Importance of Sensor Stability in Healthcare Isolation Rooms

Magnehelic® Gages Monitoring Isolation Room Pressure

The purpose of a healthcare isolation room is to prevent patients with contagious illnesses from spreading to others or to keep immunocompromised patients safe from exposure to airborne pathogens. As such, there exist two types of isolation rooms, either positively or negatively pressurized. 

Positive pressure isolation rooms are designed to keep pathogens and outside air from entering the room, i.e. air inside the room is forced outward and is typically used for immunocompromised patients. Like clean rooms, it is important to maintain proper positive pressure within the protective isolation room to keep the patients safe. Continue reading “Importance of Sensor Stability in Healthcare Isolation Rooms”

A Dwyer Guide to the Digital Catalog

In this age of virtual meetings and online connections, to “Google” something has become synonymous with quickly looking up information. For some, bookshelves are more for decor than they are functional, and trends are leading to becoming more environmentally-friendly and saving paper. Print media is not necessarily “dead,” but it is becoming much less prevalent as we journey forward in this digital age.

When speaking on digital resources, we have to take this chance to talk about some of the benefits that our digital catalog can offer. Available on both desktop (via our website) and mobile (via the app), the digital catalog allows you instantaneous access to application guides, selection guides, and product specifications.  Continue reading “A Dwyer Guide to the Digital Catalog”

Digital Chiller Thermostats

Commercial Refrigeration Thermostats Go Digital for Greater Control
pe0908-dwyer-img1-lgIn the past, bulb and capillary mechanical thermostats were used in chillers to maintain proper water temperature. As technology has advanced, digital temperature switches have replaced many mechanical ones because a digital temperature switch provides the same functions while also serving as a timer, external relay and thermometer. Where are digital temperature switches used, and which features have caused the conversion? Continue reading “Digital Chiller Thermostats”

How is Stability Related to ASHRAE 62.1 Standards?

ASHRAE 62.1 Standard for Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality provides recommendations for minimum ventilation rates and other parameters to ensure good indoor air quality (IAQ). Keeping the IAQ at a safe level will help to minimize any adverse health effects caused by air quality factors. 

The 62.1 standard is intended for both new building and building addition projects. It can also be used as a guide for the improvement of IAQ in existing buildings.

In order to properly conform to the ASHRAE 62.1 standard, it is necessary for sensors to be both stable and accurate. Continue reading “How is Stability Related to ASHRAE 62.1 Standards?”

Solve High Duct-Static Cutout Problems with the Series 1831

High duct-static pressure creates problems during a building fire when fire dampers close. Closed fire dampers cause downstream duct sensors to detect a drop in pressure. The duct pressure sensors in turn send signals to crank the air handler even faster to get back up to normal operation. Because the fire dampers are closed, when the air handler ramps up, the duct pressure upstream of the fire dampers will increase to a point where a high static pressure switch will cut power to the VFD (variable frequency drive) and send a signal to the DDC (direct digital control). Switches in this application — by specification — are all manual reset and require two outputs: one for cutting power to the VFD and one for sending the signal to the DDC.

Traditionally, there have been three tactics to address this issue, each with its own problems. Continue reading “Solve High Duct-Static Cutout Problems with the Series 1831”