Isolation Room Airflow Control

TRIATEK, Inc. 2976 Pacific Drive Norcross, GA 30071 Phone 770-242-1922 fax 770-242-1944

Isolation Room Airflow Control

Copyright 1997 by TRIATEK, Inc. All rights reserved The information contained in this publication is intended for use as guidelines in designing airflow controls for isolation rooms. TRIATEK is not liable for damages or other consequences which may result from designs that may have used information provided in this publication

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Contents
Air Supply and Exhaust Design Requirements

Page

Introduction .................................................................................................................... 4

Pressurization .................................................................................................. 5 Clean-Room or Positive Isolation .................................................................... 5 Containment or Negative Isolation .................................................................. 5 Air Changes Per Hour ........................................................................................ 6 Room Air Control .............................................................................................. 6 Summary ........................................................................................................... 7 Control Sequence of Supply and Exhaust Air .............................................................. 8 Data Communications ................................................................................................... 9 FMS/HMS PK .................................................................................................... 9 Building Automation Systems .......................................................................... 9 Engineering Specifications for TRIATEK Room Pressure Monitors ..................... 10-13 FMS-1630 Series Questions & Answers .................................................................14-20

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INTRODUCTION
This manual serves as an instructional tool and reference document. For those of you who are experienced in the design and implementation of controlled pressurized rooms, there is valuable information regarding not only the fundamentals of pressurization, but also some of the finest equipment available for room pressure control and monitoring. Those who have little or no experience in the design of HVAC systems that require the use of space pressure monitoring and control equipment will find this manual very helpful. Information is provided that includes the answers to questions about what kinds of facilities and operations require controlled space pressure, what means are commonly employed to ensure a space is being maintained under pressure, and what equipment is available today for achieving continuous space pressure monitor and control functions. The TRIATEK FMS1630 Room Pressure Monitor series is described, and information is included that explains how this equipment is used in achieving the results required for maintenance of room pressure. We would appreciate hearing from those of you who use this manual, and wish to offer comments or suggestions for improvement. You may e-mail sales@ttk.com or write to us at TRIATEK, 2976 Pacific Drive, Norcross, GA 30071. To inquire about TRIATEK products or to obtain a full-line product catalog, call 770-242-1922.

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AIR SUPPLY AND EXHAUST DESIGN REQUIREMENTS
PRESSURIZATION
There are several kinds of facilities and operations that require space pressurization. Of those, the three most common are: - laboratories that need clean-room environment or containment of vapors - manufacturing facilities that need clean-room environment or containment of vapors or airborne particulate matter - hospital rooms, including Surgical, Bronchoscopy & Aerosolized Treatment areas, Isolation Rooms for patients having compromised immune systems or for patients with contagious diseases Of those items listed above, some require positive room pressure and others must have negative room pressure. CLEAN-ROOM or POSITIVE ISOLATION A clean-room or positive isolation room is one that is used for activities requiring absence of dust particles and other airborne contaminants. To prevent particulate matter or infectious organisms from entering the space, the room must be positively pressurized, forcing air to flow continuously out of spaces around doors & windows and other small openings in the walls and ceiling of the room. A clean room environment in laboratories or manufacturing facilities include activities such as Integrated Circuit wafer fabrication, pharmaceutical product manufacturing, etc. A hospital isolation room that must be maintained positive includes one that is occupied by a patient having severe burns or is diagnosed as having AIDS. In either of these two cases, the patient is very susceptible to infection, and must be protected from airborne infectious organisms that might originate from the space outside their hospital room. CONTAINMENT or NEGATIVE ISOLATION A containment space or negative isolation room is one that is used for activities that produce vapors, odors or microorganisms that must not be allowed to escape into adjacent areas. To accomplish this, the space is maintained under negative pressure, causing air to flow continuously into the space from adjacent areas. Manufacturing facilities or laboratories engaged in activities that produce particulate matter, vapor or odors that need to be contained or evacuated from the space must be negatively pressurized. Hospital rooms occupied by patients that have a highly contagious disease, such as tuberculosis, must be maintained negatively pressurized to prevent the infectious organisms that are expelled into the air when the patient coughs from being transferred from the patients space to the corridor or other areas adjacent to the room. The CDC provides guidelines and standards that must be observed for hospital isolation rooms. TB isolation rooms must be maintained at a minimum absolute pressure of 0.001 WC (inches of water column).
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AIR CHANGES PER HOUR

