We all know that hospital buildings represent many lives, and is known to have a high levels of traffic throughout the day. By its very nature, the design and coordination of hospitals are very complex. Since most of the building facilities are operational 24/7, MEP services play a vital role in ensuring that the facilities operate as intended throughout the life cycle. For better understanding, an electrical fault can only cause mild disruptions in commercial buildings. However, in hospitals, this mild electrical fault can mean disabling life support equipment too.
Due to the complex design and additional requirements in healthcare facilities, MEP installations tend to be more expensive than other buildings. Depending upon the differences in the types of hospitals, the requirements vary for each healthcare facility. Thus, MEP consultants play a critical role in identifying the level of services needed and finding a cost effective solution without compromising performance. In general, MEP systems represent over 40% of the budget in healthcare facilities.
Apart from the system designs, MEP engineers can also ensure that the design standards and building codes, as required by the location, are met and adhered to.
The Role of HVAC Systems in Healthcare Buildings
Unlike most residential and commercial buildings, HVAC systems play a much more crucial role in healthcare buildings like:
- Ventilation systems must regulate sufficient airflow throughout the facility while ensuring any harmful airborne particles are removed. As we all know, research suggests that COVID-19 can be transmitted through air, which imposes a serious threat in hospitals.
- Dehumidification or humidification systems must function as required as some spaces in hospitals require humidity control. These systems must be optimized for all climate zone and season of the year.
- Many healthcare applications require steam, which introduces an additional system to the MEP design.
HVAC systems are intended to create a comfortable environment. However, factors like drafts, noise and air speed are often overlooked. An efficient HVAC system design takes care of all the factors that create an ideal environment inside the facility.
Fire Protection and Emergency Power
Unlike most buildings, healthcare sector introduces additional challenges when it comes to fire protection and emergency power systems. For example, in hospitals, some patients cannot evacuate by themselves during emergency situations. Therefore, there must be zero tolerance when it comes to fire protection systems like smoke alarm and sprinklers. For example, some critical operations cannot be paused. Thus the fire protection systems must be designed to minimize or eliminate disruptions.
Healthcare facilities require a constant supple of power, since most of the medical equipment run on electricity. Having a reliable power system creates a safety net during times like power outage. For instance, a few seconds of power outage can have severe consequences for patients replying on life support equipment.
How Can New York Engineers Help?
New York Engineers, featured in Inc. 5000, is known to be one of the giants in MEP engineering design and consulting services. With over 15 years of experience in working with a wide range of healthcare facilities, New York Engineers are known for providing simple and eloquent solutions to complex problems, while minimizing costs.
Conclusion
The MEP design and coordination stage impacts the entire life cycle of a project. When building systems have an optimal layout, their installation can be completed with minimal disruption. A high-performance MEP design can also reduce operation and maintenance costs over time. These are valuable features in any building design, but especially in the healthcare sector, where the upfront investment and operating costs are very high.
