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Articles by Joshua Brackett
Defining existing building commissioning
Editor's note: "Member How-To" is a new series part of the American Society for Health Care Engineering's Member to Member content.The series uses video and multimedia to address common operational issues. What is existing building commissioning (EBCx), also known as retrocommissioning? Some think it is an energy-saving project. Others think it is a “fix” for underperforming systems. In reality, EBCx is often nothing more than a process that we commonly associate with energy-saving projects.
Defining existing building commissioning
Editor's note: "Member How-To" is a new series from the American Society for Health Care Engineering's Member Tools Committee. The series uses video and multimedia to address common operational issues. What is existing building commissioning (EBCx), also known as retrocommissioning? Some think it is an energy-saving project. Others think it is a “fix” for underperforming systems. In reality, EBCx is often nothing more than a process that we commonly associate with energy-saving projects.
Sustainability versus life safety issues
The heat from wildfires is increasingly disrupting the electrical grid and causing rolling blackouts. Health care is one of the most regulated fields in the United States and one of the largest contributors of greenhouse gas emissions and carbon to the planet.
Construction cost reduction strategies
Banner Health, across its 31 hospitals and almost 24 million square feet, has identified millions in life cycle cost savings through leveraging options and risk assessments. Image courtesy of Banner Health Hospitals and health care systems are struggling to have favorable balance sheets. While most hospitals are nonprofit organizations, positive revenue is necessary to continue to provide the community with high-quality and accessible health care.
Taking advantage of codes flexibility
Codes and standards have what might seem like a never-ending list of documentation requirements. Many health care facilities teams get cited for not being able to speak to the repair of a single asset. What if the codes and compliance workload could be reduced and reallocated to a more important or higher-risk asset? Many health care facilities teams do not take advantage of the alternative options listed in the codes and standards or the advancements of the codes and standards.
Using data to fight for better codes
The plethora of facilities data can, does and will continue to change the trajectory of codes and standards for generations. Image by Getty Images There is no question that the health care field experienced significant advancements in the development of codes and standards over the past 100 years.
Four tips for building a proper ITM process
Fire protection systems provide vital safety. Similar to brakes and airbags in a car that help protect passengers, fire suppression and alarm systems are integral to life safety in hospitals where defend-in-place is critical. Performing proper inspection, testing and maintenance (ITM) ensures the systems function as intended, and implementing the following best practices will help to increase reliability. 1. Establish asset-naming nomenclature and ITM testing procedures together.
The history of hospital fire drills
In the last 100 years, there have been many progressions in the field of fire protection. Unfortunately, many of today’s codes were written in response to horrific fire tragedies, several of which could have been prevented. There is one particular fire that stands out as a turning point for health care occupancies. The St. Anthony’s Hospital fire of 1949 claimed the lives of 77 people.
Navigating code conflicts in health care facilities
Codes and standards do not always align. For example, both the 2012 edition of the National Fire Protection Association’s NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code®, and the 2012 International Building Code (IBC) require shafts connecting four or more stories to be 2-hour fire rated.
Interpreting requirements for automatic smoke detection
Total coverage (complete) automatic smoke detection is where all occupiable spaces in a particular area are to be covered with smoke detection devices. This approach is required by the 2012 edition of NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code®, for new and existing hospitals in a few circumstances, such as when specialized door locking arrangements are used or when certain sleeping suites are used. There also are other factors for a few sections that determine when total (complete) detection is required.
Resource for labor recruitment, training and continuity
Recruiting, training and retaining skilled laborers can be challenging for an organization. This is particularly true for plant operators, who require specialized skills with continuous education to adapt to evolving technology and code changes. The health care facilities field has an aging workforce because students are often discouraged from skilled trades, despite the numerous benefits these careers offer.
