Part 4

Steam sterilizers are an architecturally significant piece of reprocessing equipment. These devices can weigh thousands of pounds, and require creative means of even getting them into the Sterile Processing department to install – such as removing windows and dropping in with a crane.

The physical footprint for this equipment in the department not only requires space for the chamber, but also maintenance areas to ensure access to utilities, piping, and chamber jackets when it is time for preventive maintenance to occur. In front of the sterilizer, departments need room to stage, load, and unload sterilization carts as they are being processed in the unit. If a pass-thru model is being used, space is also required on the backend of the unit to allow for the removal of the sterilization cart into the cooling and sterile storage area.

Pay special attention to facility requirements and guidelines for the temperature & humidity of the sterilizer maintenance areas, as these are commonly overlooked when preparing for accreditation audits.