Most facilities must meet an environmental specification for minimum Air Changes per Hour, while maintaining a predetermined room air static pressure that may need to be positive, negative, or neutral. When the pressure must be positive or negative, there is normally a specified minimum absolute value that must be maintained, below which an alert must be given to personnel in the area, and usually to the facilities engineering personnel. To ensure the minimum air changes per hour are being maintained, the supply air must be known at all times, and a minimum value established. Means must be provided to monitor the supply air rate and produce an alarm for hospital engineering personnel when the flow rate becomes too low for a specified period of time. In conjunction with the supply airflow monitoring, means must be provided to monitor the combined effect of the supply air and exhaust air for the same space. The combined effect of these two airflow rates is a net room (or space) pressure. In the design of the air system, rates of supply and exhaust are worked out, such that the supply and exhaust CFM rates will result in the required air changes per hour and the required net pressure. The required pressure must be established for normal operating conditions of the space, taking into account leakage, which is airflow under doors and through other openings that will exist normally at most times. The leakage rate is a variable, and is unpredictable.

ROOM AIR CONTROL

Some air control designs depend only upon the sizing of the fans, ducts, and air valve range specifications to meet the minimum air change per hour requirements. Air control designs for facilities that require close management of air changes per hour will include airflow measurement means in the supply air ducts for each space, along with instrumentation for monitoring the flow rates and alarming flowrate conditions that are out of limits. The TRIATEK AMS series air monitoring stations, together with their LDPT-200 or LDPT-300 linear differential pressure transducer series, are two system components that will enable meeting the requirements for duct flowrate monitoring. The TRIATEK FMS-1630 Room Pressure Monitor accomplishes a very effective single-point measurement function of the supply and exhaust differential airflow rates. It does this by accurately measuring the room air pressure, which is the sum effect the airflow difference. The FMS-1630 constantly measures room pressure, comparing it to a setpoint value, and produces a PID analog signal output to control the general exhaust for the space to keep the pressure at the setpoint.

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SUMMARY
By using measurement of space pressure to obtain a single-point summation of supply air and general exhaust air (accomplished through the FMS-1630), the air control will be efficient and stable, while maintaining design room pressure and air changes per hour. This design provides the fast response time of standalone controllers that do not depend upon large network responses, and yet provide means for direct-link communications to a Building Automation System that performs full-facility monitoring. The monitoring can include datalogging of facility conditions, including fume hood face velocity of each and every fume hood and the lab space pressure of all laboratories virtually concurrently. Both the Triatek HMS-1600 and FMS-1630 have direct connection compatibility to the Metasys N2 bus, requiring neither a gateway nor protocol converter. As a result, this package offers the most comprehensive solution to accurate control of air in Laboratories, fume hoods, and reporting capability available today.

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CONTROL SEQUENCE OF SUPPLY AND EXHAUST AIR

1Initial conditions are: The supply and exhaust airflow rates are set to the CFM flow needed to maintain minimum room air changes per hour. The supply and exhaust airflow rates are at the differential needed to put room space pressure at setpoint. Temperature control opens the supply air damper for adjusting space temperature. The increased air volume now entering the room causes the room air static pressure to begin increasing. The FMS-1630 senses the increasing pressure and produces a control output to increase flow through the general exhaust. This action, based on room pressure, adjusts the exhaust air to the correct CFM rate to maintain the room to its pressure setpoint. The temperature controller, upon reaching setpoint, returns the supply air to the lower flowrate. The reverse of the actions described in sequences 2 and 3 then occur. The FMS-1630 senses a decreasing room air static pressure and produces a control output to decrease the general exhaust to maintain the exhaust at the CFM needed to keep the room pressure at its setpoint pressure. A door is opened, causing the room pressure to drop. The RMS-1630 senses the decreasing pressure and sends a control output to decrease the exhaust CFM. The exhaust damper completely closes, but the amount of air exhausting through the open door causes the room pressure to fall below the low-warning), which causes the Caution indicator to turn on. The pressure continues to drop until the room pressure falls below the low-alarm setpoint, which causes the Alarm indicator to turn on and the audible alarm delay to begin. If the pressure remains below the alarm setpoint for a period of time greater than the audible alarm delay, the audible alarm (horn) is activated, and remains until action is taken to correct the problem. The door is closed, causing the room pressure to begin to increase. As the pressure rises above the low alarm setpoint, the alarm indicator is turned off and the audible alarm to stop if programmed to automatically reset, otherwise the audible alarm remains on until manually reset by local personnel. As the pressure continues to increase, the FMS-1630 will modulate the exhaust damper to the exact position needed to maintain room pressure to setpoint.

