Tip of the month: Keep tabs on proposed humidity range reductions

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has proposed a modification to its Standard 170-2008, Ventilation of Health Care Facilities, reducing the lower end of the recommended relative humidity range for short-term patient treatment stays—even in operating rooms (OR)—from 30% down to 20% relative humidity (RH).

The idea behind the change, according to ASHRAE, is to bring the standard up to date with current practices and thinking.