Hygienic AHU Technical Specifications PDF: Engineer’s Specification and Selection Guide
A standards-based, copy-ready framework for hospitals, cleanrooms, pharmaceutical, food, laboratory and other high-hygiene HVAC applications
Quick answer A hygienic AHU is not defined by stainless-steel panels alone. A defensible specification has to control cleanability, corrosion resistance, internal surface finish, casing leakage and thermal performance, drainage, filtration, coil geometry, fan arrangement, access for inspection/maintenance/cleaning, material hygiene and evidence of compliance. The specification below is written as a practical starting point; project-specific airflow, pressure, temperature, humidity, filtration and room-pressure requirements still have to come from the HVAC design and the applicable authority or healthcare/cleanroom standard. |
Engineers searching for a “hygienic AHU technical specifications PDF” are usually trying to do one of three things: write a tender specification, check whether a proposed AHU is genuinely suitable for a hygienic application, or find a reliable technical document that can be attached to a design package. The most useful answer is therefore not a marketing brochure. It is a specification framework that separates mandatory project performance from hygienic construction requirements and from manufacturer-specific claims.
This guide uses current public sources that can be checked online, including the 2026 Eurovent Certified Performance appendix for Hygienic Air Handling Units, VDI 6022, DIN 1946-4, EN 1886, EN 13053, ISO filter standards, the Saudi Mechanical Code, healthcare ventilation guidance and current TICA AHU documentation. It also identifies a public TICA technical PDF that engineers can review without requesting material directly from the manufacturer.
Public hygienic AHU PDFs and technical resources you can use now
The following resources are publicly accessible and useful for specification work. They should be treated according to their purpose: a manufacturer brochure describes a product range; a certification rule defines auditable hygiene criteria; a code or standard defines project or product requirements. None should be copied blindly into a tender without checking the project application and edition.
Resource | Type | How to use it |
Manufacturer/regional technical PDF | Useful for clean/hygienic AHU construction examples, component details and TICA’s published interpretation of VDI 6022-1 / DIN 1946-4. | |
Third-party certification rules | The strongest public technical checklist in this research set: hygiene levels, materials, casing, filters, coils, fans, drainage, access and acceptance criteria. | |
Healthcare ventilation guidance PDF | Useful for healthcare ventilation design, specification, installation and acceptance-testing context. It is system guidance, not a product certificate. | |
Saudi code PDF | Local mechanical code reference. Chapter 4 covers ventilation and includes ambulatory-care / Group I-2 occupancy provisions. | |
Standards references | Use to identify the current editions and scope. Full standards may require purchase; do not rely on unofficial copies for contractual clauses. |
Important distinction A healthcare ventilation standard can define room air changes, pressure relationships, outside-air rates, temperature, humidity and filtration strategy; a hygienic AHU standard or certification programme addresses the construction and hygiene of the air-handling equipment itself. A compliant healthcare ventilation design still needs both system-level and equipment-level decisions. |
Which standards actually matter for a hygienic AHU specification?
A strong specification names the relevant standard and the intended evidence. It does not simply list every familiar HVAC acronym. The following map shows how the main references relate to the AHU and to the wider ventilation system.
Reference | Primary role | Specification implication |
VDI 6022 Part 1:2018 (with corrigendum) | Hygiene requirements for ventilation and air-conditioning systems and units | Equipment/system hygiene, design, construction, operation and maintenance. |
DIN 1946-4:2018-09 + A1:2025-11 | Ventilation in healthcare buildings and rooms | Healthcare-specific ventilation requirements; referenced by hygienic AHU certification for high-hygiene applications. |
EN 1886:2025 | AHU casing mechanical performance | Casing strength, leakage, thermal and related mechanical classifications. |
EN 13053:2019 | AHU rating and performance | Rating/performance requirements for non-residential AHUs, components and sections. |
ISO 16890-1:2016 | General-ventilation filters | ePM classification and testing basis for general ventilation filters. |
ISO 29463-1:2024 / EN 1822 series | High-efficiency filters | HEPA/ULPA classification, performance, testing and marking. |
ISO 846:2019 | Microbiological action on plastics | Evidence basis for non-metallic materials in the airstream when required by the hygienic certification programme. |
ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE 170-2025 | Ventilation of healthcare facilities | Room/system ventilation criteria for healthcare facilities; not a hygienic AHU construction standard. |
SBC 501-CC-2024 | Saudi Mechanical Code | Local mechanical/ventilation code framework for projects in Saudi Arabia. |
Eurovent’s current Hygienic AHU certification programme uses three hygiene levels. Level 1 is positioned for typical commercial buildings; Level 2 for hospitals and healthcare except rooms with the highest hygienic requirements; and Level 3 for pharmaceutical, food-processing, white-room and operating-theatre type applications. Eurovent states that Level 2 certified hygienic AHUs comply with VDI 6022-1:2018 and Level 3 with VDI 6022-1:2018 plus DIN 1946-4:2018. The project designer still decides which level is appropriate for the actual application.
