflow is from
the area of least risk to highest risk.
Biological lab: BL-4 0.01
to
0.05
2.5
to
12
Negative Airlock entry/exit provisions, clothing
change areas, other support areas, and
the laboratory itself should all be under
increasingly negative pressure to ensure
airflow is toward the laboratory as the
highest hazard area.
Animal Holding Room 0.01 2.5 Positive Air supplied to surgery rooms to meet
ventilation and pressurization
requirements should not be re-circulated
from other areas.
Animal Support Areas 0.01 2.5 Negative These general support areas include
autopsy rooms, cage washing, and feed
storage rooms, as well as incinerator and
sterilizer rooms.
Animal Surgical Room 0.01
to
0.02
2.5
to
5
Positive Surgical support areas such as gowning,
hand washing, etc., should be positively
pressurized at multiple pressurization
levels, keeping the surgical room as the
most positive area.
Hospital - Protective
Isolation Room
0.01 2.5 Positive The CDC actually recommends a
minimum pressurization level of 0.001
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