Table 1.

An example of environmental control recommendations for hospitals in Japan. Used with permission (translated and slightly edited) from the Human and Society Environment Science Laboratory Co. Ltd, Japan (http://www.h-and-s.biz/index2.htm).

section	location	summer		winter
		dry-bulb temperature (°C)	RH (%)	dry-bulb temperature (°C)	RH (%)
hospital ward	patient bedrooma	24–26–27	50–60	22–23–24	40–50
	nurse station	24–26–27	50–60	20–22	40–50
	day room	26–27	50–60	21–22	40–50
outpatient department	consulting roomb	26–27	50–60	22–24	40–50
	waiting room	26–27	50–60	22–24	40–50
	dispensary	25–26	50–55	20–22	40–50
	ER	23–24–26	50–60	22–26	45–55–60
central medical care areas	operation room	23–24–26	50–60	22–26	45–55–60
	recovery room	24–26	50–60	23–25	45–50–55
	ICU	24–26	50–60	23–25	45–55–55
	birthing roomc	24–25–26	50–60	23–25	45–55–55
	newborn baby room	26–27	50–60	25–27	45–55–60
	general survey room	25–26–27	50–60	20–22	40–50
	X-ray studio	26–27	50–60	24–25	40–50
	X-ray operation roomd	25–26	50–60	20–22	40–50
	hydrotherapy treatment roome	26–27	50–65	26–28	50–65
	dissection room	24–26	50–60	20–22	40–50
	kitchen	use guidelines for hospital catering services
supply section	material room	26–27	50–60	20–22	40–50
administrative area	office	26–27	50–60	20–22	40–50

^aConsider the additional cooling and heating effects of the window in winter and summer (sunlight), respectively.

^bTo maintain at a warmer temperature than the waiting room.

^cThere may be a demand for higher temperatures as required.

^dMay need to compensate for any additional heating effect generated by the X-ray equipment.

^eRadiant heaters are preferred.