In an article on the Consulting-Specifying Engineer website, engineers with healthcare experience offer tips on fire and life safety issues
They were asked what unique fire suppression or life safety systems they've specified or designed in a hospital.
"Recently, I was involved in a renovation of a six-story patient bed tower that required the central air handling units (AHUs) to remain operational in the event of a fire," said Paul J. Orzewicz, project manager for RMF Engineering Inc. in Baltimore.
"However, this was not the typical smoke control mode where only a portion of the building needed to remain pressurized; instead the entire building needed to remain under control by the BAS for patient comfort. To achieve this, the AHUs go to 100% outside mode and an extensive network of isolation dampers (controlled through the BAS and fire alarm system) automatically rebalances each floor to a negative pressure with a positive pressure air lock outside each floor’s entrance lobby."
Balancing Act: Designing for Safety and Flexibility
Methodist Healthcare Breaks Ground on Methodist ER Medina Valley
Fire Protection in Healthcare: Why Active and Passive Systems Must Work as One
Building Envelope Design: Beyond Energy Efficiency
Outpatient Surge Reshapes Long-Term Strategy for Medical Outpatient Buildings