Application risk | Required hygiene level | Casing + materials | Air-treatment components | Submittal + verification |
Figure 1. A hygienic AHU specification should flow from the application risk to auditable product requirements - not from a preferred material or brand name.
What makes an AHU hygienic rather than merely “premium”?
The difference is primarily about contamination control over the entire life of the unit. A hygienic AHU has to be inspectable, cleanable, drainable and maintainable, while its materials and components must not create avoidable reservoirs for dirt, moisture or microbial growth. Eurovent’s current hygienic programme explicitly checks materials, casing performance and the arrangement/performance of filters, coils, heat recovery, fans, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, silencers and dampers.
1. Smooth, closed and cleanable internal surfaces
A vague clause such as “interior shall be smooth” is not enough. The specification should control joints, gaps, exposed fasteners and access. In the Eurovent programme, higher hygiene levels require floor or complete internal joints and gaps to be sealed to create smooth closed surfaces; sharp edges and open rivets are not permitted inside the housing. Components have to be removable or accessible so that inspection, maintenance and cleaning can actually be performed.
· Avoid exposed porous or open-cell liners, insulation, sealants or rubbers in direct contact with the airstream unless the applicable hygienic standard/certification explicitly permits and qualifies them.
· Specify sealed internal joints where required by the selected hygiene level, with replaceable or mechanically protected door/hatch seals.
· Require access doors or hatches sized and located for cleaning both upstream and downstream sides of critical components where the chosen standard requires it.
· Prohibit inward-pointing sharp fasteners and unprotected edges in cleanable sections.
2. Material selection: corrosion resistance matters more than a blanket “all stainless steel” clause
Stainless steel is common in hygienic AHUs, especially where condensate, aggressive cleaning or very high hygiene levels are expected, but it is not automatically required on every internal surface. A performance-based specification should define corrosion resistance, cleanability, microbial inertness and chemical compatibility, then state where stainless steel is specifically required.
For example, Eurovent’s Level 1 and Level 2 requirements allow corrosion-resistant metallic internal surfaces meeting a defined corrosivity class or aluminium, while drain pans have a stainless-steel or aluminium requirement. Level 3 raises the corrosion requirement and requires the floor and drain pans to be stainless steel of a more corrosion-resistant grade or suitable aluminium. This is a more defensible approach than simply writing “SS304 throughout” without a risk basis.
3. Drainage and moisture control
Stagnant condensate is one of the clearest hygiene failures in an AHU. The cooling coil, humidifier/dehumidifier and any heat-recovery section that can generate condensate need a drain arrangement that actually empties. The current Eurovent hygienic appendix defines a drainage performance test for pans and requires appropriate drain sizing, slope, trapping and backflow protection. The precise acceptance criterion can be adopted when Eurovent HAHU compliance is part of the project requirement.
· Slope condensate pans to drain without standing water.
· Provide corrosion-resistant drain pans and cleanable drain connections.
· Use separate traps for sections operating at different positive/negative pressures when required.
· Insulate penetrations or connecting pipes where condensation risk exists.
· Design access so the pan, trap and drain outlet can be inspected and cleaned.
4. Filtration: specify the performance and the sealing, not only the filter name
A hygienic AHU specification should state the filtration strategy and the filter standard. General ventilation filters are commonly classified by ISO 16890. High-efficiency filters are covered by ISO 29463 and the EN 1822 series. The final filter class depends on the room function and system design; “HEPA” is not automatically required inside every hygienic AHU, and in many healthcare or cleanroom systems the final high-efficiency stage may be located at the terminal supply.
