What 'good' looks like for theatre ventilation
Conventional UCV theatres are designed for around 25 air changes per hour with the operating zone under a laminar flow canopy. The theatre runs positive to the corridor, with a defined cascade through the preparation and scrub areas. Modern ultra-clean theatres add HEPA filtration and tightly controlled inlet velocities to limit particulate burden at the wound site.
How we test operating theatres
Engineers measure supply and extract volumes, calculate room air change rates, verify pressure differentials against the corridor and prep room, perform particulate counts at the operating zone, and visualise directional airflow at the canopy edge. Each parameter is compared to HTM 03-01 expectations for the theatre type.
Frequency and trigger points
Annual validation is typical for UK theatre suites. We also recommend retesting after AHU maintenance, filter changes, ductwork modification or any incident that affects the theatre's clinical operation. Outputs are formatted for the theatre committee and estates compliance file.
Next step
Talk to a healthcare air quality specialist
Independent technical support for hospital ventilation, HTM 03-01 compliance, environmental monitoring and infection control air quality.