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DATA COMMUNICATIONS
RS-485 communications hardware and firmware are provided in the FMS-1630 room pressure monitor series. The data communications feature is used primarily in two ways: 1) parameter setup on each unit using FMS/HMS-PK setup kit and a lap-top computer 2) monitor and control with RS-485 bus connection to a building automation system.

FMS/HMS PK
The FMS/HMS-PK Setup Kit is available from TRIATEK for a nominal one-time office site fee. The program may be installed on multiple computers at the site. It is convenient for use in setting up units in advance of installing them. Typical setup includes setting room numbers and alarm setpoints. The FMS/HMS-PK can also be used to perform centralized monitoring of a network of FMS-1630 and/or HMS-1600 units in those installations where the units are not interfaced to a building automation system. When operating in the Monitor mode, all connected units will be indicated on the monitor screen, along with the status of each in real-time. If a unit goes into alarm, the indication on the screen will change, showing which unit is in alarm. With the FMS/HMS-PK connected to multiple units in operation, the program provides the means for selecting a single unit by its address and viewing the complete setup details. Any of the parameters for the addressed unit can be changed using the computer keyboard, in the same manner as if the computer were connected to a single device.

BUILDING AUTOMATION SYSTEM

A TRIATEK proprietary interface protocol is available upon request. Using this protocol, an interface can be developed on most Building Automation Systems which will enable the constant monitoring of the controlling values (i.e., room pressure in inches of water column from FMS-1630, face velocity in FPM from the HMS-1600), relay status, and alarm status. Set-points and other operating parameters can be set via the BAS. For details pertaining to BAS compatibility, please contact a TRIATEK sales engineer. Call 770-242-1922 or e-mail sales@ttk.com or visit the website http://www.ttk.com/ for up-todate product information and useful engineering tools for HVAC applications.

ENGINEERING SPECIFICATIONS
Specifications that can be used in preparing bids for air control of isolation rooms or clean rooms are provided in the following pages.

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TRIATEK ROOM PRESSURE MONITORS
SECTION 15830 - ISOLATION ROOM AIR FLOW CONTROL SYSTEM SECTION 15975 - ISOLATION ROOM MONITOR SECTION 15902 - ROOM PRESSURE MONITOR SECTION 15903 - ROOM PRESSURE MONITOR SECTION 15954 - ROOM PRESSURE CONTROL SYSTEM AND/OR SECTION 17982 - ISOLATION ROOM PRESSURE CONTROL PART 2 - PRODUCTS 2.01 ROOM PRESSURE MONITORS A. General 1. The Isolation Room Pressure Monitors ("Monitor") to measure and/or control The pressure differential between the room and adjacent corridors shall be provided at all locations shown on the prints. Each room shall have its own Monitor capable of stand alone operation or complete system integration. Each Monitor shall have a local LCD display, room alarm status indicator, visual and audible alarm annunciator, dual alarm relay outputs, analog output, serial asynchronous communications port, internal or remote sensor, keylock switch, keypad selection of three isolation types, alarm silence keypad used to mute the audible alarm, test keypad, and a separate power supply. All of these items shall have the characteristics of and meet the specifications shown below.

B. Acceptable Manufacturers 1. The Isolation Room Pressure Monitor design shall be field proven with at least four (4) years of successful operation in room pressurization applications.

2. The Isolation Room Monitor shall be the FMS-1630 Series from TRIATEK INC., 2976 Pacific Drive, Norcross, GA 30071, Telephone (770) 242-1922, Fax (770) 242-1944, Web Site http://www.ttk.com C. Performance Requirements 1. The Isolation Room Pressure Monitor shall be capable of measuring ultra low pressures or flows with both positive and negative standard pressure calibration ranges of 0 to 0.010"WC, 0 to 0.050"WC, 0 to 0.100"WC or 0 to 0.200"WC. The Room Pressure Monitor shall be factory calibrated with NIST traceable standards and shall have an accuracy as follows: PRESSURE RANGE 0 to .01000"WC 0 to .05000"WC 0 to .10000"WC 0 to .20000"WC ACCURACY @ 72 F +5 F + .0001"WC + .0005"WC + .0010"WC + .0020"WC