· Define the required filter stages and classes from the project air-quality and infection/contamination-control design.
· Require a sealed filter frame and documented filter-bypass performance where relevant.
· Provide differential-pressure monitoring for each filter stage and an alarm or visual indication appropriate to the project.
· Arrange filter removal from the dirty side or by side withdrawal so maintenance does not contaminate the clean downstream section.
· Provide enough access to inspect and replace gaskets and filters without dismantling unrelated sections.
5. Cooling and heating coils
Coils should be selected for both thermal performance and cleanability. Dense fin spacing may reduce the ability to inspect and clean the coil and can increase moisture retention. Eurovent’s hygienic programme therefore sets minimum fin spacing and fin thickness by hygiene level and also prevents a dehumidifying cooling coil from being placed immediately before a filter or silencer without an intervening component that limits moisture carryover and local relative humidity.
· State coil material and corrosion-protection requirements based on the environment and cleaning regime.
· Specify minimum fin spacing or adopt the selected hygienic certification level rather than copying a generic coil schedule.
· Require access to both faces of coils or a documented removal/cleaning method.
· Provide droplet separation where carryover risk exists and make the separator accessible or removable.
6. Fans and drives
Direct-drive plug or EC fans are often preferred in high-hygiene units because they eliminate belts and reduce maintenance surfaces. Eurovent’s Level 3 hygienic criteria do not permit belt-driven fans or fans with spiral casings; lower levels allow belt arrangements subject to additional controls. If the project is not using the Eurovent hygiene levels, the engineer should still specify fan access, cleanability, drive type, redundancy where needed, specific fan power/efficiency and acoustic limits.
7. Dampers, heat recovery and humidification
These components are frequent cross-contamination or moisture-risk points. Damper leakage, heat-recovery carryover and humidifier wetting must be considered as part of the hygiene strategy. Recirculation may also be prohibited for some critical applications. The correct clause depends on the room function, infection-control strategy, process contamination risk and adopted standard - not simply on the AHU type.
· Specify damper leakage class and accessible, cleanable blade/seal construction.
· For heat recovery, evaluate leakage/carryover between exhaust and supply airstreams and use the project standard to decide whether a given technology is acceptable.
· If humidification is required, specify water quality, drainage, access, carryover control and an arrangement that prevents high humidity immediately upstream of filters or silencers.
· Treat UV-C as an optional project technology, not as a substitute for hygienic construction, drainage, filtration and cleaning access.
What do current public TICA documents show?
TICA’s current public product information provides useful manufacturer-specific examples, but the exact project configuration still has to be selected and documented. The current global Air Prowess AHU page describes a modular TBF range for hospitals, laboratories and cleanrooms, with smooth sharp-edge-free internal surfaces intended for cleaning and published hygiene references including VDI 6022-1 and EN 13053. The public page also lists a wide airflow range and multiple configuration options, so a single generic “hygienic AHU” specification should not be assumed to describe every offered model.
TICA’s current clean-series page on its main China website publishes more explicit hygiene construction features for that series: smooth cleanable internal surfaces, full-size access doors, microbial-inert closed-cell sealing materials, low-leakage casing/dampers, corrosion protection and published casing classes. A publicly accessible TICA Jenvin-series technical PDF also describes clean/hygienic construction details such as non-porous sealing/insulation, corrosion-resistant internal surfaces, cleanable fans and coils, removable droplet eliminators and drain-pan design.
Manufacturer-specific use Use TICA documentation to verify an offered TICA AHU, not to set generic industry requirements. In a tender, write the required performance and hygiene outcome first, then require the bidder to submit the exact certificate, selection, material schedule and component data that demonstrate compliance. |
For project-specific product research, see ASPAR Air Handling Units, the ASPAR healthcare HVAC solutions page and TICA HVAC solutions in Saudi Arabia. These pages are useful internal references for equipment selection and application context; the project specification should still be based on the design duty and verified submittal data.
Copy-ready hygienic AHU technical specification schedule
The schedule below is intentionally project-neutral. Complete every bracketed field before tender issue. Where a hygienic certification level is specified, state the exact certification programme and edition rather than using the word “hygienic” alone.
