Healthcare Construction Archives - Abatement Technologies®

7 Ways to Use SHIELD WALL™ for Temporary Containment

Temporary modular walls have grown in popularity in recent years as a reliable alternative to traditional solutions, like drywall and poly sheeting. Due to their reusability, flexibility, and cost savings, temporary wall systems are a great solution for a variety of projects.

At Abatement Technologies, our SHIELD WALL™ containment solution has been successful in a wide range of commercial construction projects–both inside and outside of healthcare. Here’s a quick look at some examples of how industry experts are leveraging SHIELD WALL™ temporary walls to protect people from airborne contaminants during construction in occupied settings.

Hospitals and Long-term Care Facilities

Infection control and reducing healthcare associated infections (HAI’s) has become a central concern in healthcare construction. In the US and Canada, code compliance is required in all healthcare facilities. Many regulations and standards require containment barriers, like our SHIELD WALL™ solution, to prevent pathogens from entering patient care areas. For a complete solution, SHIELD WALL™ is used in conjunction with our high-efficiency, HEPA-filtered portable air scrubbers, and monitoring equipment to effectively isolate, capture, and control airborne dust particles and pathogens. Additionally, SHIELD WALL™can be easily configurable to create anterooms and patient isolation rooms.

Schools

Schools and college/university campuses environments support a range of interests and activities for a large and diverse population. When construction or renovation needs arise, they often can’t be put off until a break or summer recess, requiring construction to occur in occupied spaces. During these projects, it’s important to minimize the disruption of construction noise and prioritize safety for all. Our SHIELD WALL™ temporary containment solution not only blends in with its surroundings, its superior sound attenuation significantly reduces noise to allow projects to move forward without disruptions.

Data Centers

Data centers are not only massive investments, they’re integral to the operations of many organizations. With various pieces of sensitive equipment and hardware, even the tiniest particle of dust can cause serious damage, risking the integrity of stored data. Because of this, it's important that a modular containment solution, like SHIELD WALL™, is used to prevent any damage to the equipment. And to further protect equipment, SHIELD WALL™ is used in conjunction with air filtration devices to keep the area pressurized and monitored, ensuring electronics are dust free for optimal performance.

Airports

Airports today have become more than just a center of transportation—they’ve become a hub of commerce and development. In fact, according to the FAA's Air Traffic Organization (ATO), approximately 2,900,000 passengers fly in and out of U.S. airports on any given day. And, to keep up with the traffic, airports are constantly undergoing renovation and construction. However, while construction is underway, navigating flight checkpoints and finding the right terminal can be challenging for even the most seasoned traveler, especially those unfamiliar with the terminal’s design. Simple signage and barriers can be confusing, and don’t always discourage people from entering.

With a containment solution, like SHIELD WALL™, airports can effectively conceal construction areas to appear as if it’s a regular wall within the airport. This eliminates potential confusion and helps travelers safely navigate around the construction site.

Malls

Modular wall systems in retail and mall construction is a practical way to keep the stores not involved in the project open to the public, without sacrificing the aesthetic of the store fronts. Instead of the traditional drywall with branded logos, temporary containment walls offer retailers a reusable option that doesn’t sacrifice the safety of shoppers. If branding the area under construction is required then custom graphics can be easily applied to the temporary walls letting shoppers know what’s “coming soon”.

Residential Buildings

When renovations are required in residential buildings, like apartment complexes and other multifamily housing, concealing the construction area is essential in protecting the safety of tenants. And, minimizing noise and disruptions is a valuable bonus. Our SHIELD WALL™ temporary containment solution not only effectively protects tenants from breathing in any potential harmful pathogens, its superior sound attenuation protects tenants from noise disruptions.

Office Spaces

Think outside of the box, or in this case, outside of the cubicle! During construction and renovations, it’s important to find a balance between getting the work done in an efficient manner without disrupting office production. As the central location for many companies, a productive work environment leads to successful operations. Because of this, it's crucial to maintain a quiet workplace throughout the duration of the project.

Additionally, SHIELD WALL™ is so flexible that it’s not just used for construction purposes. Many facilities have used the modular system to easily construct temporary cubicles for additional overflow work space.

A versatile solution for any industry

From malls to healthcare to multifamily housing, schools and office buildings, and even data centers, temporary containment wall systems are designed to protect. Our SHIELD WALL™ containment system is trusted by leading contractors across North America to protect people in occupied spaces from potential infections and disruptions of renovation.

