ICRA Construction Terminology

  • air changes per hour (ACH) exchange of air measured in cubic feet per hour
  • air pressure differential difference in air pressure between negative air space and positive or equal air spaces
  • airborne pathogens disease-causing microorganisms that can be transmitted by droplets or airborne routes
  • anteroom contained area that separates the work area from the clean patient-occupied area
  • aspergillosis infection or disease caused by aspergillus mold, which can invade and infect the entire body
  • aspergillus species of mold with small aerodynamic spores that can easily become airborne when disturbed
  • biohazards biological substances, such as medical waste or infectious agents, that pose a health threat
  • bloodborne pathogens disease-causing microorganisms that are transmitted through contact with blood or other potentially infected materials
  • chain of infection method to visualize the elements that contribute to the spread of infection
  • chronic health effects continuing or frequently recurring reactions to the body lasting more than 48 hours through progressive and lengthy exposure to a hazardous material
  • compartmentalization or compartmentation division of a structure into separate sections with fire-resistant walls and floors in order to restrict the spread of fire, smoke, and toxic gases
  • contaminant substance that, after release into the environment, can expose an unhealthy person to illness, disease, or death
  • cubic feet per minute (CFM) measurement of air volume velocity
  • decommission removal of all materials and equipment, such as medical supplies, hospital linens, instruments, and furniture, when remodeling an existing interior space
  • decontamination unit isolated area consisting of two or more chambers constructed to separate the contained work area from the clean patient-occupied area
  • demarcation object that indicates a boundary or a separation
  • designated route path of travel designed to allow construction materials and personnel to move to or from an area
  • dose response change in the effect caused by differing levels of exposure to a material over an extended period of time
  • element object or structure in place as part of a building, such as existing fixtures, casework, floors, corridor walls, ceilings, smoke detectors, and equipment that cannot be removed
  • equal air pressure occurs when the air pressure is the same inside and outside of a contained area
  • fire-resistance rating method that specifies the period of time a wall, floor, or other building component can withstand the passage of flames, smoke, and gases and remain structurally sound
  • firestop system complete, tested assembly that prevents the passage of flames, smoke, and toxic gasses through penetrations, joints, or other weaknesses in fire-rated walls and floors 
for a specified period of time
  • fire wall wall built to prevent the spread of fire from one area of a structure to another
  • flex duct metal coil covered with a lightweight fabric; attaches to a HEPA machine
  • friable easily reduced to dust by hand pressure, such as asbestos
  • full containment type of isolation barrier used to control mold migration when mold growth contamination measures greater than 100 ft2 and when intense or long-term exposure to mold is expected
  • fungi microscopic organisms that live off organic material and cause it to decay
  • hard wall system sturdy temporary enclosure built to be in place for an extended period of time
  • hazardous material substance that poses risk to health, safety, and the environment but has useful characteristics
  • hazardous waste substance that poses risk to health, safety, and the environment and has had all useful characteristics depleted
  • high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter air filtration device that removes 99.97 percent of airborne particulates 0.3 micron or greater in diameter
  • hospital-associated infections (HAI) bodily invasions of microorganisms (such as fungi or bacteria) that were not present, and had no evidence of incubation, at the time of patient admission to a health-care setting
  • immunocompromised condition in which the body’s ability to protect itself, by means of the immune system, is weakened or impaired
  • infection control risk assessment (ICRA) form document with information relating to patient risk within the work area; serves as a guideline for the required safety precautions
  • infection control risk assessment (ICRA) team group that decides what precautions are necessary to isolate the work area and protect patients
  • interim life safety measures (ILSM) team group that identifies fire, safety, routing, and security steps
  • limited containment type of isolation barrier used to control mold migration when mold growth contamination measures between 10–100 ft2
  • makeup air additional air source used in a negative air pressure environment
  • matrix graph used to match project type and patient risk to determine work area classification
  • mold species of fungus that produces an external growth on organic matter
  • negative air pressure occurs when the air pressure within a contained area is less than the air pressure outside the contained area
  • New York City (NYC) Guidelines widely accepted document regarding mold growth and mold remediation
  • patient protective apparel (PPA) clothing worn outside of a contained area to prevent transmitting contaminants from workers to patients and to maintain a safe and clean environment in patient-occupied areas
  • portable cube small, single-person containment area used for inspection work or short-term ceiling work
  • positive air pressure occurs when the air pressure within a contained area is greater than the air pressure outside the contained area
  • remediation process of removing hazardous material in a safe and controlled manner
  • right-to-know laws regulations requiring employers to inform employees of hazardous material and chemicals present in the workplace
  • Safety Data Sheet (SDS) document supplied by the manufacturer that states the hazards found within specific products
  • scope of work description of the volume of work to be done under contract between the contractor and the health-care facility
  • soft wall system temporary enclosure with walls constructed of 4–6 millimeter polyethylene sheeting that is fire-resistant
  • vector organism, such as an insect, that transmits a pathogen from one organism or source to another
  • walk-off mats material placed on both sides of a door to remove contaminants from shoes or carts