Isolation rooms are key to gaining truly safe healthcare spaces for patients, and there are various types of isolation rooms, designed with different goals in mind.

Different clinical purposes for the various isolation rooms are defined as:

– Source Isolation – for the isolation of infectious patients

– Protective Isolation – for the protection of immunosuppressed patients

– Combined Source and Protective Isolation – for protection of patients that are both infectious and immunocompromised

In this blog, we break down the most common configurations, when they are used and how they align with current NHS guidance and Health Building Notes (HBNs).

Why Layout and Air Pressure Matters

When we talk about types of isolation rooms, it’s not just about pressure differentials – whether that is positive, negative or even neutral. It is about how the space is laid out to support infection control procedures, protect both patients and staff, and maintain operational efficiency.

The NHS provides clear guidance on how these rooms should be designed and operated. For example:

– HBN 04-01 covers adult in-patient facilities, including standard single rooms or segregation pods with or without en-suite.

– HBN 04-01 Supplement 1 focuses specifically on specialised ventilated isolation facilities requiring a positive pressure ventilated lobby (PPVL), a patient room under positive or negative pressure, and ensuite.

– HBN 04-02 covers critical care units, with a patient room and PPVL, where advanced isolation layouts are common.

Room configurations often combine pressure control with physical segregation – like entry lobbies or private bathrooms – to manage risk and improve safety.

Types of Isolation Rooms Explained

One of the most space-saving configurations is a single patient room, often used for short-stay, source or protective cases. These rooms typically don’t include an entry lobby or en-suite bathroom. While they are simple, quick to deploy and provide a degree of isolating protection for patients and staff through ventilated containment, these rooms open directly into a corridor and protection may be compromised while the door is open. These rooms may operate under negative pressure for source isolation or positive pressure for protective isolation.

A step up in functionality under HBN 04-01 is the single patient room with en-suite. These rooms are commonly used when there’s a need to minimise patient movement through shared areas. Adding an en-suite helps contain the patient’s activity within the room, which is particularly important in infectious cases. These can work with neutral, negative or positive pressure, depending on the infection risk or the need to protect an immunocompromised patient.

For critical care units, where greater infection control is required – for example, when dealing with airborne pathogens – many hospitals opt for HBN 04-02 isolation rooms with a PPVL (also called an anteroom or vestibule). These lobbies serve as a controlled entry point between the corridor and the patient room. Staff can safely put on or remove PPE here and the airflow between the corridor and the room is better managed. Typically, the room is kept at negative pressure, with the lobby under positive pressure with a relatively high air change rate to maintain clean airflow into the room.

At the most advanced level, we find full isolation suites that include the patient room, a positive pressure entry lobby and a negative pressure en-suite bathroom. These isolation suites provide maximum containment and flexibility, and can be configured with a positive pressure patient room for protective isolation, a negative pressure patient room for source isolation, or a neutral pressure patient room for combined. These suites meet the highest standards of infection control and are fully aligned with guidance from HBN 04-01 Supplement 1 and HBN 04-02.

PPVL Rooms: Built-In Flexibility for Multi-Purpose Use

Following the 2024 revision to the HBN 04-01 Supplement 1, it is now a requirement for all isolation pods to have a positive pressure ventilated lobby. In this setup, the PPVL model allows the room to operate as either a protective environment or a containment space, depending on how the rest of the air pressure system is configured. Because the lobby acts as the clean-air barrier between the patient room and the corridor, staff and patients are protected consistently with balanced positive or negative pressure whilst entering and leaving the room. These setups require more space allowance than standard HBN 04-01 single patient rooms or segregation pods, but offer significant benefits in adaptable clinical environments.

Segregation Pods and Modular Single Patient Rooms

In some cases, a hospital may not be able to build new full isolation suites into its existing structure. This is where segregation pods and modular single patient rooms come into play. These are standalone, often prefabricated solutions that can be installed inside existing wards, multi-bed bays or even in out-patient units as consultation and treatment spaces.

Segregation pods may consist of pressurised single patient rooms only, while others may include en-suite facilities. What makes them particularly valuable is their speed of deployment and minimal disruption to daily hospital operations. Modular segregation pods can be designed to meet the same performance standards as permanent builds and can be fitted for any type of pressure control. For Trusts needing to expand capacity quickly or flex during outbreaks, segregation pods are a practical and future-ready solution.

Comparing All Types of Pressurised Patient Rooms

Configuration	Includes	Pressure Options	Suitable for
Single Patient Room	Room only	Neutral	Physical separation only
Segregation Room	Room only	Negative / Positive patient room	Source or Protective isolation while door is closed and patient is in the room
Single Room with En-Suite	Room + bathroom	Negative / Positive patient room, with Negative en-suite	Source or Protective isolation while door is closed and patient is in the room
Room with Entry Lobby	Room + lobby	Positive or Negative patient room, with positive lobby.	Critical care facilities, offering source or protective isolation while patient is in the room.
Full Isolation Suite	Room + lobby + en-suite	Positive / Negative / Neutral room, with positive lobby and negative en-suite	Source, Protective or Combined Source and Protective isolation for ambulant patients

 

As we’ve seen, there are many types of isolation rooms, each with its own layout, pressure setup and clinical role. Understanding how each configuration works is key to choosing the right solution – whether you’re planning for high-risk containment, protective care or future-proofing your space.

If you’re unsure which setup is best for your facility, we’re here to help. At Architectural Wallsz, we work closely with healthcare providers to design and deliver isolation rooms that are tailored, compliant and ready for whatever comes next.