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Monitor accuracy and displayed resolution shall be achieved by use of 12-bit analog-to-digital and digital-to- analog conversion processes. Internal calculations shall be accomplished using true floating point math algorithms to ensure the minimum required accuracy and performance. 2. The Isolation Room Pressure Monitor shall use thermal anemometry having a small microarea flow path to provide for high sensitivity and the precision accuracy shown in the preceding section. The Sensor shall constantly monitor bi-directional room pressurization using through-the-wall sensing referenced to the central corridor or hall. The air tubing assembly including wall mounted assembly, tubing, fittings, and stainless steel cover plate for the isolation room shall be provided with the Monitor as a complete unit. a. An optional remote sensor/transmitter shall be available as a standard feature in lieu of the internal pressure sensor for applications where the customer so desires. 3. The Isolation Room Pressure Monitor shall provide for tri-state monitoring of room pressurization modes including Negative Isolation, Positive Isolation, or No Isolation. These three modes shall be selectable from the touchpads on the front of the Monitor and shall be keylock switch protected. The integral keylock switch shall permit authorized selection of room pressurization mode or change of the room pressurization mode previously set. Dual alarm setpoints shall be stored for both the Negative and the Positive Isolation modes. For No Isolation the alarms shall be disabled and there will be no indication from the Status Indicators. These Green, Amber, and Red LED's on the FMS Status Panel shall all be de-energized. The Monitor shall store three separate control setpoints for use in the PID control mode so as to control to a specifically defined pressure for each isolation type. No isolation has a setpoint which can be defined to maintain proper building static for most economical building operation when isolation is not a consideration for that room. 4. The Isolation Room Pressure Monitor shall have an LCD alphanumeric display consisting of four sixteen-character lines to show actual room pressure readings in "WC or in metric units to five decimal places. Systems that require the user to multiply the displayed reading by a factor will be unacceptable. The Monitor shall be capable of displaying both English and Metric readings simultaneously on two separate lines of the display. An eight-character programmable descriptor shall be capable of displaying the room name or the room number associated with the concurrently displayed pressure reading. Where other variables are displayed on the additional display lines included with the Monitor, these shall also include the eight-character descriptor. Display update time shall be one second maximum. Systems displaying pressure in less than five decimal place readings will be unacceptable.

5. The Isolation Room Pressure Monitor shall have an analog output which is field selectable as either a linear signal directly relating to pressure or as a PID floating point control output. Output shall be selectable as either mADC or voltage. This output shall be field scaleable to provide the exact offset and span required to yield the best operating results, i.e., compressed span for

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quick operation. For pneumatic applications this output shall be connected to TRIATEK's CP-3000 Series I/P to provide a pneumatic control signal. 6. The Isolation Room Pressure Monitor shall have two (2) analog inputs. One of these shall be dedicated to the room pressure sensor and the other shall be available as an auxiliary or spare input for display of another variable such as room temperature or room humidity. The second analog input shall be displayed simultaneously with the room pressure. It shall be field scaleable to values suitable to the other variable selected. 7. The Isolation Room Pressure Monitor shall have both audible and visual alarms having adjustable setpoints. Alarm sequence shall be such that pressure readings and alarm status lights have instantaneous response to insufficient isolation pressure. Audible alarms shall have a programmable time delay which has a resolution of one second to provide a time lag before the audible alarm is activated and latched on. This programmable delay shall be adjustable from instantaneous (no delay) to 600 seconds minimum in one -second increments. An input for an optional door switch shall be provided and can be user selected to activate a second time delay on the audible alarm. The audible alarm shall be muted from the ALARM SILENCE keypad provided on the face of the Monitor. Dual alarm output relays shall be furnished to transmit alarms to remote monitoring equipment. Both alarm output relays and room status indicators shall have user adjustable low and high alarm setpoints and shall be individually adjustable. Alarm annunciation shall be selectable by the user for Automatic or Manual Reset. Under Automatic Reset, any alarm condition sensed after the time delay will be reset automatically when the alarm condition goes away and pressurization has been restored. That is, the alarm is not latched in and the alarms shall be annunciated only as long as the alarm condition exists. Under Manual Reset and alarm condition sensed after the time delay will be latched or held until someone manually resets it by depressing the ALARM SILENCE keypad after the alarm condition has been corrected and pressurization has been restored. This will allow for logging of the alarm when it is reset. In either Automatic Reset or Manual Reset the audible alarm can be acknowledged, or silenced, at any time, leaving the visual alarm to reflect the actual room status. Dual adjustable alarm output relays shall be SPDT and shall be rated : 0.6A @ 125 VAC and or 2.0A @ 30VDC/VAC. All alarm indicators shall be automatically disabled when No Isolation is selected. 8. The Isolation Room Pressure Monitor shall have three LED room pressure status indicators which have adjustable ON and OFF setpoints. These shall have colors of green, amber and red, indicating NORMAL, CAUTION, and ALARM, conditions respectively. 9. The Isolation Room Pressure Monitor shall have all setpoints and other programmable variables stored in nonvolatile memory to avoid loss of information due to power outages. 10. The Isolation Room Pressure Monitor shall have a 110/24 VAC power supply having a fused transformer and mounted in an appropriately rated enclosure shall be furnished as part of the Isolation Room Monitor. Contractor shall mount the isolation power supply in the above ceiling, connect it to the emergency power bus and run low voltage (24VAC) through the wall to the