Specification field | Project requirement |
Application / served area | [Operating theatre / isolation / laboratory / cleanroom / pharma / food / other] |
AHU arrangement | [Supply / supply-return / fresh-air / recirculation as permitted by design] |
Design airflow | [____ m3/h] at selected operating point |
External static pressure | [____ Pa] external, plus internal component pressure drops as selected |
Outdoor / return air conditions | [Dry-bulb / wet-bulb or RH / altitude / location] |
Supply air condition | [Temperature / humidity target] |
Hygiene basis | [Eurovent HAHU Level __ / VDI 6022 / DIN 1946-4 / project healthcare-cleanroom standard] |
Casing mechanical performance | State EN 1886 classes required for strength, leakage, thermal transmittance and thermal bridging |
Internal surfaces | Smooth, closed, cleanable and corrosion resistant; no exposed porous/open-cell material in the airstream where prohibited |
Floor / drain pans | Corrosion-resistant material suitable for hygiene level; positive drainage without standing water |
Access | Doors/hatches and service space sufficient for inspection, maintenance and cleaning of both sides of critical components |
Filtration | [ISO 16890 classes/stages]; [HEPA class and location if required]; sealed frame and differential-pressure monitoring |
Cooling coil | [Duty, rows, fin spacing, material/coating, face velocity, pressure drop, drain pan, eliminator if required] |
Heating coil | [Duty, medium, material, fin spacing, pressure drop] |
Fan section | [EC/direct-drive plug fan or approved alternative]; duty, efficiency, redundancy, sound and access requirements |
Heat recovery | [Type / not permitted]; define allowable leakage/carryover and cleaning access |
Humidification | [Type / not required]; water quality, drainage, carryover and hygiene controls |
Dampers | Low-leakage construction to project standard; accessible/cleanable seals and blades |
Controls | BMS protocol, temperature/RH sensors, DP monitoring, fan status, filter alarms, freeze protection, safety interlocks |
Acoustics | Maximum sound power / room criterion and calculation responsibility |
Electrical | Voltage, phase, frequency, IP rating, isolators, motor/EC fan requirements |
Documentation | Selection sheet, GA drawing, casing certificate, hygiene certificate, materials, filters, coils, fans, sound, IOM and cleaning method |
Factory / site verification | Define visual hygiene inspection, casing/airflow tests, drain verification, filter installation checks and project commissioning/validation |
Recommended technical specification clauses
The following clauses are suitable as a drafting basis. They are not a substitute for a project-specific design review. Delete clauses that do not apply and replace every bracketed item with approved project data.
1. General
· The air handling unit shall be a factory-manufactured modular hygienic AHU selected for the scheduled airflow, external static pressure and psychrometric duty at the stated project design conditions.
· The offered unit shall be suitable for [application] and shall demonstrate compliance with [specified hygienic standard/certification level]. The word “hygienic” alone shall not be accepted as evidence of compliance.
· The manufacturer shall submit the exact model/range certificate, selection software output, general arrangement, component schedule and all deviations from this specification.
2. Casing and internal finish
· Casing performance shall be declared to EN 1886 using the project-required classes for mechanical strength, casing leakage, thermal transmittance and thermal bridging.
· Internal airstream surfaces shall be smooth, closed, non-shedding, corrosion resistant and compatible with the approved cleaning/disinfection method. Exposed sharp edges, open rivets and inward-pointing fasteners are not acceptable in cleanable sections.
· Internal joints and gaps shall be sealed where required by the specified hygiene level so that surfaces can be wiped and cleaned without inaccessible dirt traps.
· Insulation shall be fully encapsulated or otherwise isolated from the airstream. Exposed porous/open-cell insulation or lining in the airstream is not acceptable where prohibited by the applicable hygienic standard.
3. Materials and corrosion
· Metallic internal components shall have corrosion resistance appropriate to the project environment and the specified hygienic level. Where stainless steel is required, the grade and locations shall be identified explicitly rather than stated as “stainless steel throughout”.
· Non-metallic materials exposed to the airstream shall be suitable for hygienic use and, where required by the adopted certification programme, supported by microbial-resistance test evidence such as ISO 846.
· Drain pans and wet sections shall use materials compatible with condensate, cleaning chemicals and the required corrosion class.
