When a door is opened and closed, the air moves from one room to the other. At first glance, there does not seem to be any danger in moving air. However, when this air contains bacteria or pathogens, it becomes dangerous. Especially when the door is opened between an isolated room, such as an IC, and a different room. That is why it is important that the air movement between rooms is minimized.
Sliding doors versus revolving doors
The amount of air that moves when a door is opened depends on several factors. It turns out that the speed of opening, the amount of time the door remains open, the passage through the door opening, but also the type of door can influence the amount of airflow. For example, various studies have shown that sliding doors cause less air movement than revolving doors. Double revolving doors provide the most airflow and single sliding doors ensure the least movement. For more information about limiting infection risks in your Intensive Care Unit, please refer to our whitepaper.