What is the minimum air changes per hour required in both anteroom and buffer room?

• A. 15 ACPH
• B. 30 ACPH
• C. 45 ACPH
• D. 60 ACPH

Answer: (B)

Air changes per hour measure how often the room’s air is replaced in one hour. In hazardous drug handling, the anteroom and the buffer room act as transition spaces to limit contamination when doors are opened or materials are moved. Keeping a sufficient air exchange rate in both areas ensures airborne contaminants are diluted quickly and helps maintain the directional flow of air that protects the clean zones. Because both spaces serve similar protective roles in the transfer pathway, they share the same minimum requirement. If the rate is too low, contaminants can accumulate and potentially escape into cleaner areas; if it’s higher, it provides extra safety but at greater energy cost, so the standard minimum is used. This is why the correct choice aligns with the established minimum for both rooms.