Abstract
This chapter highlights heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) features that require special consideration in research animal facilities. The animal facility HVAC system is the most critical, complex, and expensive component of today's laboratory animal facility. The primary function of the HVAC system is to stabilize the laboratory animals' macroenvironment (the room) and microenvironment (the cage), and maintain a comfortable and healthy work environment for personnel. Specifically, the function of the HVAC system is to control ventilation, temperature, and humidity within specified ranges, and remove airborne particulates (including microbes) and gaseous contaminants generated in the animal room. Air handlers and exhaust fans should be dedicated to the animal facility. Air handlers should be controlled to automatically adjust fan speed to account for changes in static pressures due to factors such as filter loads. In addition to the usual heat load calculated for generic spaces and the heat load generated by the animal, heat-load calculations must include heat generated by animal-care equipment that will or may be used in the room, such as biosafety or cage-change cabinets, and fan/filter modules for ventilated cages.
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