The following article from 2022 has been revised to reflect the upcoming 2021 code changes where applicable. For most medium to large HVAC projects, and all lighting projects, commissioning is now a requirement. Code issues aside, startup and operational issues are typically found during the commissioning process, which can prevent operational issues, which are much … Read more
Essential Electrical Systems (EES) are needed in most healthcare facilities for several reasons found within multiple building codes. Most notably these specific requirements are found in National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70; National Electrical Code, and NFPA 99; Healthcare Facilities Code. The size and complexity of the required EES can vary significantly depending on building … Read more
When Barton Associates was tasked with designing the domestic water system for the Nemours Children’s Health Specialty Care & Ambulatory Center located in Malvern, PA, cost savings for the owner and simplifying construction for the contractor were on our minds. Typical domestic water systems plumb cold water and 110°F hot water to most fixtures; however, … Read more
Certification that the cleanroom is operating within the ranges set forth is the final step before occupancy and use of the pharmacy. The goal of the HVAC systems design is so that the users have a functional system that meets their requirements which they have verified is safe for compounding. United States Pharmacopeia (USP) <797> … Read more
Compounding hazardous drugs is a chemically volatile process, which means that tight control of air pressure, temperature, and humidity is required. Thus, when designing compounding areas, it is critical to determine an acceptable time delay before alarming and when and how often to report these values when out of compliance. Most mechanical systems are not … Read more
Compounding pharmacies require tight temperature, relative humidity, and pressurization control to operate in compliance with the current standards. Those standards are set to change in the coming months, and we’ve put together a series of articles to help navigate the new requirements. Balancing and actively controlling the airflow to achieve the correct pressure relationships in … Read more
There is an aspect of healthcare facility design that neither the design team nor the healthcare facility can avoid in any project – the classification of patient care areas and associated risk assessments. The Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) Design and Construction for Hospitals, and FGI Design and Construction for Outpatient Facilities, and NFPA 99, The … Read more
Every four years, the Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) updates their Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals and Outpatient Facilities to stay up to date with current technologies and design concepts. From an MEP standpoint, the guidelines are updated to improve patient well-being, necessitate safer system operation, and to improve environmental quality in our health … Read more
Medical gas systems rank high on the list of resources necessary for a hospital to function. Oxygen, medical air, vacuum, and other systems support all manner of life-saving and life-sustaining procedures, from providing oxygen therapy for a COVID-19 patient to providing vacuum during a heart transplant. In 1987, the American Society of Sanitary Engineering (ASSE) … Read more
With construction costs rising across the board, every dollar counts when planning for a project. Lately, many owners are getting surprised by a substantial cost that presents itself late in the project. Commissioning. Did you know that your project may require commissioning even though it is not a LEED or other green initiative project? Starting … Read more
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will adopt the 2018 International Plumbing Code for construction projects, except for two municipalities (the City of Philadelphia and Allegheny County), on February 14, 2022. There will be a six-month grace period during which some may be reviewed under the 2015 IPC. Construction projects, regardless of circumstances, will be designed in … Read more
As Pennsylvania begins enforcement of 2018 International Mechanical Code, it’s important to understand what, if any changes could affect your project. This is particularly important if you’ve had a project shelved due to the pandemic and are planning to dust it off this year. Whether it was a funding issue, price of materials, or just … Read more
The building code in Pennsylvania is known as the Uniform Construction Code (UCC). Enforcement of this code is handled either locally (by municipalities, townships, or contracted third-party reviewers) or by the state’s Department of Labor and Industry. Prior to 2018, the Pennsylvania UCC referenced the 2009 International Codes (I-Codes). In 2018, the UCC was updated … Read more
The current pandemic has affected nearly every aspect of our personal and professional lives. In the case of the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Codes (UCC), it has significantly delayed the legally required update to the 2018 edition of the International Construction Codes. Among the many requirements and procedures outlined in the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act Omnibus Amendments (Act … Read more
There are many unique challenges in the design and construction of high-rise buildings. The electrical design in these facilities is no exception, particularly regarding the emergency systems required to allow people to safely exit the building during a fire or emergency event. A ‘high-rise building” is defined in the International Building Code (IBC) as “a … Read more
Having reliable sources of electrical power has become a critical part of what we do. Our daily lives have become so dependent on having places to plug in that many of us would be absolutely lost if the electricity stopped flowing. For most people, a brief loss of power while at home or even at … Read more
Armed with the knowledge that germicidal lighting, such as Germicidal Ultraviolet-C (GUV-C) Light, possesses the proven ‘superpower’ of eradicating harmful viruses including COVID-19, many people have begun searching for ways to safely incorporate it into their everyday lives. But, with new products hitting the market daily, consumers can easily become overwhelmed and confused given the … Read more
The scope and influence of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to grow. Cases are on the rise again. The number of hospitalizations and ventilated patients is growing. Hospitals located in critical, high population centers overrun with COVID-19 patients used medical gases and mechanical ventilators in record numbers this past spring. In fact, some facilities did not … Read more
When the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) became a reality for this country and the quarantine began, we did not know what to expect. Pandemic updates from Washington, DC by the President of the United States and his lead physicians became a daily routine. Just a few hours away, COVID-19 cases in New York City were overwhelming … Read more
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced assisted living, skilled care and continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) to redefine their daily operations and facilities alike to minimize the risk of COVID-19 spread throughout their facilities both from internal and external risks. Residents living in these facilities who require renal dialysis can be a significant risk to themselves, … Read more
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