Many HVAC, critical environments, and industrial applications employ temperature and relative humidity (T/RH) sensors. But exactly how many T/RH sensors does an application require? It is difficult to spec the exact requirements for certain applications for a variety of reasons. No two applications are identical, and thus no two spaces require the same number of T/RH sensors. As each application is unique, the number of sensors needed depends on several factors, including:

Room pressure readings are useful and often necessary in a range of spaces. However, two pressure transducers in the same space might not always present the same reading. A variety of circumstances can have an impact on the reading of a pressure sensor.

Inhaling airborne particles can put both critical patients and healthcare staff at risk for detrimental health issues. Controlling these particles is necessary for protecting both staff and occupants of nearby rooms from exposure to infectious particles. To maintain safety in a hospital, it is crucial to monitor both differential pressure and particle counts in anterooms.

Critical environments can have a variety of layouts depending on the purpose of the space. Frequently, these critical environments will have a multi-room setup. Some examples of a multi-room setup are an isolation room and anteroom or a cleanroom, gown up room, and clean storage area.

An important consideration when choosing a T/RH sensor is whether or not it is critical to see the reading on the unit. Whether the sensor is to be wall, duct, or outdoor mounted has an impact on the need for a display, but it is not the deciding factor.

Requirements and regulations are becoming ever more stringent for critical environments, making finding the right products for a space increasingly difficult. Not only must the specs of the product be considered, but the supplier must be taken into account as well. Shopping around with the intent to purchase from a variety of vendors takes a significant amount of time and effort. In addition to wasted time and effort, buying from multiple vendors comes associated with a number of risks and drawbacks, including:

• Incompatible hardware
• Incompatible software
• Minimal or disjointed tech support
• Inability to integrate products
• Installation and operational issues

Setra’s T/RH sensors are built to meet the requirements of demanding applications. The right choice of appropriate filter cap is essential for best long-term performance, and the right sensor tip depends mainly on the application.

Hot-wire anemometers are widely used throughout hospitals. Although their initial accuracy remains undisputed, a hot-wire anemometer's accuracy is not stable over time. Hot-wire anemometers must be cleaned at regular intervals to remain an accurate and effective solution for monitoring room pressure. Without regular cleaning and calibration, the accuracy of a hot-wire anemometer decreases significantly over time.

Proper room pressure and airflow are crucial for maintaining critical environments in hospitals. When talking about pressurized hospital spaces, the most well-known are operating rooms and isolation rooms. However, these are not the only two pressurized spaces within a hospital. ASHRAE Standard 170 details 60 different types of rooms in a hospital requiring pressurization. Without proper room pressurization, hospitals put their accreditation by the Joint Commission in jeopardy.

1. Recognize the difference between BACnet options

BACnet has a multitude of protocols available, but Setra products typically only operate on one of two options.