Facility

Abstract

A facility 202 comprising: a processing suite 210 having at least one processing room; an entrance suite 204 having at least one entrance room, the entrance suite 204 providing an entrance to the facility 202; at least one intermediate suite 208 having at least one intermediate room, the intermediate suite 208 connecting the processing suite 210 with the entrance suite 204 such that persons can transfer from the entrance suite 204 to the processing suite 210 via the intermediate suite 208, and a ventilation system connected to each of the processing suite 210 and the intermediate suite 208, wherein the ventilation system is configured to maintain a predetermined pressure difference between said at least one processing room and said at least one intermediate room.

1 . A facility comprising:
 a processing suite having at least one processing room;   an entrance suite having at least one entrance room, the entrance suite providing an entrance to the facility;   at least one intermediate suite having at least one intermediate room, the intermediate suite connecting the processing suite with the entrance suite such that persons can transfer from the entrance suite to the processing suite via the intermediate suite, and   a ventilation system connected to each of the processing suite and the intermediate suite, wherein the ventilation system is configured to maintain a predetermined pressure difference between said at least one processing room and said at least one intermediate room.   
     
     
         2 . The facility of  claim 1 , wherein the ventilation system is further configured to maintain a predetermined pressure difference between said at least one intermediate room and said at least one entrance room. 
     
     
         3 . The facility of  claim 1 , wherein the ventilation system is connected to the entrance suite. 
     
     
         4 . The facility of  claim 1 , wherein the entrance suite comprises an entrance lobby via which entrance to the facility is provided during normal use of the facility. 
     
     
         5 . The facility of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one intermediate room has a first doorway via which access to said at least one processing room is provided, and a first door provided in the doorway, the first door having a closed configuration in which the first door hermetically seals the first doorway. 
     
     
         6 . The facility of  claim 5 , wherein said at least one intermediate room has a second doorway via which access to said at least one intermediate room from said at least one entrance room of the entrance suite is provided, and a second door provided in the second doorway, the second door having a closed configuration in which the second door hermetically seals the second doorway. 
     
     
         7 . A method of operating a facility in accordance with  claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
 supplying ventilating air to said at least one processing room and said at least one intermediate room using the ventilation system;   extracting air from said at least one processing room and said at least one intermediate room using the ventilation system;   determining a pressure difference between said at least one processing room and said at least one intermediate room;   determining whether the pressure difference satisfies a predetermined condition, and varying the pressure within said at least one processing room and/or said at least one intermediate room by regulating the supply of ventilating air to said at least one processing room and/or said at least one intermediate room, and/or by regulating the extraction of air from said at least one processing room and/or said at least one intermediate room in order to satisfy the predetermined condition.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the predetermined condition is a pressure difference that is not less than 15 kPa. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the predetermined condition is a condition in which the pressure within said at least one processing room is less than the pressure within said at least one intermediate room. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the steps:
 supplying ventilating air to said at least one entrance room of the entrance suite using the ventilation system;   extracting air from said at least one entrance room of the entrance suite using the ventilation system;   determining a pressure difference between said at least one intermediate room and said at least one entrance room;   determining whether the pressure difference satisfies a second predetermined condition, and   varying the pressure within said at least one intermediate room by regulating the supply of clean air to said at least one intermediate room, and/or by regulating the extraction of dirty air from said at least one intermediate room in order to satisfy the second predetermined condition.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the second predetermined condition is a pressure difference that is not less than 15 kPa. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the second predetermined condition is a condition in which the pressure within said at least one intermediate room is greater than the pressure within said at least one entrance room.