4. Access, inspection and cleaning
· Access doors/hatches shall provide safe and practical access for inspection, maintenance and cleaning of filters, coils, drain pans, fans, humidifiers, heat-recovery devices, silencers and dampers as applicable.
· Where a component cannot be fully accessed in place, it shall be removable using the documented method and without destructive dismantling of the AHU casing.
· The installation and operation manual shall include the cleaning method, access requirements and any special tools or removal procedures.
5. Condensate drainage
· All condensate pans and wet sections shall be positively drained to prevent persistent standing water. Drain outlets, traps and backflow protection shall be sized and arranged for the operating pressure of the section.
· Positive- and negative-pressure drain connections shall be trapped independently where required. Drainage shall remain accessible for inspection and cleaning.
· Condensate-producing coils, humidifiers/dehumidifiers and applicable heat-recovery sections shall include corrosion-resistant drain pans.
6. Filtration
· General ventilation filters shall be classified to ISO 16890. High-efficiency filters, where required, shall be classified and tested to the project-specified ISO 29463 / EN 1822 requirement.
· Filter frames shall be sealed to prevent bypass appropriate to the required class. Each filter stage shall have accessible differential-pressure monitoring and the specified alarm/indication.
· Filter replacement shall be possible without contaminating the clean downstream side. Filter gaskets shall be inspectable and replaceable.
7. Coils and droplet separation
· Cooling/heating coils shall meet the scheduled duty at the stated entering/leaving air and water conditions. Submit coil face velocity, fin spacing, rows, material/coating, air pressure drop, water pressure drop and selected performance.
· Fin spacing and geometry shall permit cleaning and shall meet the selected hygienic certification/standard where one is specified.
· Where moisture carryover is possible, provide an accessible/removable droplet separator and sufficient downstream arrangement to protect filters, silencers and other moisture-sensitive components.
8. Fans
· Fans shall be selected for the scheduled airflow and total pressure at clean and design-dirty filter conditions as defined by the project.
· [Direct-drive plug / EC] fans are preferred where required by the hygienic strategy. If belt drives are proposed, the bidder shall demonstrate compliance with the selected hygiene level and identify any additional downstream filtration or inspection requirements.
· Fans shall be accessible for inspection and cleaning, and motor/fan performance data, sound power and control method shall be submitted.
9. Controls and monitoring
· Provide control and monitoring points required for airflow, fan status, filter pressure drop, supply/return temperature, humidity, freeze protection, damper position, alarm status and BMS integration.
· Where hygiene depends on a control function - for example humidity limitation, filter alarm or heat-recovery pressure relationship - that function shall be included in the control sequence and tested during commissioning.
10. Submittal and acceptance
· Submit the current hygienic certificate/standard evidence for the offered range, current casing performance certificate, filter certificates, coil selections, fan curves, acoustic data, material schedule, cleaning/IOM instructions and GA drawing.
· Before handover, verify that the installed unit is clean, dry, undamaged, correctly drained, accessible for maintenance, fitted with the specified filters and monitoring devices, and consistent with the approved submittal.
· Room pressure relationships, air-change rates and final infection/contamination-control performance shall be verified as part of the complete HVAC system commissioning and validation - not inferred from the AHU certificate alone.
How the specification changes by application
Application | What changes in the AHU specification |
General high-hygiene commercial / laboratory support | Cleanability, corrosion resistance, sealed filters, drainage and access. Hygiene level depends on process risk. |
Hospital / healthcare | Coordinate AHU construction with room pressure, ventilation rates, filtration, temperature/humidity and infection-control requirements. Do not treat AHU hygiene as a substitute for healthcare ventilation design. |
Operating theatre / very high hygiene | Typically requires the strictest construction/cleanability strategy, tightly controlled moisture, high-efficiency filtration strategy and project-specific validation. Eurovent positions Level 3 for operating-theatre/equivalent applications. |
Pharmaceutical / cleanroom | Add contamination-control strategy, cleanroom classification, pressure cascade, terminal filtration and GMP/ISO requirements. Materials and maintenance access may be more stringent. |
Food / beverage | Emphasize washability, corrosion resistance, drainage, cleaning chemical compatibility, microbial risk and process-specific contamination control. |
Desert / coastal Saudi conditions | Verify outside-air filtration, dust loading, corrosion environment, coil protection, casing thermal performance, condensate control and maintainability at the project location. |
Saudi Arabia: what should be added to the project specification?
