1. Flooring:
With a number of electrical gadgets and appliances being used in the operating room, excessive build-up of static electricity has to be guarded against such static build-up may lead to a spark resulting in explosion of volatile anesthetic gases enriched with oxygen.
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Therefore, the floor should be moderately conductive to be able to dissipate the accumulated electrostatic charge.
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The entire surface of the floor should provide a path of moderate electrical conductivity between all persons and equipment making contact with the floor.
Copper strips laid in the flooring have been in extensive use in the past, but newer materials have now become available to provide partially conductive flooring. The floor should be conductive enough to dispel static and yet not so conductive as to contribute to electric shock. The minimum conductivity should be 1 m ohm and maximum 10 m ohm.
2. Ceiling:
All operating room lamps are ceiling mounted. Besides, the requirement of some other ceiling-mounted equipment, e.g. operating microscope and the air-conditioning ducting arrangements determine the choice of ceiling construction. All ceiling-mounted equipment requires careful consideration at the planning stage.
3. Wall Finishing:
‘Easy to wash and wipe’ is the guiding principle in considering wall finish in operating rooms. All surfaces in operating rooms have to withstand constant cleaning. They should therefore as far as possible be joint less.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
The value of ceramic tiles is open to question because of the many joints, whose rough surface of grouting may entrap dirt and bacteria.
Joint less mosaic surfacing for the wall is much more preferable. Internal corners in the operating rooms are rounded to facilitate cleaning.
Care should be taken that there are no shelves or other projections on the operating room walls.
4. Doors:
A clear width of 90 cm is required for a staff dressed up in sterile gown to pass.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
The main door to the operating room should be wide enough to permit unobstructed passage of a patient trolley.
Swing-open types of doors are best avoided for their follow-through action. Surface sliding doors are better suited for passage of patient trolleys.
5. Colour:
The colours used on the walls, floor and ceiling of operating rooms should be light enough to ensure satisfactory integration of light by reflection, at the same time soothing to the eyes.