Abstract
Indoor air quality (IAQ) is one of the main topics in which governments are focusing. In healthcare facilities, several studies have reported data analysis and case studies to improve users’ health. Nowadays, although many studies have been conducted related to the biological and physical risks, the chemical risks have been less investigated and only in some specific functional areas of the hospitals. Starting from some systematic reviews and research works, this paper aims to list the best healthy practices for an adequate IAQ in inpatient wards. In particular, the decalogue lists the strategies related to chemical pollution, starting from design and management, with a focus on (a) localization of hospitals and inpatient rooms, (b) hospital room, (c) microclimatic parameters, (d) ventilation systems, (e) materials and finishing, (f) furniture and equipment, (g) cleaning products and activities, (h) maintenance and (i) management activities, and (l) users and workers. The multidisciplinary approach emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary knowledge and skills aimed to find solutions able to protect users’ health status. The design and management decision-making, ranging from the adequate choices of construction site and hospital exposure, finishing materials, cleaning and maintenance activities, etc., which can affect the IAQ must be carried out based on scientific research and data analysis.
Highlights
The façades of healthcare facilities are commonly modular and regular, and typically equal among the various fronts, in relation to the solar exposure, designers can apply different technological strategies for reducing solar intake: (a) openings of different sizes; (b) external shields; (c) volumes and/or recesses on the façade; (d) windows with low emissive, selective, thermal glasses, etc.; (e) shielding systems integrated into the windows, despite the fact that they can cause overheating inside the room, difficulties for maintenance, etc.; and (f) internal shielding systems, even though they are not recommended for hygiene aspects, user safety, and overheating of the internal environment
The manager should: (a) set up an Indoor air quality (IAQ) management team comprising of several representatives from different departments in order to support the manager for strategic actions and interventions; (b) conduct periodic walk-through inspections in healing environments and verify the quality and efficiency of spaces; (c) be aware of legislative requirements, standards, and guidelines and train all hospital staff to ensure that they are well-aware of their activities and the medical procedures carried out; (d) identify the potential air pollution that could be caused by healthcare procedures and equipment; and (e) verify and require specifications, if necessary, for cleaning products, construction materials, furnishings, and medical equipment for low emissions of chemical pollutants
It is efficient that IAQ is a very broad topic because any variable can affect the performances of air in indoor environments
Summary
Among the several issues that affect the quality of population health, and starting from the “One Health” approach, which is aimed at designing and improving strategies, actions, legislation, and research that involves multiple sectors for achieving better public health outcomes, healthcare facilities have a great impact in health promotion. The quality of these complex constructions is related to the activities provided and the multitude of daily users, but is related to the healthiness of the hospital facility itself and the engineering plants that work 24/7 [1]. The scientific literature has recorded several studies that have highlighted the differences between the various monitoring strategies used for assessing professional risks [9,11,12], and those used for indoor environments of ordinary healing spaces [13]
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