Ready to learn more about how SHIELD WALL™ can help you get the job done? Contact us today!

Renting Smart with Abatement Technologies

Contractors looking to build their equipment inventory inevitably end up asking themselves – do I rent or buy this piece of equipment? Concerns like budget and storage constraints can make buying new equipment a burden. And, for the contractors who rarely use certain pieces of equipment, renting can be the most cost effective option.

But because of the nature of construction, it’s important that contractors have access to the equipment they need, when they need it. And because construction projects can be unpredictable, rental companies need to have a full inventory that is ready to ship out at a moment's notice.

Abatement Technologies: A One-Stop-Shop

For companies like Century Building Materials, having an equipment provider that operates with the same sense of urgency is a must. And, leveraging Abatement Technologies as a one-stop-shop for their rental equipment needs, Century Building Materials is able to single-source a wide range of equipment, cutting down on the time and effort needed when working with multiple vendors.

Abatement Technologies helps supply rental companies with equipment like:

Negative air machines
Portable air scrubbers
Monitoring equipment
Containment barriers
And more!

Meeting Renter Needs

By helping rental companies offer innovative products to renters, Abatement Technologies helps ensure renters are meeting industry standards and requirements. Specifically, in healthcare, it’s essential that contractors take the proper measures to protect patients. For some, this can mean updating practices and equipment.

For many years the materials needed to contain construction areas were disposable materials, like drywall and lumber. However, by renting a modular containment wall system, like SHIELD WALL™, the wall can be returned at the end of the project and rented repeatedly.

Around the Clock Customer Service

Abatement Technologies offers rental companies the support needed to provide high quality equipment to customers, at any time. And, with Abatement’s rapid order fulfillment capabilities, rental companies can ensure products are readily available for customers whenever and wherever they need them. With a knowledgeable staff on hand, Abatement Technologies offers a consultative approach to its customer service to find the right solution for each need.

Century Building Materials and Abatement Technologies - A Case Study

Want to learn more about how Abatement Technologies supports an equipment rental company? Click here to read about Century Building Materials’ partnership with Abatement Technologies to readily provide rental equipment to its customers.

Choosing the Right Containment Cart for the Job

When it comes to construction in critical environments, nothing is more important than safety. In fact, awareness of healthcare-related infections has grown over the last several decades and construction, especially when accessing a ceiling, in critical settings is now recognized as one of the causes of the airborne transmission of pathogens. Because of this, regulations were put in place to prevent the spread of pathogens when doing maintenance in a ceiling.

Containment Cart Requirements

Why use a containment cart? Because disturbing a single ceiling tile can release spores of environmental fungi. Contractors and healthcare facilities alike must exercise caution by following ceiling access regulations, detailed by the ASHE ICRA 2.0 matrix.

Further, the right containment cart has the ability to meet all industry standards and certifications. In order to stay compliant, equipment must be also able to meet the Joint Commission enforced CDC guidelines, which includes an assessment to evaluate a patient's risk of infection due to exposure from airborne microbes.

AIRE GUARDIAN® Containment Carts

At Abatement Technologies, each of our containment cart models are ICRA-compliant, so contractors can feel confident that they are purchasing the right equipment for each job. Abatement Technologies’ AIRE GUARDIAN® line-up consists of three different containment carts. While each cart has similar benefits, there are a few key differences.

AG8000: The AG8000 is the largest most rugged mobile containment cart offered in the AIRE GUARDIAN® series, and was specifically created for contractors or maintenance teams working on projects in healthcare facilities. With its unique upper header design, the AG8000 can safely support a worker on a ladder, ensuring OSHA compliance and extending height access for contractors as they work above ceiling tiles. With the AG8000, contractors can easily work in the plenum, above the ceiling deck. With an optional extension, contractors can work on more ceiling tiles at a time with wider coverage (5 sqft).

The AG8000 can be used in a variety of construction and maintenance activities, such as: ceiling tile replacement, electrical wiring installation, HVAC equipment, ductwork, and much more.

AG5000: The AG5000 was designed to be the perfect blend of durability and transportability. Since the cart is collapsible, it decreases the amount of storage needed between jobs, and makes it small enough to put in the bed of most standard size pickup trucks to move to and from the jobsite. Furthermore, due to the increased transportability of the AG5000, contractors have the flexibility to use the containment cart in job sites other than a hospital setting.

