A containment unit is a soft, tent-like structure that is designed for quarantine and isolation purposes. They are useful in situations where there is somebody that must remain quarantined, and is too sick to be relocated when something important is going on. Suppose you are replacing some pipes in a hospital ward and have to cut into the drywall in a room full of severely ill respiratory patients. Of course, the most practical thing to do would be to simply relocate them while the work is completed. The trouble is that sometimes this is not possible. Sometimes a patient will be prone to fractures and severe bruising when they are moved even in the slightest. It may not be possible to move the bed with the patient laying in it if they need to go outdoors to get to the destination, for example, or they could be contagious. In these scenarios, the best solution is to use a mobile containment unit.

Using a mobile containment unit

The idea is that there would be a rectangular shaped box structure placed around the patient. Generally, this would provide a barrier between the occupant and the outside world when installed correctly. There would be a combination of Velcro, zippers and straps that would allow for clinicians to enter and exit when they are equipped with personal protective equipment. A typical containment unit will have some kind of air filter hooked up to it. Usually there are ducts that allow for air to enter and exit the unit. The design allows for filtered air to constantly enter the unit, while some air is allowed to escape.

The level of effectiveness that a containment unit will provide is limited by the quality of the filter it is used with and the quality of the containment structure itself. If the goal is to limit someone’s exposure to airborne pathogens like viruses or bacteria, you must ensure that you are using a filter that is rated to capture particulate that are that tiny. Look for one that has a HEPA filter. Most HEPA filters will capture viruses, as well as bacteria.

It will also take some judgement on the part of whoever is purchasing the unit to think about how airtight the structure actually is. You could be comparing two different units that are roughly the same size and are both equipped with comparable filtration, but one has an assembly design that will allow for more air to escape during use. This is an important thing to be aware of because the more outside air is allowed to enter from sources other than the filter ducts, the less effective the whole containment unit will be.

The power of negative air machines

The best way to overcome this is to use a containment unit with a negative air machine. These work by creating an air pressure barrier to stop the flow of outside air. The idea is that when the filtered air enters the containment unit, it does so under pressure. The pressure delivered at the unit’s intake duct exerts itself on the structure’s walls and ceiling. When this happens, the structure bulges, and there is a ballooning effect. Because this effect is constantly at play while the structure is in use, any outside air will never have the chance to enter, because the pressure from inside repels it away. This is the closest approximation out there to a truly airtight seal.

If protecting the occupants from outside air is of high priority, make sure to get a containment unit with a HEPA filter negative air machine. This is the gold standard for containment in general. If you have to spend money on a containment system, the best thing is to do it right. Why take the risk and make yourself vulnerable to litigation, should something go wrong? Reputation and safety are, after all, is everything.