Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Find answers to the most frequently asked questions about the ATM420 room pressure monitoring system. From installation and integration to calibration and custom configurations, this page covers the topics we are asked about most often.

General

  • What is the ATM420?

    The ATM420 is a touchscreen display for continuous room pressure monitoring in critical environments such as cleanrooms, isolation rooms, operating theatres, laboratories, and pharmaceutical production areas.

    The system provides clear visual and programmable audible alarms whenever pressure conditions fall outside predefined limits.

  • What applications is the ATM420 suitable for?

    The ATM420 is suitable for a wide range of controlled environments, including:

    • Isolation rooms
    • Infectious disease wards
    • Operating theatres
    • Cleanrooms
    • Biosafety laboratories (BSL)
    • Pharmaceutical production facilities
    • Private clinics
    • Research laboratories
  • How many pressure zones can the ATM420 monitor?

    The ATM420 is available in three versions:

    • ATM420-Single: monitors one pressure zone
    • ATM420-Dual: monitors two pressure zones
    • ATM420-Triple: monitors three pressure zones

    This allows multiple rooms, airlocks, or pressure cascades to be monitored from a single display.

  • Is the ATM420 suitable for cleanrooms?

    Yes. The ATM420 is widely used in pharmaceutical, food, medical, and high-tech cleanrooms where reliable differential pressure monitoring is required to maintain contamination control and regulatory compliance.

  • Is the ATM420 suitable for isolation rooms?

    Yes. The ATM420 was specifically developed for applications such as isolation rooms, infectious disease wards, and protective isolation rooms where maintaining correct pressure conditions is essential for infection prevention.

    For this application the ATM420-Dual is used. One differential pressure transmitter is used to measure the difference between corridor and Airlock. The second transmitters is used to measure the difference between the corridor and patient room.

  • Can the ATM420 be used in operating theatres?

    Yes. The ATM420 is suitable for operating theatres and surgical suites where positive pressure must be maintained to prevent contaminated air from entering sterile environments. The Modbus-option is quite often used so alarm statuses can be read in by the building automation system.

  • How accurate is the ATM420?

    Yes. The ATM420 was specifically developed for applications such as isolation rooms, infectious disease wards, and protective isolation rooms where maintaining correct pressure conditions is essential for infection prevention.

    For this application the ATM420-Dual is used. One differential pressure transmitter is used to measure the difference between corridor and Airlock. The second transmitters is used to measure the difference between the corridor and patient room.

  • Why choose the ATM420?

    The ATM420 combines high-accuracy differential pressure monitoring with an intuitive touchscreen interface.

    It is available for one, two, or three pressure zones, supports Modbus RTU communication, and is used worldwide in cleanrooms, isolation rooms, operating theatres, and laboratories. The clear green/red status indication allows users to instantly assess room conditions without interpreting complex measurement data.

Installation & Setup

  • Can I use the ATM420 as a standalone unit?

    Yes. The ATM420 can operate completely standalone.

    Simply connect a power supply, install the pressure hoses on the differential pressure transmitter(s), and the system is ready to monitor room pressure conditions. Integration with a Building Management System (BMS) by Modbus RTU is optional.

  • Is it possible to have a surface-mounted box for the ATM420?

    Yes. A white surface-mounted enclosure is available for installations where recessed mounting is not possible.

    This makes the ATM420 suitable for both new installations and retrofit projects. The enclosure is manufactured using 3D printing technology and fits over the standard flush-mount back box.

  • How many characters can I enter above the measuring value?

    The ATM420-Single and ATM420-Dual allow up to 15 characters per label. The ATM420-Triple allows up to 10 characters per label due to the available screen space.

Building Management System (BMS) Integration

  • Can the ATM420 be integrated with a Building Management System (BMS)?

    Yes.

    The ATM420 supports Modbus RTU communication and provides standard analogue outputs (0-10V and 4-20mA), making integration with BMS, BAS, and PLC systems straightforward.

  • Does the ATM420 support BACnet?

    No.

    The ATM420 supports only Modbus RTU communication and analogue outputs (0-10 V and 4-20 mA). In most room pressure monitoring applications, these communication options provide all required information for integration with Building Management Systems (BMS) and Building Automation Systems (BAS).

  • Can I connect a key switch to the ATM420?

    Yes. Many hospitals use a key switch to indicate whether an isolation room is in service or out of service.

    Using the Modbus version of the ATM420, a key switch can activate a dedicated room-out-of-use screen, disable local alarms, and clearly inform staff that the room is not currently being monitored.

  • Can you integrate an icon when the interlock system is active?

    Yes. For Modbus versions, a dedicated register can activate an interlock icon on the display when the interlock system is active.

    This provides operators with immediate visual confirmation of the interlock status.

  • Is it possible to show a fire alarm screen when activated by the building automation system?

    Yes. In applications where room pressure monitoring is integrated with a Building Management System, the ATM420 can display a dedicated fire alarm screen.

    During a fire alarm event, this screen can temporarily override the normal pressure display to provide clear visual indication to staff and facility personnel.

Display & User Interface

  • How does the ATM420 indicate alarm conditions?

    The ATM420 uses an intuitive traffic-light principle. When room pressure conditions are within the configured limits, the display turns green.

    If pressure conditions fall outside these limits, the display immediately turns red and an audible alarm can be activated.

    This allows technical staff, healthcare professionals, and cleanroom operators to identify abnormal conditions at a glance without having to interpret measurement values.

  • Is it possible to hide the measuring values on the screen?

    Yes. Upon request, the measured pressure values can be hidden from the main display.

    Values remain accessible through the settings menu during maintenance, servicing, or calibration activities.

  • Is it possible to integrate temperature and humidity sensors?

    Not as a standard feature. Technically, it is possible and we can develop custom firmware versions.

    That said, we always challenge the requirement first. While room pressure is a critical control parameter, temperature and humidity are often monitored separately by HVAC or building management systems.

    The key question is: what action should be taken when a temperature or humidity alarm occurs? If there is a clear operational benefit, we can discuss a customized solution for your project.

Calibration & Maintenance

  • Can you calibrate on specific differential pressure points?

    Yes. Every ATM420 transmitter can be calibrated on five points across the standard measuring range on request.

    If your validation procedure or quality system requires specific differential pressure setpoints, we can calibrate the transmitter accordingly. Simply specify the required calibration points when placing your order.

Multi-Display Solutions

  • Can the ATM420 be connected to a second slave display?

    Yes. Additional slave displays can be used to show room pressure conditions in locations such as airlocks, corridors, or nurse stations.

    Depending on the required configuration, a dedicated firmware version may be used to optimise the display layout.

  • Can I use multiple slave displays with the ATM420?

    Yes. Multiple slave displays can be configured.

    For example, a master display may show values A-B-C, while separate slave displays show A-B and B-C combinations. Please contact us for project-specific configurations.