FVH PHARMACY, ELGIN, IL

The FVH Pharmacy project consisted of the complete  mechanical and electrical design for a 330-square-foot pharmacy cleanroom  suite in Elgin, Illinois. 3S MEP+S provided the design focused on providing a  code-compliant HVAC system capable of maintaining the environmental  conditions required for pharmacy compounding through accurate airflow  control, room pressurization, and coordinated electrical infrastructure. The  facility was designed to comply with the environmental and ventilation  requirements of USP 797 Pharmaceutical Compounding – Sterile Preparations and  USP 800 Hazardous Drugs – Handling in Healthcare Settings, in addition to the  applicable mechanical codes.

The mechanical design incorporated a Constant Air  Volume (CAV) air distribution system serving the Staging Room, Ante Room,  Chemo (Hazardous Drug) Compounding Room, and Non-Classified (N/C) Room.  Unlike variable-air-volume systems, the CAV configuration was selected to  provide constant supply and exhaust airflow, ensuring stable differential  pressure between adjacent spaces and minimizing fluctuations that could  affect cleanroom performance.

Room airflows were calculated to satisfy the  ventilation requirements of the 2015 IMC, including outdoor air, exhaust air,  and total supply air quantities. Supply, return, and exhaust airflows were  balanced to establish the required pressure cascade between pharmacy spaces  while maintaining the specified air change rates. Terminal air devices and  balancing dampers were coordinated to achieve the required airflow  distribution and pressure relationships during commissioning.

A comprehensive airflow and room pressurization  diagram was developed to document airflow paths, pressure differentials, and  HVAC operating sequences between the staging, ante, chemo, and N/C rooms. The  airflow schematic served as the primary coordination document for HVAC  installation, testing, adjusting, balancing, and system verification.

Cooling and heating load calculations were performed  using Carrier HAP software. Space-by-space sensible and latent loads were  evaluated by considering envelope characteristics, ventilation loads,  occupancy, lighting, equipment heat gains, and local design weather  conditions for Elgin, Illinois. The HAP analysis established the design  airflow requirements and verified HVAC equipment capacity to maintain indoor  temperature and humidity under peak operating conditions.

The electrical design included branch power  distribution for HVAC equipment, exhaust fans, lighting, receptacles, and  pharmacy equipment. Electrical load calculations, panel schedules, circuit  coordination, and equipment power connections were developed in accordance  with the applicable electrical codes. Mechanical and electrical systems were  fully coordinated to ensure equipment accessibility, maintenance clearances,  and constructability within the compact pharmacy layout.

This project demonstrates the application of  integrated Mechanical and Electrical engineering principles to deliver a  technically coordinated pharmacy cleanroom design that combines USP 797 and  USP 800 with controlled airflow, code-compliant ventilation, reliable  pressurization, and efficient electrical distribution suitable for healthcare  compounding operations.

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