Measuring postive air pressure - High care

Hi all,

Please move if this is in the incorrect forum, it was most appropriate I could find.

There is a clause for one of our customers that is as below:-

"High care/risk areas shall maintain positive pressure such that all air movements are in the direction from high care/risk to low risk. Positive air pressure shall be demonstrable at all product and equipment transfer points and a system shall be in place to regularly monitor and record positive pressure. "

The site that I'm currently at have not performed any checks recently, due to staffing issues/changes.  Also the procedure for checking positive air is simply to use an anemometer held at the opening.  The anemometer is only measuring speed of air flow, not direction!? 

How do others manage checks on positive air flow?  At a previous site we simply used a piece of paper held over the opening between areas, to visually check the air was flowing in the correct direction.

How about frequency? Current procedure states weekly checks, which seems excessive (especially as they currently aren't up to date).

Any feedback is much appreciated.

Thanks,

Sam.

Hi all,

 

Please move if this is in the incorrect forum, it was most appropriate I could find.

 

There is a clause for one of our customers that is as below:-

 

"High care/risk areas shall maintain positive pressure such that all air movements are in the direction from high care/risk to low risk. Positive air pressure shall be demonstrable at all product and equipment transfer points and a system shall be in place to regularly monitor and record positive pressure. "

 

The site that I'm currently at have not performed any checks recently, due to staffing issues/changes.  Also the procedure for checking positive air is simply to use an anemometer held at the opening.  The anemometer is only measuring speed of air flow, not direction!? 

 

How do others manage checks on positive air flow?  At a previous site we simply used a piece of paper held over the opening between areas, to visually check the air was flowing in the correct direction.

 

How about frequency? Current procedure states weekly checks, which seems excessive (especially as they currently aren't up to date).

 

Any feedback is much appreciated.

 

Thanks,

Sam.

The frequency depends on the variability.

We currently use a stick lighter to note direction and the anemometer to note speed. We feel the lighter is more accurate than paper because it is not solid so it shows the air better.

There is positive and there is negative air flow.

Recently a client had to install a positive air flow system as their one building of three had a negative high-speed air flow.

As a safeguard they have installed mini wind socks on stanctions with air flow directional and meter to check speed of flow.

Very interesting subject indeed.

Stickers showing flow, a gauge at the compressor holding tank, a gauge at all the assets which use air, on the same fitting as the air filters & regulators.