Similar to the AG8000, the AG5000 is another hard-sided containment cart option. Not only are hard-sided containment carts more aesthetically pleasing, but they are also more durable and long lasting. Additionally, the hard-sided surface can comply with more hospital requirements.

AG3000: The soft-sided AG3000 is a great economic containment cart option. Because of this lower price, customers frequently purchase this model in bulk to add to their fleets. This model is smaller than both the AG8000 and AG5000, which makes it even easier to transport. Additionally, this containment cart’s easy assembly and disassembly means it only requires one worker, which can cut down on labor costs.

Contain, Pressurize, Monitor

When containment carts are used in conjunction with portable air scrubbers, a workspace can become a fortress under negative pressure. Negative pressure confines the harmful dust particles to the construction area, further ensuring that patient occupied spaces are not infiltrated. And, by leveraging a room pressure monitor, an optional accessory for each of Abatement Technologies’ containment cart models, contractors can ensure that the space remains under negative pressure for the duration of the project - preventing dust particles from escaping beyond the containment cart.

Our Aire Guardians at Abatement Technologies specialize in assisting with dust control (ICRA) requirements for healthcare construction and renovation and can assist you in making the best product selections customized for the needs of your project.

Ready to learn more about Abatement Technologies’ containment cart solutions? Contact us today!

Key Tools for Mold Remediation and Air Quality

While moulds are an important part of the environment, its growth indoors can cause serious health problems. Unexpected events, like leaks from pipes and flooding from storms, can create standing water, which allows mould to grow in just 24 to 48 hours. Because of its fast spread, mold can be nearly impossible to prevent. That’s why it's important to focus on controlling its path—in the safest possible way.

Remediation specialists need the tools to not only keep themselves safe, but also the people in surrounding areas. With the proper protective equipment and the necessary tools, contractors are able to meet standards and safety regulations to effectively protect against infections and mould induced reactions.

Here are key tools remediation specialists will need to get the job done safely:

Personal Protective Equipment

Contractors rely on personal protective equipment (PPE), like respirators, gloves, and fitted goggles combined with high-efficiency particulate absorbing (HEPA) filters, cleaners, wet vacuums, and disinfectants to effectively and safely remediate mould.

Beyond PPE, contractors also need to take additional steps to contain harmful particulates and protect air quality. Taught by various organizations, like the IICRC, industry training and best practices often involve the following products: reusable containment barriers and negative air machines.

Reusable containment barriers

To protect others in and around the affected area, it’s important to isolate the contaminated area by closing off HVAC grills, sealing off cracks and crevices, and setting up containment barriers.

Traditional containment has been done by using poly sheeting and drywall with insulation. But, these materials are not reusable and are often disposed of at the end of the project. With the rising cost of construction-related materials and the huge labor shortages, companies are turning to reusable containment barriers, like our SHIELD WALL™ solution. It’s quick and easy to install and can be used over and over again.

By combining the containment walls with air filtration devices and a differential pressure monitor, remediation experts can create a negative pressure environment within the contained area for a complete containment solution.

Portable HEPA Filtration System

Portable air scrubbers—or negative air machines—are used in conjunction with containment to remove contaminated air from a sealed containment area through ductwork. The filtered air is exhausted outside of the contained area, creating negative air pressure inside.

There are several varieties of air filtration devices available on the market today, but it’s important to know which device is the most effective option. The best choices are units equipped with true HEPA filters. A true HEPA filter can capture 99.97% of 0.3-micron particulates, including mold spores, dust, and other allergens, and an even higher percentage of larger particles.

At Abatement Technologies, our PRED750 can be used alone or in conjunction with central air filtration to effectively remove harmful particles from the air. The portable air scrubber is equipped with a high-efficiency HEPA filter and is the most mobile HEPA filtration device in its class.

Want to learn more about Mould & Indoor Air Quality?

In our recent white paper “Mould & Indoor Air Quality: An Abatement Technologies White Paper,” we discuss:
1. How mould grows
2. The effects it can have on our health
3. Steps and standards for mould remediation
4. And the tools needed for the job

Download the white paper here.

The challenge of removing ceiling tiles while mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work is performed in sensitive environments

Doing mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) work in ceilings can be painful – literally and figuratively. And the figurative sense increases in healthcare environments where regulations are very stringent, and for a good reason.