Cybersecurity and fire protection
Cyber pirates have stepped up their efforts to steal valuable information or threaten the delivery of essential services. Image by Getty Images Over the course of the past 15 months, as health care facilities struggled to meet the demands of the coronavirus pandemic and resulting vaccine programs, cybercriminals found relative ease in launching attacks on vulnerable targets.
Health care cyberattacks on the uptick
With nearly 480 new high-tech cyberthreats introduced every minute, according to McAfee Corp., many of the world’s most critical industries have been prime targets of devastating cyberattacks in recent years. For instance, Maersk, the world’s largest shipping and global trade conglomerate, was hit by a malware attack in June 2017 that locked all network computer systems within an hour and halted business for several days.
5 Keys to a Fire and Life Safety Lifecycle Strategy
These five strategies can help facility managers clearly and consistently enforce best practices and code requirements internally and with contractors regarding fire and life safety. OTHER PARTS OF THIS ARTICLEPt. 1: How to Manage Fire and Life Safety Over a Building's Whole LifePt. 2: This Page Each fire safety component performs a specific job or task that contributes to an overall safe building.
How to Manage Fire and Life Safety Over a Building's Whole Life
The safety system is an ecosystem — neglect in one area can cause the entire system to fail. A few years ago, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) coined the phrase, “Fire and Life Safety Ecosystem,” at its 2019 annual conference. The NFPA Fire and Life Safety Ecosystem is comprised of eight interdependent elements that work together harmoniously to achieve a safe environment.
Hospital fire drill matrix assists code compliance
For years, fire drills and the required varying criteria have been a thorn in the side of facilities management teams. Some larger hospital systems are fortunate to have a compliance team to help ensure that fire drills meet all the criteria and that the drills are effective. Some hospitals even have remedial training for those involved in drills that don’t meet the hospital’s standards.
Influencing health care fire safety codes
Revoking the ability to recondition several different types of electrical components and assemblies could have a detrimental impact on the health care community. Image from Getty Images The National Fire Protection Association’s 2019 NFPA Technical Meeting presented a perfect example of why health care organizations must be involved with the NFPA code development process and send representation to this year’s annual NFPA Technical Meeting.
Joining the fight for regulatory relief
If the health facilities field is to become more proactive in driving down costs and increasing the focus on improving the patient experience, the solution is simple: Hospital leaders must be beyond supportive and push their facilities management teams to get involved in advocacy efforts.
Two easy steps to get involved in code development
Every facilities manager, design engineer and code enforcement official knows by heart a particular line of code they want changed. Whether its fire-related, a security matter or an HVAC issue, every health care facilities leader has an idea of how to make codes and standards better.
Advocating against the costs of unnecessary codes
This year’s National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Technical Meeting in San Antonio presented a perfect example of why health care entities must send representation to the session, which is held at the annual NFPA Conference & Expo. The American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE) stands up for what is best for health care facilities but is often overrun by the other stakeholder groups due to lack of its representation and attendance.
Taking ownership of testing and inspections
Hospitals often rely on vendors for support and expertise to conduct code-specified inspections and testing of various systems. However, health facility managers may be unaware that some inspections and testing specified by code do not have to be conducted by a specially licensed or certified professional. Many of these procedures can be conducted in-house, such as fire doors and monthly fire extinguisher checks.
Tracking and documenting physical environment compliance
A facility professional new to a hospital has just been told by the CEO that the facility has been in its “Joint Commission window” of 18 months from the previous survey for the past year. Although familiar with The Joint Commission survey process, the facility manager has no idea whether the hospital is ready. What could be done in a short time to prepare, knowing that the surveyors could be on-site next week? What should be the priority?
Energy-saving ideas for every project
Hospitals are highly complex facilities, and many of the functions that take place within them consume a lot of energy. Together that combination creates a significant opportunity to reduce energy consumption. A new American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE) monograph, “Reducing Operational Costs Through Energy Efficiency: Tips, Best Practices, and Case Studies from Energy Star® Hospitals,” describes many of these energy-saving opportunities.
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