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