Animal hospitals, zoos, breeding laboratories are saturated with ammonia, pet dander, odors, microscopic insects and chemical compounds which pose a major health risk to both the employees and the animals in these types of facilities.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Animal care facilities need to maintain indoor air quality to maintain a fresh, odor-free environment and reduce airborne particles that can detrimentally affect animals and the employees in these facilities.
Frequent Air Exchange Recommended in Animal Care Facilities
Animal care facilities share some air quality issues with hospitals. They need to be concerned about airborne pathogens and bacteria, especially for canine patients, just like hospitals for people. However, facilities for animal care also need to control odor problems that can be serious without proper ventilation and purification. Low indoor air quality can lead to patients contracting diseases where they have come to be healed. Unpleasant odors can make the facility uncomfortable for the pets and their owners. The Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV) recommends that air is circulated in animal care facilities 10-20 times per hour.
Animal care facilities are particularly prone to air contaminants such as airborne canine illnesses, ammonia, dust and dander. The pets entering the facility for care are vulnerable to these contaminants, but some can be dangerous to employee health as well.
Health Risks
The animals within a veterinary facility will be sources of heat, humidity, dander, and litter dust, so frequent air exchanges are necessary. While cats are not vulnerable to airborne illnesses, dogs are, making air quality control vital to good patient health.
Animal waste is also a source of ammonia, which can be the source of overwhelming odor and can be harmful to health. Ammonia levels should be kept to 2 parts per million, according to the ASV. This means that an air purification system besides simple air conditioning will be required.
Carbon monoxide is also a common air pollutant in this environment, and it affects the health of animals and humans. Carbon monoxide causes lethargy, nausea, fatigue, and irritated eyes. In high enough concentrations, it can cause death.
Dust and dander can cause discomfort and allergic reactions among the people visiting or working within an animal care facility.
Each of these contaminants can be controlled by the installation of a CosaTron System.
CosaTron Systems Control Common Contaminants
The most common contaminants found in animal care facilities include airborne bacteria and viruses, cleaning chemicals, unpleasant odors, and dust. A CosaTron System will control these dangerous contaminants and provide a steady flow of fresh, recirculated air in any animal care environment. The Series 3000 unit was designed specifically to work with air conditioning units to minimize these types of air quality problems.
Mesker Park Zoo installed CosaTron in its Discovery Center, offices, auditorium and gift shop. The hope was to curtail odoriferous primates from distracting zoo visitors from a lovely learning experience. Learn more about this project here.
In April 2015, ASHRAE awarded SeaWorld Orlando’s Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin exhibit and ride with a 1st place technology award. Have you ever wondered why penguins are usually behind glass? Visitors and staff can breathe easy now. The exhibit was such a success, ASHRAE is offering an onsite Tech Tour during it’s Winter Conference January 2016. Read the full article here.
Source: http://oacu.od.nih.gov/disaster/ShelterGuide.pdf
Source: http://www.sheltermedicine.com/shelter-health-portal/information-sheets/facility-design-and-animal-housing
Keywords: animal hospital air quality, animal care facilities, airborne pathogens, ammonia odor, downflow air systems