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Monitor. Each Isolation Monitor will be connected to its own power supply to provide isolation from the power line and between each Monitor. 11. The Isolation Room Pressure Monitor shall be capable of operating under temperatures from 32 F to 125 F and relative humidity between 10% to 95% non-condensing. The Isolation Room Pressure Monitor shall be self-contained and capable of stand alone operation whether in monitoring only or in control mode. In addition, the Monitor furnished shall provide output signals and alarm contacts which are suitable for connection to: a. a central remote monitoring and data logging system, b. a central remote monitoring and data logging system which also has control capability, c. an existing automation system. In addition, the Monitor shall incorporate a serial asynchronous communications RS-485 port. The communications port circuits shall be electrically isolated from the control electronics of the Monitor to prevent voltage transients on the communications line from damaging the Monitor. Sufficient memory space shall be available in the Monitor for storing the software needed for executing building automation compatible communications protocol. D. Installation 1. The Isolation Room Pressure Monitor shall be installed where directed on site by owner or at a location shown on the drawings. The Monitor shall be mounted at eye level approximately one foot from the door facing.

12.

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FMS-1630 SERIES QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Software Rev 4.0x Hardware Rev G 1. How do I change the room number on the LCD screen of the FMS-1630? Enter the "Set Analog In" menu. Select "Setup Channel 2", then press the red touchpad three times. The LCD screen will display "UNIT RM 1020" (factory default), or another presently programmed room number. The cursor will be under the first character of the room identifier (e.g., "R"). Press the red touchpad three times to advance the cursor three spaces over to the first digit of the room number. Each digit of the room number will have to be changed separately. Press the green touchpad to increase the number and the yellow touchpad to decrease the number. Press the red touchpad to advance the cursor to the next digit of the room number. As you press either the green or yellow touchpad you will notice all of the different numbers and characters available as a room descriptor. The FMS-1630 allows you to personalize the screen with names such as "RM 1020", "ROOM 9B. To save your new room number press the Positive Isolation touchpad (this will simply end this procedure, but does not change the isolation selection). See page 34 in the FMS-1630 Installation and Setup Guide. 2. How do I know what to choose for my Status Lights (LED) setpoints? First, you will need to establish whether you want a bi-directional alarm or just a single direction alarm. A bi-directional alarm setup will give you an alarm at two setpoints: when the room pressure is too high, and when the pressure is too low. A single direction alarm will only need one alarm setpoint. For most negative pressure applications such as TB rooms and positive pressure applications such as clean rooms, a single direction alarm is sufficient. Secondly, you must know what pressure value you are trying to maintain in the room. The setpoints for alarm and caution lights are then set relative to the nominal room pressure. For example, if you want to maintain a pressure of 0.0200"WC (inches water column) in your TB negative pressure room you might set your caution light to come on at 0.0160"WC, so that as pressure is lost the caution light will turn on alerting the user. The caution light will remain on until the pressure either returns to normal or it reaches the alarm setpoint. At the alarm setpoint the red Alarm light turns on and the audible alarm is activated. CDC guidelines require that your room have a minimum of 0.0010"WC at any time. This means that your alarm setpoint should be set no less (absolute value) than 0.0010"WC for negative pressure applications. TRIATEK recommends that your alarm setpoint be 0.0020"WC or 0.0030"WC minimum for negative pressure applications. You should allow plenty of pressure differential for safety purposes if you have the pressure available. Again remember that CDC recommendations are for a minimum of 0.0010"WC at any time for negative isolation.

