What is the requirement that addresses ventilation/temperature/relative humidity for instrument processing areas in dental health settings?

 

There are no requirements for ventilation, temperature, and humidity for instrument processing areas in dental settings within business occupancies.  

The Joint Commission standard EC.02.05.01 EP 15 references NFPA 99-2012, which includes ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170-2008, or state design requirements if more stringent for temperature, pressure, and humidity requirements.  This applies to hospital and outpatient facilities that were built, altered, or renovated after July 5, 2016. This document states that soiled workroom shall be negative with a temperature between 72-78 degrees Fahrenheit and no humidity requirement. The Clean workroom shall be positive, with temperature between 72-78 and a maximum relative humidity of 60%. For existing facilities (prior to July 5, 2016), you may comply with either these requirements, or the requirements that were in effect at the time of construction. In existing one-room layouts, the air flow within the room shall be from clean to dirty (with negative air flow overall).

A read only copy of the ASHRAE standard can be accessed from this hyperlink: ASHRAE then scroll down the list to Standard 170-2008 Ventilation of Health Care Facilities.