Increases in hospital acquired infections (HAIs) have led to an increased awareness of the importance of indoor air quality in hospitals which has led to new safety requirements across in both the US and Canada. Hospitals have also developed their own regulations, and these all filter down to contractors and subcontractors – MEPs included.

MEP work above the ceiling grid comes under scrutiny because harmful particulates, such as mold, dust, and Aspergillus, can get knocked down and circulate through the air, possibly harming immunocompromised patients. Something as simple as general maintenance to the lighting in the ceiling can pose a serious threat to patient safety. As a result, this routine task requires contractors to contain the area to ensure no harmful particulates escape.

So what can MEPs contractors do? ?

The go-to solution for containing ceiling work are mobile containment carts. There are several options to choose from, including soft-sided ones that are a great economical choice, however there are many benefits to choosing a hard-sided containment cart such as our AG5000 or AG8000.

Containment carts offer extendable tops that reach to the ceiling grids to seal off the space. Contractors can then create negative pressure within these units to prevent particles from escaping. With see-through walls, infection control specialists can maintain a clear line of sight to patients and emergency signals even when the units are in place.

What to look for in a containment cart ?

From decades of working in the industry, we’ve developed long-lasting relationships with industry experts and designed our units not just with current regulations in mind, but with an eye for long-term best practices. Here are a few things to look for in a mobile containment cart.

1. Hard-sided vs. soft-sided

Hard-sided units offer a host of benefits over soft-sided alternatives. First, they offer superior longevity and durability thanks to their more robust materials. Second, most people find them to be much more aesthetically pleasing. Finally, hard-sided units comply with a greater number of current hospital requirements. And if the current trends persist, we believe even more facilities will begin requiring hard-sided units.

2. Safety First

When we were first designing our carts, we knew the safety of the worker or contractor was equally as important as the safety to the patients. Contractors and facility maintenance staff working in the ceiling need to know they can safely do so from a ladder. Our AG8000 is a rugged and durable cart that is easy to use,and has built-in safety and performance features, such as a unique upper header designed to support a ladder at the ceiling height.

3. Transportability

Our latest design, the AG5000 was created based on feedback from many contractors that were looking for a cart that could easily fit in the back of a pick-up truck and could easily be stored after use. Role in the AG5000! This unit was designed with the perfect blend between transportability and durability. Compactable down to 20” in height, you’ll be able to easily set up, tear down, and transport this portable containment cart.

Discover the go-to solution for containing MEP activities in critical environments

Containing MEP activities in healthcare and other sensitive environments isn’t exactly an optional add-on. It’s a requirement. Abatement Technologies offers well-built, cost-effective solutions for working about the ceiling grid so that MEP contractors can meet the existing requirements.

If you want to learn more about our options at Abatement, you can check out the details in our online catalog or contact a sales rep for more information.

4 FAQs About Temporary Containment Wall Systems

FAQ #1: What are temporary containment wall systems?

During construction projects, contractors can spend a lot of time and money building temporary containment walls to keep dust and harmful particulates from leaving the construction area. Like our solution, SHIELD WALL™, many temporary wall system panels are built on galvanized steel frames that provide extra durability for years of reuse. Unlike traditional drywall and poly sheeting methods, which are typically disposed of after each project, temporary wall systems help companies save money in as little as three uses depending on the scope of the project. But, it's not just reusability that makes temporary walls the best option for your project. Many walls on the market today provide additional protection like sound attenuation and fire ratings, but it's important to know what you really need to get the job done - Without over selling.

If you’re new to our blog and would like more information on SHIELD WALL™ for construction containment, click here.

FAQ #2: Do I Need a Fire Rated Containment Wall System?

No. Contrary to popular belief, a cumbersome, heavy and expensive fire-rated wall is not always necessary. According to the National Fire Protection Association’s 241 guidelines, a non fire-rated temporary containment solution is permitted when there is a working sprinkler system in place. However, if the sprinkler system is deactivated or affected in any way, a fire watch protocol should be established until it’s operational again. That being said, it's important to be aware of the fire resistance of the product you are using. For instance, SHIELD WALL is ASTM E-84, NFPA Class A & IBC Class A.

When making your decision on the right materials for the job it’s important to understand your local regulations and reach out to experienced suppliers for detailed information on temporary panel usage.

FAQ #3: Do temporary containment walls block sound?