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3. What is the purpose of the Buzzer Delay and how should it be set? When an isolation room door is opened the pressure will drop causing the FMS-1630 to alarm. Such alarms, when unnecessary, are irritating to patients and staff alike. By setting a buzzer delay, the FMS-1630 will only alarm after the pressure drop exists for a programmable amount of time. For instance, by setting a ten second buzzer delay the FMS-1630 would not alarm until the pressure drop has existed continuously for a full ten seconds. Since many pressure drops caused by opened doors last approximately five seconds, the ten second buzzer delay setting on the FMS-1630 should prevent unnecessary alarms. If this delay does not work with your staff, they should probably be retrained as to the importance of a quick opening and closing of the door so as to not spread infection to staff or to other patients by not following good protocol. Remember that the FMS-1630 has great flexibility and that necessary delays can be programmed into the unit but that the time must be kept short for good practice. 4. What is the purpose of the "NO ISOLATION" touchpad? Putting a room in the "NO ISOLATION" mode turns off the status lights and disables the audible alarm. This mode is used only when no alarms are needed for a period of time while the room is occupied by patients not requiring isolation. In the NO ISOLATION mode, settings for control outputs function as setup for that mode. 5. (a) What is the keyswitch for and (b)who maintains it? a - The keyswitch is for providing security of the isolation selection. b - The responsible person in the area, e.g., the head nurse. This is an important consideration. For safety purposes only one key is delivered with the FMS-1600 unit, and it is important to know where the key is at all times. The key should be maintained by the responsible person. If additional keys are purchased and distributed to other responsible persons, they should be checked at frequent intervals to make sure that they have not been lost or fallen into the wrong hands. 6. How do I put in a password? Enter the Setup menu, then scroll to "Set Password" using the Green touchpad. Press the Red touchpad to begin the process. Decide on a sequence of " + " and " " (Green and Yellow touchpads, respectively) that will be easy to remember, and enter them very carefully, using the Green and Yellow touchpads. Watch for the "

" to

appear in the display each time a touchpad is pressed; press the key a second time if needed to produce the displayed response. It is recommended that the password code sequence be written down and kept in a secure place by the responsible person. 7. Which sensor port on the FMS-1630 points to the room? The FMS-1630 with internal sensor is delivered with the positive port P1 facing out the back of the unit and the negative port P2 inside the display unit. When the unit is

installed on the corridor side of the wall, port P1 will be directed inside the isolation room via the flow tube. If your FMS-1630 has a remote sensor, then with the sensor module installed on the wall inside the room being monitored, P1
faces the isolation room and P2 is connected to the corridor by the flow tube.

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8. Do I have to caulk the wall when installing my FMS-1600 unit? Using a good grade of silicone caulking compound, carefully seal around the flow tube mounting plate to prevent air leaks in close proximity to the sensor port. See illustrations in the Installation manual. When using an FMS-1630 with internal sensor, do not caulk around the front housing of the display unit. The enclosure is designed with a gap so the internal sensor port P2 can access corridor air. 9. Why are my status lights off? The lights might be off because the unit was switched to the "NO ISO" or "No Isolation" mode which turns the status lights off. If this is not the desired setting, set the mode to "POS ISO" or "NEG ISO" (turn the keyswitch to "UNLOCK" press the appropriate touchpad, then turn the keyswitch back to "LOCK"). If the unit is in POS or NEG ISO, check to see if the digital display is working. If the display is off as well, then your FMS-1630 is not receiving power... check connections to the power transformer. 10. Do I use the FMS 1610 or 1630 at the nurses station? The decision of which product to use from the FMS-1600 series for the nurses station depends largely upon how the product will be used. Will the monitor be used to control the pressure, or just display the pressure? If the room pressure needs to be controlled by the monitor at the nurses station, then an FMS-1630 with remote sensor should be used for each room to be controlled. The FMS-1630 has a PID analog output necessary to control room pressure to a setpoint for the one room it is associated with. If the monitor is needed to just display but not control the room pressure, and more than one room in the area is to be monitored, then the FMS-1610 may be used. The FMS-1610 can display and alarm up to four isolation room pressures simultaneously. The FMS-1610 is typically mounted at the nurses station, and is capable of monitoring up to four isolation rooms simultaneously. 11. When do I use remote sensor option or the internal sensor standard in the FMS-1630 ? Use remote sensor option when it is desired to monitor the isolation room some distance away, such as the nurses station. It may also be needed when factors such a glass wall prevent through-the-wall installation of a FMS equipped with an internal sensor. 12. Why do I need a transformer for each unit? The transformer is used for electrical isolation of each FMS-1630 or 1610 unit, and must be used for one unit only. 13. Power more than one? It is important that only one unit be powered with the isolation transformer in order to achieve proper isolation. 14. What do I connect 120 VAC to? You connect the 120 VAC to the primary side of the transformer (two black leads). DO NOT CONNECT THE 120VAC DIRECTLY TO THE FMS-1630 !