For projects in Saudi Arabia, the hygienic AHU specification should sit inside the wider local code and project-authority framework. The Saudi Building Code website states that the 2024 edition was applied to all building occupancies from 30 June 2025. SBC 501-CC-2024 includes mechanical ventilation provisions and a specific section for ambulatory care facilities and Group I-2 occupancies. The code does not remove the need for healthcare- or cleanroom-specific design criteria; it establishes the local mechanical code baseline.
· State the project city and outdoor design conditions, including dust and corrosion exposure where relevant.
· Define the adopted healthcare/cleanroom design standard and authority requirements in addition to SBC 501.
· Coordinate AHU casing/thermal classes with Saudi ambient conditions and condensation risk.
· Select outside-air filtration and maintenance access for realistic dust loading, not only laboratory filter performance.
· Require project commissioning, TAB and room-pressure verification where pressure relationships are part of infection or contamination control.
ASPAR’s MEP engineering design services cover HVAC design, specifications, BOQs and calculations, while its healthcare MEP and HVAC page provides application context for hospitals and medical facilities in Saudi Arabia.
Hygienic AHU submittal review checklist
Review item | What the engineer should verify |
Hygiene certificate | Certificate/range matches offered model and required level; edition is current. |
Casing certificate | EN 1886 classes match the tender schedule, not just the manufacturer’s best available class. |
Selection sheet | Airflow, ESP, coil duty, temperatures, humidity, pressure drops and fan duty match design. |
Material schedule | Internal panels, frames, drain pans, coil frames/fins, fasteners, seals and coatings are identified. |
Cleanability | Access to both sides of filters/coils/fans is shown or a valid removal method is documented. |
Drainage | Pan slope, outlet, trap, pressure condition and access are shown. |
Filters | Class, number of stages, frame sealing/bypass, DP gauges and change method are clear. |
Coils | Fin spacing, face velocity, materials, coating, pressure drop and dehumidification arrangement are clear. |
Fans | Drive type, efficiency, sound, redundancy, VSD/EC control and maintenance access are documented. |
Heat recovery / recirculation | Cross-contamination risk and project permission are addressed. |
Controls | BMS points, alarms, sensors and hygiene-critical sequences are defined. |
IOM / cleaning method | Cleaning agents, procedures, access, component removal and inspection intervals are documented. |
Commissioning | Factory/site tests and system-level TAB/pressure/filtration verification responsibilities are assigned. |
Design criteria | Tender specification | Manufacturer selection | Technical submittal | Site verification |
Figure 2. The hygienic AHU is only one link in the evidence chain. Each stage should trace back to the same approved design criteria.
Frequently asked questions
What is a hygienic AHU?
A hygienic AHU is an air handling unit designed so its airstream surfaces, materials, components, drainage and access can support a defined hygiene standard. The defining features are cleanability, moisture control, contamination-resistant construction and verifiable performance - not simply stainless-steel panels.
Does a hygienic AHU need stainless steel inside?
Not always on every surface. The required grade and locations depend on the hygiene level, corrosion environment and cleaning regime. Some recognised hygienic schemes allow other corrosion-resistant materials or aluminium while imposing stainless-steel requirements on drain pans or higher-risk surfaces.
Should the inside of a hygienic AHU have sharp corners?
The interior should avoid exposed sharp edges, open rivets and inaccessible dirt traps. Eurovent’s hygienic programme specifically prohibits sharp edges/open rivets and requires smooth closed internal surfaces at the higher hygiene levels.
What filtration should a hygienic AHU use?
The answer depends on the served space. ISO 16890 is used for general-ventilation filter classification, while HEPA/ULPA filters are covered by ISO 29463 / EN 1822. Healthcare or cleanroom design may require final high-efficiency filtration at the AHU or terminal location.
Is HEPA filtration mandatory inside every hygienic AHU?
No. The final filter class and location must come from the room and system design. A hygienic AHU can be correctly designed even when the final HEPA stage is terminal, provided the adopted standard and contamination-control strategy allow it.
