Sound and odor should be zoned out

Both sound and odor travel through a building by way of ductwork, along with fresh, warmed and cooled air. That's why the design, installation, and operation of the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system is vital to the comfort and efficiency of an animal care facility.

Neighbors, doctors, staff and clients are affected adversely by the barking and smell of a kennel full of dogs. Fortunately, a well designed, properly installed and correctly operated HVAC system goes a long way toward controlling both.

Regular and thorough cleaning is also vital to controlling odor. Nonabsorbent floor and wall materials will not retain particles from which bacteria can grow. Paradoxically, such hard surfaces will cause noise to reverberate. That is why the zone system is so important in designing veterinary and boarding facilities.

Zones within the building separate different use areas. The public reception, lobby and exam room areas should not have air that is re-circulated from other portions of the building. The animal wards and kennels should have negative air pressure so that air from these rooms goes out at the exterior of the building, through the exhaust fan system.

Sound also travels directly from one area to another by way of hallways, transoms and open spaces. Properly located walls with sound-control insulation, and sound-control gasketed doors, will prevent kennel noise from reaching the ears of clients in the public areas.