3 Reasons Hospitals are So Cold All the Time
Going to a hospital can be a chilly experience. Ever wonder why it’s so cold or if it needs to even be that cold? The reality is that colder temperatures make the hospital a better and safer environment. Hospitals use HVAC services in Atlanta to maintain cool air temperature levels in their buildings. Below are three specific reasons hospitals are so cold all the time.
Bacteria Growth Prevention
Bacteria thrive in warm environments, so hospitals combat this with cold temperatures, which help slow bacterial and viral growth. This is no different than food safety practices in the food industry that rely on refrigeration to keep food from growing harmful bacteria. Operating rooms are some of the coldest areas in a hospital, usually around 65-69° with a humidity of 70%, to keep the risk of infection at a minimum. These temperature recommendations come from the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers also referred to as ASHRAE.
Controlling Condensation
Air conditioning naturally takes humidity out of the air. This prevents condensation buildup on surfaces within the hospital. Condensation, which is brought on by humidity and warm temperatures, picks up bacteria and viruses. As condensation moves from surface to surface, it cross contaminates them. To combat this spread of disease and infection in the hospital room, cold temperatures and low humidity prevent condensation on sterilized surfaces, open wounds, and operating equipment.
Hospital Staff Comfort
Hospital staff members are in constant motion, so cooler temperatures keep them comfortable while ensuring they don’t sweat. Air conditioning also helps to offset the heat bright lights produce during surgery. You may worry about patients getting too cold, but in operating room situations, a patient’s body temperature can be controlled independently of room temperature using warming pads. In a regular room, more blankets can be added. Maintaining a clean and sanitary environment is critical for patient care, which is why temperatures stay cold.
Hospitals Need Reliable HVAC
Hospitals rely on HVAC systems to keep a sanitary and safe environment for patients and staff alike. They need a reputable company that will always come through with dependable, on-time service. When emergency situations arise in a hospital with climate control, help from an HVAC company is vital, since patient’s lives depend on it. These cool temperatures in a hospital can also keep equipment running at their optimal levels.
HVAC Service for the Healthcare Industry and Beyond
Anytime HVAC is fully licensed and certified to service industrial HVAC systems that the healthcare industry uses. With 24 hour-a-day, 7 day-a-week emergency availability, Anytime has the resources to meet the demands of critical temperature control that hospitals require.
Anytime also works in residential areas, providing HVAC maintenance and service to make your house comfortable. If indoor air quality is a concern, we can assess the quality and recommend the proper course of action to improve it if necessary.
Give Anytime Heating, Cooling and Plumbing a call 770-504-5881 today to keep the climate of your building or house controlled, comfortable, and safe.
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