What is A-I-I-R?

Curious C: Hey, what is “A-I-I-R”?

Designer: “A-I-I-R” stands for “Airborne Infection Isolation Room.” A single-occupancy room isolates the patient with a suspected or confirmed airborne infectious disease.

Curious C: When do we need an “Airborne Infection Isolation Room”?

Designer: It often happens when we encounter airborne infectious diseases. These diseases include tuberculosis, SARS, Influenza A (H5N1) or Covid 19, etc.

Curious C: What makes “Airborne Infection Isolation Room” different than another standardized room?

Designer: “Airborne Infection Isolation Room” is a specialized application addition to a facility’s HVAC system. There is a negative differential pressure area designed in these rooms. Therefore, the central HVAC system does not recirculate return-air from these rooms.

Curious C: oh.

Designer: These pressure differential areas are also called “airlock” rooms.

As you can see in the sketches, each plus or minus sign represents a 5pa difference regarding the outdoor atmosphere.

Curious C: oh.

Designer: There are three primary layouts for the air pressure flow: “cascade airlock,” “bubble airlock,” and “sink airlock.” Although their designed structure is different (primarily based on their adjacent function), all these airlock rooms aim to contain the contaminated air in one location so the infectious virus will not recirculate back to the primary system.

Curious C: Thanks. I am still curious how this works. But I will ask you next time.