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U.S.Department of Health & Human Services Health Care Facility Filtration Requirements

For a PDF copy of this page click here.

Area Designation

Number of Filter Beds

Filter Bed
# 1 Efficiency

Filter Bed
# 2 Efficiency

All areas for inpatient care, treatment, and diagnosis, and those areas providing direct service or clean supplies such as sterile and clean processing, etc.

2

MERV 8

MERV 14

Protective environment room

2

MERV 8

99.97 (MERV 15)

Laboratories

1

MERV 13

 

Administrative, Bulk storage, Food preparation areas, Laundries, Soiled holding areas

1

MERV 8

 

Notes: Additional roughing or prefilters should be considered to reduce maintenance for filter with higher efficiencies than 75 percent.
The filtration efficiency ratings are based on average dust spot efficiency per ASHRAE 52.1-1992.
Approximate conversion of ASHRAE 52.1 values to ASHRAE 52.2 values; 30% dust spot – MERV 7, 80% dust spot – MERV 13, 90% dust spot – MERV 14.

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
Filter Efficiencies for Central Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems
in General Hospitals

Area Designation

Number of Filter Beds

Filter Bed #1
Efficiencya

Filter Bed #2
Efficiencya

Orthopedic operating room
Bone marrow transplant operating room
Organ transplant operating room

2

8

17b

General procedure operating room
Delivery rooms
Nurseries
Intensive care units
Patient care rooms
Treatment rooms
Diagnostic & related areas

2

8

14

Laboratories
Sterile storage

1

13

 

Administrative
Bulk storage
Food preparation areas
Laundries
Soiled holding areas

1

8

 

a Based upon ASHRAE Filter Testing Standard 52.2.
b HEPA filters at air outlets
Approximate conversion of ASHRAE 52.1 values to ASHRAE 52.2 values; 25% dust spot – MERV 6, 80% dust spot – MERV 13, 90% dust spot – MERV 14

Chart # 1 from: Guidelines for Design & Construction of Hospital & Health Care Facilities
The American Institute of Architects Academy of Architecture for Health
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

Chart # 2 from 2003 ASHRAE Applications Handbook