Fresh Air Handling Units (FAHUs) are applied in a wide variety of building types where indoor air quality (IAQ), ventilation, comfort, and code compliance are essential. Below are the main application areas:
1. Hospitals & Healthcare Facilities
- Why FAHU is critical:
- Ensures sterile, filtered air supply for sensitive areas.
- Maintains pressure differentials (positive for operating rooms, negative for isolation rooms).
- Reduces risk of infection transmission.
- Features: HEPA filters, UV disinfection, humidity control.
- Codes/Standards: ASHRAE 170 (Ventilation of Healthcare Facilities), WHO/CDC guidelines.
- Examples:
- Intensive Care Units (ICUs)
- Operating Theaters
- Isolation Rooms
- Patient Wards
2. Offices & Commercial Buildings
- Why FAHU is needed:
- Supplies fresh air to densely occupied spaces.
- Maintains CO₂ levels < 1000 ppm for productivity and comfort.
- Works with AHUs/FCUs to provide balanced ventilation and pressurization.
- Features: Energy recovery wheels, demand-controlled ventilation (DCV).
- Examples:
- High-rise office towers
- Shopping malls
- Airports and terminals
- Educational institutions
3. High-Rise Residential & Hospitality
- Why FAHU is essential:
- Provides continuous supply of fresh air to guest rooms and apartments.
- Prevents cross-contamination of odors from kitchens and bathrooms.
- Supports corridor pressurization to ensure fire/life safety.
- Features: Compact FAHU units, noise control, integration with VRF/VRV systems.
- Examples:
- Hotels & Resorts
- Residential Towers
- Serviced Apartments
4. Industrial & Pharmaceutical Facilities
- Why FAHU is critical:
- Maintains IAQ for process-sensitive environments.
- Provides cleanroom conditions (Class 100 – Class 100,000).
- Ensures regulatory compliance with GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice).
- Features:
- Multi-stage filtration (Pre, Fine, HEPA).
- Dehumidification for pharmaceutical storage.
- Explosion-proof FAHUs for chemical industries.
- Examples:
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing plants
- Semiconductor and electronics industries
- Food processing facilities
- Cleanrooms & laboratories
Comparison of FAHU Application by Sector
| Sector | Primary Role of FAHU | Special Features |
|---|---|---|
| Hospitals | Sterile ventilation, infection control, pressure management | HEPA filters, UV lamps, humidity ctrl |
| Offices | Fresh air supply, IAQ, occupant productivity | CO₂ sensors, energy recovery |
| High-Rise | Guest/tenant comfort, odor control, corridor pressurization | Compact units, noise reduction |
| Industrial | Process cleanliness, contamination control, regulatory compliance | HEPA, explosion-proof, dehumidifiers |