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15. How long can the plastic flow tube be? It can be specially ordered to lengths up to 20 feet. The tubing length must be specified at the time the order is placed for the room monitor, because special procedures are applied for extra long tubes during factory calibration. 16. How do I connect remote alarms (engineers office, nurses station, etc.)? Make alarm connections (to a system that accepts dry contact input) to the Relay 1 or Relay 2 output terminals of the FMS unit. 17. Does the FMS-1600 series connect to building automation systems, such as Andover, Automated Logic, Johnson Controls, Landis, etc.? Yes. Contact TRIATEK for details. 18. What FMS units presently provide serial communications? FMS-1630 series provide a communications port that RS-485 serial asynchronous. Contact TRIATEK to determine what communications protocols are available for use with the FMS-1630. 19. How many control outputs does the FMS-1630 unit have? The FMS-1630 has one analog output that can be used for controlling room pressure, or when used as "direct acting" for indicating room pressure reading. There are also available two relay outputs that can be programmed to respond to specified pressure values. The contact outputs can be used for remote alarms and fan (on/off) control. 20. If the FMS-1630 has an internal sensor, is it installed inside or outside of the room to be monitored? The FMS-1630 monitors are typically mounted outside of the patient room. For applications that require the monitor to be mounted inside the patient room call TRIATEK. 21. How should the unit be mounted? The FMS display/control unit should be mounted in a location convenient for reading and operation. When wall mounted, choose a good eye-level location for the personnel who will be using the unit. 22. Glass wall procedure? A glass wall will not permit through-the-wall installation, and is accomplished by use of the Remote Sensor option, which allows the sensor to be located in the ceiling. 23. If the FMS-1600 needs to be re-calibrated, how is it done? If the unit becomes damaged, or a room pressure certification check indicates discrepancies in pressure readings and it is determined for certain that the FMS-1600 needs to be recalibrated, contact TRIATEK. It is not practical to attempt the procedure in the field. 24. How do I turn the alarm off? To turn the alarm off while it is sounding simply press the "ALARM SILENCE" touchpad. To permanently disable the alarm, enter the Setup menu, select "Relay,Status" then after entering this sequence, select "Buzzer", and select "Disable". 25. Who do I call for help? For help call TRIATEK any time Monday through Friday from 7:30AM to 7:00PM Eastern time. Phone Number is 770-242-1922, FAX 770-242-1944.

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26. What calibration range do I order? Order a calibration range that is the smallest range that extends above the pressure you need to monitor and/or control. For example, if a nominal pressure of 0.03"WC (positive or negative) is to be maintained, you would want a range of -0.0500"WC to +0.0500"WC; the FMS-1630 would be specified with the range code "005". 27. Can I control an exhaust fan with the FMS-1630? Yes. The FMS-1630 has an excellent PID analog output for closed loop control. Also, some users of the FMS-1630 use one of the Relay outputs with the relay HI/LO values set up to provide exhaust control when Positive or Negative Isolation is selected. 28. What is "PID"? PID is an acronym for "Proportional", "Integral", and "Derivative." These three types of control signals working together provide the most effective means available for maintaining a setpoint with good system response. The Proportional control signal is based on the difference between the setpoint and the actual pressure (error). For example, if your setpoint in an isolation room is 0.05"WC but you are currently reading a pressure 0.03"WC then the error is 0.02"WC. Proportional control by itself will never allow the setpoint to be reached exactly. With a setpoint of 0.05"WC, Proportional control might be able to achieve a pressure of 0.04"WC but no higher. The Integral control signal's purpose is to eliminate the offset error inherent in Proportional control. It works by summing the time that the offset has existed and steadily increasing its control signal until setpoint is reached. As stated in the previous example, the closest we got to the isolation room setpoint of 0.05"WC was 0.04"WC. The Integral control signal would increase as the time increases and the setpoint would be achieved. Under some conditions, the room pressure may "overshoot" the desired setpoint. To compensate for this effect, Derivative control is provided. Derivative control works by effectively applying the "brakes" to the Integral control signal. The Integral control signal increases with time regardless of how close the actual point is to the setpoint. The Derivative control detects that the error is approaching zero and incrementally cancels the Integral correction signal, thus minimizing overshoot while allowing the control signal to bring the system to the exact setpoint. 29. How do I tune PID output? Typically, begin with P = 7.00, I = 1.00, D = 0.00, and T = 0.2 seconds. Observe the air control results, and fine tune the parameters according to your normal procedures. If you are not familiar enough with the PID control scheme, it will help to know that the "P" term determines the magnitude of the correction output in response to the difference between the setpoint and the actual pressure. The higher this value, the greater will be the initial correction. The "I" value determines the amount the error will be increased each time the FMS computer compares the actual pressure with the setpoint and detects a difference. The "D" value is used by the FMS computer to begin decreasing the error as it finds the actual pressure is beginning to reach the setpoint, which helps reduce overshoot and its consequent "hunting" effect. Normally, increased response will be achieved by increasing "P" and/or "I", keeping the "I" value