Yes, many temporary containment walls have sound attenuating capabilities. In fact, in critical environments, such as healthcare facilities, construction noise can be intolerable and disruptful to patients. To help, hospitals are starting to rely on reusable containment walls to reduce noise in occupied adjacent areas so that renovation projects aren’t disruptful to patients, employees, and customers alike. Afterall, a loud environment can be distressing for patients and can prevent them from getting the rest that is necessary for recovery.

Additionally, in commercial spaces such as corporate offices, data centers, colleges and universities, airports and shopping centers, sound attenuation decreases disruptions, and allows for a “business as usual” atmosphere.. And as an added bonus, modular walls are more aesthetically pleasing than alternative solutions. With a professional, sleek appearance, modular wall systems give facilities the ability to conceal the construction area from occupied areas in a way that traditional methods often can’t support.

FAQ #4: What should I look for in a temporary wall provider?

It’s clear that modular wall containment systems have many advantages over traditional methods, such as drywall. Aside from providing sound attenuation and fire resistance capabilities, modular wall systems boast several benefits like cost effectiveness, ease of use, and sustainability. In order to find a solution best suited for your needs, it’s important to choose a solutions provider that can help you find the best financial route and provide guided buying expertise. By selecting a company that offers a consultative approach to sales, you can ensure that you’ll find a long-term solution to your short-term projects.

Looking for more? Check out Reusable Modular Walls Are Becoming The New Standard

How to clean, decontaminate, and disassemble Abatement Technologies’ SHIELD WALL™

How to clean, decontaminate, and disassemble Abatement Technologies’ SHIELD WALL™

Our SHIELD WALL™ systems are designed for use in critical environments where pathogens are in no short supply. Therefore, when you’re done with a job using SHIELD WALL™, you’ll want to thoroughly disinfect them before storing and reusing them.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through the basic steps of decontaminating SHIELD WALL™.

What you’ll need:

- HEPA Vacuum

- Paper towels

- Water-based disinfectant

- Gloves

- Mask

- Bucket

- Diluted bleach

- Polyethylene sheet

- Modular containment wall transport cart

How often should you clean your SHIELD WALL™?

Cleaning the SHIELD WALL™ involves regular disinfecting while in use and decontamination before transportation.

While on the job site, you’ll want to regularly disinfect the surfaces with a hospital-approved disinfectant, as outlined in step two below. Different facilities will have unique cleaning schedules and requirements, so be sure to check with the facility you’re working in at the start of a project.

Second, you’ll want to decontaminate the walls anytime you’re transporting them to or from a new facility. In most cases, this is a two-step process. Ideally, you’ll begin the process while on the job site and finish the decontamination when back at your storage site. For this, you’ll follow all ten steps outlined below, as well as in the video.

The steps to clean SHIELD WALL™

Before transport from a job-site

Vacuum the interior and exterior of the walls from the top down with a certified HEPA vacuum
Wipe down all surfaces with a one-step surface cleaner and disinfectant that’s approved by the facility
Disassemble the modular containment walls
Place panels on an Abatement Technologies transport cart and secure them to prevent movement during transportation
Cover with a polyethylene sheet for transportation

Once back at the storage location

Raise panels to full height
Wipe down corners, sweep, frame, and extrusion
Submerge brackets and small hardware in a bucket of diluted bleach
Dry all parts
Place the panels and parts back on the transport cart, secure them, and cover them with a polyethylene sheet until it is time to use them again

Tips

Wear gloves: When working with bleach, even diluted bleach, wearing gloves is recommended to protect your skin.

Wear a mask: Between working with bleach and working in critical environments, it’s helpful to wear a mask during the decontamination process to keep yourself safe.

Check with the facility for any regulations regarding cleaning products and the cleaning schedule

Want to learn more about SHIELD WALL™?

If you’re new to modular containment walls and want to learn more about how they can help you on your next job, we’d love to help. You can check the product details here or set up a consultation with one of our experts today.

Abatement Technologies and Vaportek: Organic Partnership, Organic Products

Abatement Technologies and Vaportek: Organic Partnership, Organic Products

In today’s fast-paced world, value-adding partnerships are more important than ever. However, successful partnerships should not only be beneficial for each company involved, but should also benefit each customer. When partnering with Abatement Technologies, companies gain access to a team of industry experts that not only know the solutions you need, but also care about your customers. Such is the case with our decades-long relationship with our friends at Newtech, the master distributor of Vaportek Odour Control Products in Canada. As the leaders in clean air, we depend on Vaportek’s natural botanical oils to clean and control odours in healthcare settings.

