TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2022//
TI  - Fire safety of healthcare units in conditions of oxygen therapy in CoViD-19: empirical establishing of effects of elevated oxygen concentrations
JO  - Sustainability (Basel)
A1  - Wróblewski, Wojciech
A1  - Tuśnio, Norbert
A1  - Wolny, Paweł
A1  - Siuta, Dorota
A1  - Trzebicki, Janusz
A1  - Bączkowska, Teresa
A1  - Dzikowska-Diduch, Olga
A1  - Pruszczyk, Piotr
SP  - e4315
EP  - e4315
VL  - 14
IS  - 7
N2  - Large-scale usage of oxygen therapy (OT) may lead to increased oxygen concentrations (OC) in places where COVID-19 patients are treated. The aim of the study was to establish in an empirical way the OC in COVID-19 at the patient's bedside and to assess the relationships and reactions that occur during OT in an uncontrolled oxygen-enriched environment. We analyzed and took into account the OC, the technical conditions of the buildings and the air exchange systems. Based on the results, we performed a Computational Fluid Dynamics analysis to assess evacuation conditions in the event of a fire outbreak in the COVID-19 zone. A total of 337 measurements of OC were carried out, and three safety thresholds were then defined and correlated with fire effects. The highest ascertained oxygen concentration was 25.2%. In the event of a fire outbreak at 25.2% oxygen in the atmosphere, the response time and evacuation of medical staff and patients is no longer than 2.5 min. Uncontrolled oxygen enrichment of the environment threatens the safety of medical staff and patients in COVID-19 hospitals.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 2071-1050
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su14074315
ID  - ref1
ER  -