Humidity Guidelines Portable | Aorn

| Condition | AORN Action | |-----------|--------------| | RH <20% for >15 minutes | Notify biomed / engineering; document; evaluate if surgery should continue (rarely cancels unless static risk present) | | RH >60% for >15 minutes | Investigate cause; reduce humidity; inspect sterile supplies for moisture compromise; replace compromised items | | RH deviates during active surgery | Continue case if clinically necessary; correct ASAP; document deviation |

This range applies:

: Facilities should perform daily monitoring and maintain logs of temperature and humidity levels in the OR and sterile storage areas [4]. Corrective Action : If humidity falls outside the aorn humidity guidelines

: Always prioritize the Instructions for Use (IFU) from manufacturers for specific sterile supplies and equipment, as some may require more stringent limits [1, 3]. Clinical Significance Maintaining these levels is critical for several reasons: Infection Control : High humidity (above

Check your state regulations. If your state requires 30%, you must follow the stricter standard. If your state has adopted the newer ASHRAE/AORN standards, 20% is the acceptable minimum. | Condition | AORN Action | |-----------|--------------| |

While specific code requirements often come from local building codes or ASHRAE, AORN provides the clinical guidelines for how these standards should be managed and documented.

Deviations below or above the 20% to 60% range alter the safety profile of the perioperative environment. Low Humidity Safeguards (< 20% RH) If your state requires 30%, you must follow

: While AORN provides the framework, individual hospitals must develop their own multidisciplinary policies involving Facilities Management and Infection Prevention [1].

Here are the humidity guidelines for operating rooms (ORs), based on the latest recommended practices.