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well under the "P" value. The "T" value, which sets the time interval between testing the error, can usually be kept to a small number for room air control. The "D" value is best left at zero by all but those who are experienced in optimizing PID values, and will best be determined with the assistance of an air balance engineer. What was set-up as shipped? Refer to the charts in the FMS-1630 Installation and Setup guide. Is training available for this unit? Yes. Call TRIATEK (770-242-1922) to arrange for training. Are additional keys available? Yes. Order part no. FMS-1630-KEY What is the order lead time on these units? Lead time is typically five days to two weeks. Can I change the FMS unit to another room? If the FMS unit needs to be moved to another room, simply remove it from the previous room and install it in the new room. Do we have a portable unit? No. The FMS series Room pressure controllers should be permanently installed in a room for round-the-clock monitoring and controlling. Does this unit meet OSHA standards? The accuracy and resolution is well within the requirements of what is needed in an instrument to enable monitoring and control that will meet OSHA requirements, assuming the other components of the overall system of isolation control and maintenance are adequate. Where are these FMS installed? They are installed in many public, private, and government hospitals, as well as numerous cleanrooms and fume hood sites. Who typically uses these? Hospitals having TB wards and other requirements for either positive or negative isolation; clean rooms; pharmaceutical labs, college chemistry labs, and others. How long have FMS units manufactured by TRIATEK been in the field? They have been manufactured, shipped and installed for more than five years. Who will install unit? TRIATEK tech reps can be made available, as well as dealer-supplied technicians. Most commonly, hospitals and other facilities install these units, using an on-staff mechanical technician or a local mechanical contractor. Does TRIATEK Technologies offer calibration service? If your FMS needs to be recalibrated, call TRIATEK to arrange to return the unit for recalibration service at a nominal fee. Do you have a consultant specification? Yes. Request the specification from TRIATEK. Can 1630 be used with 1610? Yes. The FMS-1630 has an analog output that can tie directly into the analog input on the FMS-1610. Up to four FMS-1630's can be connected to one FMS-1610.

30. 31. 32. 33. 34.

35.

36.

37.

38.

39. 40.

41.

42. 43.

44. What different isolations are available?

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Negative, positive, and no isolation. Units are available with isolation pressure ranges of 0.0100"WC, 0.0500"WC, 0.1000"WC, and 0.2000"WC. Can the FMS be DC powered? Yes. Use 24VDC 10%. Can the FMS-1630 be used to control a pneumatic damper? Yes. The FMS-1630 has an analog output which can be tied into TRIATEK's CP-3000 series analog-to-pneumatic transducer for pneumatic damper control. How do I get enough pressure in my room? Consult an air balance engineer. How many air exchanges are needed per hour? Contact the CDC for current information. What do I do with exhaust air? Contact the CDC for more information. What is the accuracy/resolution of the FMS-1600 series? Accuracy is 1% of full scale, with 5-digit resolution. Conversion of the flow sensor signal input and the Analog output are done using twelve-bit converters. This results in over four thousand resolvable points. In addition, the FMS-1630 uses true floating point math in it's calculations to make full use of the high resolution signal conversion processes. What about the ante room, between room and hall, bathroom? Contact the CDC for more information. Do windows have to be closed in the Isolation room? Yes. Do I have to use all 16 characters for the password? You may use any number of "+" and " " from one to sixteen. Can the password be "bird" or "cat", or some other word? The password can only be a series of "+" and "" signs (Green and Yellow touchpad depressions). For example "+ + + + + " would be an acceptable password.

45. 46.

47. 48. 49. 50.

51. 52. 53. 54.

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