NFPA 99: Health Care Facilities Code covers areas that are not fire safety-related, but it's important to understand the standard's fire safety-related requirements, according to an article on the Consulting-Specifying Engineer website.
The document was updated using a risk-based approach versus an occupancy-based approach. This change allows healthcare facilities to use NFPA 99 to determine the risk to their patients from the procedures offered in their buildings, and it provides requirements to protect against those risks, the article said.
The requirements are based on a risk assessment of what would happen to patients or caregivers if the system was lost or compromised.
The key question is whether injuries or deaths to patients or staff will occur should the system or equipment fail.
Optimizing the Engineering Design of Ambulatory Care Facilities
Construction Completed on Washington Health Urgent Care Facility in California
OhioHealth Pickerington Methodist Hospital Begins Expansion Project
IAQ and Infection Mitigation: Plans Into Actions
Case Study: How NYU Langone Rebuilt for Resilience After Superstorm Sandy