Floor drains may not be installed in which rooms?

• A. Operating rooms
• B. Delivery rooms
• C. Operating or delivery rooms
• D. Hallways

Answer: (C)

In hospital design, spaces that must remain sterile and easily cleanable should not have floor drains. Operating rooms and delivery rooms require strict control of contamination, so the floor is kept seamless and readily disinfected. A floor drain would introduce a potential source of moisture, splash, and harbor for microbes, and it requires trap seals and ongoing maintenance that can be hard to keep impeccable in a sterile field. Keeping drains out of these rooms helps prevent infection risk and preserves the ability to thoroughly sanitize the area after every procedure. Other areas that routinely handle moisture or spills, like certain wet rooms or corridors, may include floor drains because drainage is appropriate there, but not in operating or delivery rooms.