When used as an adjective, “hybrid” is defined as something “of mixed character, composed of mixed parts”. In today’s society, the term is regularly used to describe cars, genetically modified plants, dog breeds, or any combination of two distinct styles. In the healthcare industry, the word hybrid is generally used to describe a mixture of … Read more
Successful outcomes from surgical procedures in a hospital rely, in part, on the ability of the central sterile processing suite to provide equipment and materials in an efficient, reliable, and sterile manner. Similarly, the central sterile processing suite relies on the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems serving the area to be reliable and to meet all … Read more
In today’s healthcare market, many surgical procedures have moved from the hospital setting to an outpatient setting. Stand-alone outpatient surgery centers allow for same-day surgeries to be more convenient and less expensive for patients and healthcare providers. From the outside, an outpatient surgery center may look like a standard medical office building (MOB) but, below … Read more
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) defines “clean agents” as “an electrically non-conducting, volatile, or gaseous fire extinguishant that does not leave a residue upon evaporation.” A clean agent fire suppression system consists of the agent storage containers, release valves, heat detectors, control panel, piping, and discharge nozzles. Clean agent fire suppressions systems are typically … Read more
Hard water is found in many water supplies across the country. Hardness is the measurement of the concentration of calcium and magnesium compounds found in water. These compounds enter the water system from groundwater sources. Calcium and magnesium compounds can become separated from the water and cause scaling in equipment and piping. Scale can decrease fixture flow rates, decrease … Read more
Emergency showers, eyewashes and drench units are common equipment in hospitals, laboratories, science classrooms, maintenance shops and anywhere hazardous chemicals are handled. OSHA regulations require “Where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided within … Read more
The following are some key plumbing code changes that engineers, architects and owners should know about in order to minimize negative impacts to your current or future projects. Section 412.2 Identifies additional requirements for floor drains and states that they must have ready access for servicing and cleaning. This section further stipulates that drains are not … Read more
Today’s healthcare facilities house countless pieces of valuable equipment ranging from IT equipment, linear accelerators and MRI units, to cardiovascular imaging machines for cath labs, CT scanners and other imaging equipment. These sophisticated machines require a significant financial investment that facility owners and operators should be sure to protect. While it is common to incorporate … Read more