Odour control in healthcare

In a healthcare setting, there are many causes of malodour. Health issues that require certain medications can lead to odour in a patient's breath, and things like infections and incontinence can cause the patients to become the source of malodour. Since these patients are likely immunocompromised in a sensitive environment, it’s critical to use a solution that does not trigger an immune or allergic reaction. With Vaportek, hospitals are able to introduce a small percentage of 36 different types of oils into the environment to eliminate the odour an turn into a more positive and malodour free environment for hospital staff, family members and the patient.

Vaportek’s wide variety of cleaners and odour control products are ideal not only for healthcare facilities, but for hotels, restaurants, janitorial, automotive – and anywhere else where organic-based odours require neutralization. Vaportek’s products have effectively neutralized powerful odours like mildew, urine, smoke, trash, sewage, biohazards, and much more.

Using essential oils for odour control

What makes Vaportek unique is that its products are completely natural, aroma therapeutic and safe, which allows Abatement Technologies to offer our clients a “green” solution to their problems.

How do Vaportek’s products work? Its essential oil compounds are plant, flower and tree extracts. When applied to a malodorous area, the molecules are changed into a new molecular form that lessens or physically changes the original odour molecule to the point of nonexistence. Since the oil-based products eliminate odours naturally, there is no need to evacuate people or pets. Moreover, there is no residue from fog or moisture to clean up later.

In today’s eco-conscious society, more and more people are looking for environmentally friendly ways to complete tasks that were once done using toxic, potentially harmful chemical cleaners. We at Abatement Technologies have found that solution and have successfully implemented it for many years with the help of our trusted partners at Vaportek.

Interested in a partnership with Abatement Technologies? Contact us here

The Basics of Respirator Fit Testing

In this blog, we break down when you should fit test respirators, the difference between qualitative and quantitative fit testing, as well as how to choose which test is right for your respirator.

No matter how advanced a face respirator is, if it doesn’t fit right, it won’t protect the wearer. That’s why fit testing is essential.

In the US, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires fit testing before using a mandatory respirator for the first time and annually after that. The rules are similar in Canada. According to the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), workers whose jobs require them to wear a respirator must complete fit testing before their first use.

Additionally, they must complete a fit test:

- At least every two years, according to the CSA (Z94.9.1.6)

- After significant weight gain or loss, surgery, major dental work, or other physical changes that could affect a respirator’s fit

- When changing to a new respirator make or model

Qualitative vs. Quantitative fit testing

There are two types of fit testing: qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative fit testing is a subjective test that relies on the wearer's sense of taste or smell to determine if the respirator fits properly. This type of testing is a simple pass-or-fail method that does not measure the extent of leakage. OSHA accepts four methods for qualitative fit testing: isoamyl acetate (banana oil test), saccharin, Bitrex, and irritant smoke.

Quantitative fit testing, on the other hand, is a more objective and precise method of testing the fit of a respirator. This type of testing uses specialized equipment to measure the amount of leakage around the respirator's seal. Quantitative fit testing requires a controlled environment and trained personnel to administer the test. The three OSHA-accepted methods for quantitative fit testing are generated aerosol, ambient aerosol, and controlled negative pressure.

Should you use qualitative or quantitative fit testing?

Wondering which method of fit testing is best? The quick answer is: it depends.

Qualitative fit testing may be used for negative pressure respirators, such as N95 masks if they are being used in environments less than 10 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL). If contractors are using negative pressure respirators in environments above 10 times the PEL, they must use qualitative fit testing.

For positive pressure respirators, either qualitative or quantitative testing will work. That is because positive pressure respirators supply their own air, and thus can overcome minor leaks.

How to conduct qualitative fit testing

To perform qualitative fit testing, the wearer must put the respirator on and adjust it to fit their face. The test administrator will then instruct the wearer to perform a series of exercises, such as talking, nodding, and moving their head from side to side, simulating normal workplace movements.

During the test, the administrator will introduce an irritant to the environment, such as banana oil, Bitrex, saccharin, or smoke, and ask the wearer to indicate if they can taste or smell the test agent. The test administrator will also visually inspect the respirator for any leaks or gaps. If the wearer can taste or smell the test agent, or if there are visible leaks, the respirator does not fit properly and should be adjusted or replaced.

