Before attempting to service the filters within a high risk physical containment facility (specifically PC3 or PC4 rated), there are several highly important and potentially lifesaving steps that must be considered.
These considerations would also apply to hospital or healthcare facilities that include isolation rooms with containment housings.
PC3 or PC4 (QC3/QC4) rated facilities are considered high risk because hazardous airborne agents that pose a threat to health are (or may potentially be) present and containment systems that include HEPA air filtration are used.
Areas within these facilities are negatively pressurised to assist with the strict control of airborne contaminants, for the safely of all personnel and the external environment.
Within the plant rooms of these PC3 or PC4 rated facilities, HEPA filtration containment housings or Bag In / Bag Out (BIBO) containment filtration systems may be installed. BIBO systems include HEPA and/or HEGA filters, bubble tight isolation dampers, decontamination / fumigation ports, a remote scan arrangement for testing and BIBO arrangements for filter change out.
For more information on what Physical Containment (PC) Facilities are, refer to our previous blog article, which outlines the four PC levels and their requirements.
The filter service requirements of a PC3 or PC4 rated facility are significantly different to the filter service requirements of a standard commercial building.
This is a scenario where you are best to ask questions first,
As a service technician – you would not simply walk into the plant room of a PC3 or PC4 rated facility and open the door of the filter housing to check and change out the filters – as you risk your own health, the health of building occupants (and potentially the entire living environment).
Written approval from the facility manager / operator of a PC3 or PC4 rated facility should be sought prior to any service work being undertaken, along with details of standard operating procedures, the required SWMS/JSA etc.
Depending on the nature of each PC3 or PC4 rated facility, it would be expected that a range of standard operating procedures in various scenarios, would be available for potential service personnel to follow.
A separate set of standard operating procedures may be required for:
Each set of these standard operating procedures may include:
For more information on typical Bag In/Bag Out (BIBO) filter change out procedures for Flanders/CSC (or comparable) side access housings, refer to our downloadable step by step guide.
Airepure design and supply containment filtration systems for PC3/PC4 (QC3/QC4) rated facilities and hospital or healthcare facilities that include isolation rooms.
We also supply relevant national support services, including product installation, routine maintenance / filter change-out and NATA accredited on-site testing and certification of HEPA filters, and on-site fumigation and testing of biological safety cabinets.
Contact Airepure for further details on these services.
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Airepure Australia
Ph: 1300 886 353
Email: info@airepure.com.au