This is the first in a multi-part series focused on architectural coordination as it relates to mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection systems, based on changes to the International Building Code for the 2021 code cycle. This article addresses a significant revision between the 2018 and 2021 International Plumbing Codes that could have a notable … Read more
Digital Twins has been an industry buzzword being tossed around for a few years now, but what exactly is a Digital Twin? As with most new concepts, coalescing around a single definition can prove challenging. My own technical definition as it pertains to buildings and Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operations (AECO) is: ‘A Digital Twin … Read more
When my late father-in-law, a professional mechanic, was shopping for a car for his daughter, he asked to see under the hood. The salesman obliged, and what he saw left him aghast. This was the mid-1990s and the previous generation of cars mostly had generous space within the engine bay. They had room to access … Read more
Starting in January 2025, just a few weeks away, the allowable Global Warming Potential (GWP) for refrigerants in several common applications will be limited to 700. This change garners several common questions: Can you still buy units with the current refrigerant? Can you fix your existing systems? Are compliant systems available? Will this affect design, … Read more
Did you know that routine testing of your emergency lighting is not just a code requirement but also a critical safety practice? Power failures are unpredictable, and ensuring your emergency lighting functions properly during an outage could make the difference between life-or-death in some instances. Thankfully, advancements in technology are making this critical system more … Read more
Ever since Revit came onto the scene in 2000, the AEC industry has been adopting it and the underlying Building Information Modeling (BIM) concepts across an ever-increasing range of projects and building types. The software itself has also undergone many changes over the past 24 years, from the early single-user only models to today’s cloud … Read more
In commercial, educational, and healthcare facilities, the integrity of electrical systems is crucial for safety and operational continuity. Recent natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires have highlighted the significant impact of water and fire on electrical infrastructure. When electrical equipment is exposed to fire or water, the risk of malfunction or failure increases … Read more
Electrical systems are the lifeblood of your facility, powering everything from critical patient care to the daily operations that keep your business running smoothly. When was the last time your electrical system got a check-up? Like any vital system, your facility’s electrical infrastructure needs regular care to stay healthy. A strategic maintenance program isn’t just … 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
As we head into the summer months, many of us look forward to spending our evenings under the stars. But sadly, that precious view is rapidly diminishing. Experts estimate that by the end of 2025 only a few true dark sky locations will remain in the United States. One of the two main culprits: light … Read more
Precipitated by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the world quickly realized that we didn’t know how much disease transmission mitigation was enough. To answer this question and at the request of the White House, The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) developed Standard 241-2023, Control of Infectious Aerosols. The primary intent of this standard … 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
Cooling towers are the most energy-efficient method available to reject heat from a building’s air conditioning system, but they are also the most maintenance-intensive option. Air conditioning is a way of life now; you rarely find commercial buildings without air conditioning in the mid-Atlantic region. We use it for human comfort, to preserve products, to … Read more
If you are considering a new building or a major renovation in 2024, you are already too late. You may even have difficulty finishing in 2025. For structural materials, mechanical equipment, electrical gear, and many other critical building components, the time from when it is ordered until it arrives on site has increased dramatically since … Read more
Significant changes are set to affect the building industry this year. National changes like refrigerant phase-outs due to global warming potential, and regional changes, like the tri-annual code updates. While increased cost of capital may have some owners thinking about delaying projects, other factors should be considered to have a full picture of what that delay … Read more
As energy resources become more scarce and global political issues threaten energy security and standards of living, the developed world has been focusing on alternative sources of energy. These sources of energy have ranged from renewable natural gas and “clean coal” to naturally renewable sources such as wind and solar. With any new energy transition, … 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