Qualitative fit testing is a simple and cost-effective way to determine if a respirator fits properly. However, it is not as precise as quantitative fit testing is more precise and may not detect all leaks or fit issues.

How to perform quantitative fit testing

To perform quantitative fit testing, the wearer must properly put on the respirator and adjust it to fit their face. The test administrator will then use specialized equipment to measure leakage around the respirator's seal.

The equipment used for quantitative fit testing typically includes a probe placed against the wearer's face near the respirator's seal. The probe is attached to a special filter adapter, which then passes through the respirator to sample the air inside of the mask... As in qualitative testing, the wearer will be instructed to perform a series of exercises, such as talking, nodding, and moving their head from side to side to simulate workplace movements.

The test results are then compared to the manufacturer's fit factor, which measures the respirator's effectiveness. If the fit factor is within the acceptable range, the respirator fits properly. If the fit factor is outside of the acceptable range, the respirator does not fit properly and should be adjusted or replaced.

Quantitative fit testing is a more precise and accurate method of testing the fit of a respirator. However, it requires specialized equipment and trained personnel to administer the test. It is recommended that quantitative fit testing be performed whenever a new respirator is used, or when there are changes to the wearer's facial structure.

Get the most out of your respirator

Whether it’s qualitative or quantitative fit testing that you need, be sure to stay up to date with fit testing requirements for your respirator. Doing so not only ensures compliance but will help you stay safe amid a variety of work environments.

Find our respirators here.

What to do When Flooding Occurs in a Hospital

What to do When Flooding Occurs in a Hospital

Hospitals, like all buildings, are subject to maintenance, repair, and restoration needs, sometimes at a moment's notice. Few building emergencies are worse than flooding. Whether it’s natural disasters flooding from heavy rain and hurricanes, or floods from equipment failure like burst pipes, floods are an emergency that can keep building managers up at night. This is perhaps more so in hospitals where increased regulations and patient safety concerns are cause for special precautions.

Protecting Patients

When flooding occurs in a hospital and remediation is required, the number one priority is to protect patients throughout the process. After all, patients come to hospitals to be cured, not put in harm's way. In the case of hospital construction, maintenance, or restoration, one of the first steps is to construct containment walls around the affected area. Like isolating a patient, construction areas need isolation, too. With flooding, contractors need to contain the affected area to stop the spread of mold into adjacent spaces. In many cases, poly sheeting will be used to create a containment space. In high risk environments and larger disaster areas, drywall may be required.

Once the containment is in place contractors create a negative pressure environment using HEPA-filtered negative air machines or portable air scrubbers. Creating a negative pressure environment helps ensure that unfiltered air inside the containment area does not leak out. The HEPA-filtered negative air machines and portable air scrubbers draw contaminated air in, filter the air, and then exhaust the filtered air out of the containment area through ductwork. Federal, state, provincial, local, and facility regulations will determine whether HEPA air can be discharged inside or whether it needs to be directed outside.

Acting Fast

In cases of flooding, acting fast is imperative. Mold grows in 24-72 hours, and the longer a building stays wet, the longer mold has to grow. Once mold grows, it becomes much more difficult to get rid of and can be a health risk. Therefore, remediation teams must act fast. However, constructing traditional walls can take days. That’s where the SHIELD WALL® comes in. Unlike traditional walls, these lightweight polycarbonate walls are easy to transport and can be set up by a small team in a matter of hours, not days, allowing remediation teams to quickly get to work.

Reducing Waste

In an emergency, it’s a natural human instinct to get the job done as quickly as possible. One might choose to use whatever materials are readily available, which might not be the most financially conscious or sustainable route. Using single-use solutions only adds more to the financial burden. When hospitals construct temporary drywall walls to contain construction and remediation areas, the walls are discarded afterward. With skyrocketing lumber prices, this is an excess cost that adds up over time. With reusable containment walls, like the SHIELD WALL® System, companies can reuse the same containment walls for years in a row, saving money and promoting more sustainable business practices.

Hospital Flood Abatement: A Case Study

Curious about what this looks like in real life? Request a case study below to learn how Northern Manitoba Regional Health protected patients, acted fast, and reduced waste by using the SHIELD WALL® System when a pipe burst overnight, dumping 70,000 gallons of water into a mechanical room and operating room.

REQUEST CASE STUDY