Which standards should be written into a hygienic AHU specification?
Common references include VDI 6022, DIN 1946-4 for healthcare applications, EN 1886 for casing performance, EN 13053 for AHU performance, ISO 16890 for general filters and ISO 29463 / EN 1822 for high-efficiency filters. Use only the references applicable to the project.
What is Eurovent Hygienic AHU Level 2 versus Level 3?
Eurovent positions Level 2 for hospital/healthcare applications except the highest-hygiene rooms, and Level 3 for pharmaceutical, food-processing, white-room and operating-theatre type applications. The project designer remains responsible for selecting the appropriate level.
How should drain pans be specified?
Specify corrosion-resistant construction, positive slope, no persistent standing water, accessible cleaning, properly trapped drain connections and backflow control appropriate to the internal pressure of the AHU section.
Are belt-driven fans acceptable in hygienic AHUs?
It depends on the specified hygiene level. Eurovent’s Level 3 hygienic requirements do not permit belt-driven fans or fans with spiral housings, while lower levels may permit them subject to additional conditions. Direct-drive plug or EC fans are therefore common choices for high-hygiene units.
What should be included in a hygienic AHU technical submittal?
At minimum: selection sheet, GA drawing, casing and hygiene certificates, material schedule, filtration data, coil selection, fan curves, sound data, controls, drain arrangement, cleaning/access method and installation/operation manual.
Does a hygienic AHU certificate prove a hospital ventilation system is compliant?
No. AHU hygiene is only one part of the system. Room pressure relationships, ventilation rates, outside air, filtration, temperature/humidity and commissioning still have to meet the adopted healthcare design requirements.
Is there a public TICA hygienic AHU PDF?
Yes. A public TICA regional technical PDF for the Jenvin modular AHU series is available online and contains clean/hygienic construction information. TICA’s current global and China product pages also publish current AHU hygiene information. Always verify that any brochure applies to the offered current model before using it contractually.
Conclusion
A useful hygienic AHU specification should make the equipment easy to inspect, clean, drain, maintain and verify throughout its operating life. That requires more than a generic stainless-steel clause. The engineer should define the application risk, select the appropriate hygiene framework, specify measurable casing/material/component requirements, and demand evidence in the technical submittal.
For most projects, the strongest tender approach is performance based: define the hygiene level, casing classes, corrosion and cleanability requirements, filtration strategy, drainage, coil/fan/access requirements and acceptance evidence, then allow the manufacturer to demonstrate a compliant configuration. This reduces ambiguous bids and makes technical comparison more defensible.
For AHU selection or specification support in Saudi Arabia, review ASPAR Air Handling Units, MEP Engineering Design and Healthcare MEP & HVAC Solutions.
Need a Project-Specific Hygienic AHU Solution? ASPAR Engineering Can Help
A hygienic AHU specification is only one part of the final engineering solution. The correct approach depends on the served space, contamination risk, required hygiene level, airflow and external static pressure, temperature and humidity control, filtration strategy, casing and cleanability requirements, condensate drainage, fan arrangement, acoustics, service access, Saudi environmental conditions, and the commissioning and validation plan.
ASPAR Engineering can support consultants, contractors, developers, and clients in translating those project requirements into a coordinated technical solution. Through ASPAR Air Handling Unit solutions, TICA HVAC solutions in Saudi Arabia, and MEP engineering design services, the project team can evaluate AHU configuration, airflow duty, filtration, coils, fans, controls, drainage, access, equipment layout, specifications, BOQs, and multidisciplinary interfaces on a project-specific basis.
For hospitals and medical facilities, ASPAR’s Healthcare MEP & HVAC Solutions page provides a direct path to healthcare-focused engineering support. For pharmaceutical cleanrooms and other controlled environments, the Pharmaceutical & GMP Clean Room Solutions and High-Hygiene MEP & HVAC Solutions pages connect the AHU specification to the wider pressure-cascade, contamination-control, filtration, temperature/humidity, commissioning, and operational requirements of the facility.
The objective is not simply to choose an AHU labelled “hygienic,” but to identify the equipment and system approach that best matches the actual application and verification requirements. To discuss the served area, design conditions, hygiene basis, filtration, AHU configuration, or wider MEP requirements, contact ASPAR Engineering for project-specific support.
Explore ASPAR Air Handling Unit Solutions Review AHU solutions for healthcare, cleanrooms, laboratories, commercial buildings, and other controlled environments in Saudi Arabia. |
Relevant ASPAR pages
· Air Handling Units in Saudi Arabia - AHU product and application context for healthcare, laboratories, cleanrooms, commercial buildings, and controlled environments.
· Healthcare MEP & HVAC Solutions - Healthcare-focused HVAC engineering, infection-control, pressure, commissioning, and validation context.
· Pharmaceutical & GMP Clean Room Solutions - Cleanroom pressure cascades, filtration, temperature/humidity control, commissioning, and GMP-oriented project context.
· High-Hygiene MEP & HVAC Solutions - Engineering support for high-hygiene and contamination-sensitive industrial environments.
· TICA HVAC Solutions in Saudi Arabia - TICA product categories and application context for Saudi projects.
· MEP Engineering Design - HVAC calculations, specifications, BOQs, and multidisciplinary MEP design coordination.
· Contact ASPAR Engineering - Project-specific AHU, HVAC, MEP, and technical solution enquiries.
Sources and public technical resources
TICA - Air Prowess AHU: https://global.tica.com/index/goods/pro/cid/278.html - Current global product page with published hygiene and performance information.
TICA - Clean / hygienic AHU series: https://www.tica.com/index/goods/pro/cid/235.html - Current manufacturer page with hygienic construction and casing details (Chinese).
TICA - Jenvin modular AHU public PDF: https://tica.ru/upload/iblock/ba8/p06pewi137ny7qdh19hde6qpikpley34.pdf - Public regional TICA technical brochure with hygienic construction examples.
Eurovent Certified Performance - Hygienic AHU programme: https://www.eurovent-certification.com/en/third-party-certification/certification-programmes/hahu - Programme scope and hygiene levels.
Eurovent Appendix H of ECP-05 for Hygienic AHUs - Revision 01-2026: https://www.eurovent-certification.com/media/images/100/23c/10023c0541e6fb0fd6aec4311c768f5b468b97bc.pdf - Detailed public certification requirements for materials, casing, filters, coils, fans, drainage and access.
VDI 6022 Part 1: https://www.vdi.de/en/home/vdi-standards/details/vdi-6022-blatt-1-ventilation-and-indoor-air-quality-hygiene-requirements-for-ventilation-and-air-conditioning-systems-and-units-vdi-ventilation-code-of-practice-1 - Official standard page; 2018 publication with later corrigendum information.
DIN 1946-4:2018-09: https://www.dinmedia.de/en/standard/din-1946-4/294438653 - Official DIN Media page; healthcare ventilation standard.
DIN 1946-4/A1:2025-11: https://www.dinmedia.de/en/standard/din-1946-4-a1/393932755 - Current amendment to DIN 1946-4.
BS EN 1886:2025: https://knowledge.bsigroup.com/products/ventilation-for-buildings-air-handling-units-mechanical-performance-2 - Current AHU casing mechanical-performance standard page.
BS EN 13053:2019: https://tienda.aenor.com/en/p/norma-bsi-bs-en-13053-2019-000000000030339488 - AHU rating and performance scope.
ISO 16890-1:2016: https://www.iso.org/standard/57864.html - General ventilation air-filter classification.
ISO 29463-1:2024: https://www.iso.org/standard/84367.html - High-efficiency filter classification/performance/testing.
ISO 846:2019: https://www.iso.org/standard/74599.html - Evaluation of microorganism action on plastics.
ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170 resources: https://www.ashrae.org/technical-resources/bookstore/health-care-facilities-resources - Current healthcare ventilation standard resources; 2025 edition listed.
NHS HTM 03-01 Part A: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/HTM0301-PartA-accessible-F6.pdf - Public healthcare ventilation design and validation guidance.
Saudi Mechanical Code SBC 501-CC-2024: https://sbc.gov.sa/ar/BC/Documents/tableofcontent2024/SBC%20501/SBC501-CC_241224-FA.pdf - Current Saudi mechanical code PDF used for local project context.
Research checked: 14 September 2026. Standards and certification documents can be revised; confirm the edition adopted by the project before issuing a contractual specification.
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