DOORS
Glass-reinforced polyester doorblade.
Hygiene Hygiene is now regarded as the most important performance criterion in healthcare applications in the fight against hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). Infection control guidance note HFN 30, Infection control in the Built Environment 2003, addresses infection control issues in design and planning, and states that: “If the burden of healthcare-associated infection is to be reduced, it is imperative that architects, designers, and builders be partners with healthcare staff and infection control teams when planning new facilities or renovating older buildings”. The guidance note calls for smooth,
hard impervious surfaces which are easy to clean and durable. This is reinforced in Health Building Note 00-09: Infection control in the built environment. Ledges, recesses, and right angles where dust particles can be trapped, should, the guidance stipulates, be avoided to allow ease of cleaning. Alongside the clinical environment, another potential area where cleanliness is of key importance in preventing HAIs is within a hospital’s catering facility. The growing demands of hygiene legislation, and increasing pressure on hospitals to provide better standards of catering, are forcing many hospitals to reassess their kitchens and invest in new facilities. In recent studies of hospital cleanliness,
microbiologists have found that doors are a major area of bacteria collection, and therefore need to be able to sustain regular cleaning. Doors should be able to tolerate constant cleaning with a number of different chemicals, including prolonged use of disinfectants, chlorine-releasing agents, and alcohol-impregnated wipes. Laminate and painted wooden doors are much more likely to deteriorate or flake once exposed to common cleaning regimes, with PVC-encapsulated timber doors showing wear signs where the
A damaged timber-encapsulated door.
encapsulation joins along the edges of the timber door leaf. This can lead to costly maintenance, meaning that the doors may have to be replaced after a short time. Ease of cleaning should also be taken into consideration when fitting hardware or door furnishings. Chosen door systems should work with the room design. Sliding doors are becoming increasingly popular, both in new buildings, and as replacements for existing hinged single and double action doors. A common misconception is that sliding doors are more expensive. They can, however, be more economical in operation, and – taking up less valuable floor space – they are ideal for small rooms and areas with narrow corridors.
Hermetic doors for air control World Health Organization guidelines for indoor air quality indicate that indoor air pollution plays a significant role in the general state of health of people who spend a considerable amount of time indoors. Hospitals and healthcare facilities therefore have a particular duty to protect patients, staff, and visitors, from air pollution, bioparticles, and airborne infection. Research by ASHRAE, the global society
advancing human wellbeing through sustainable technology for the built environment, estimated that up to 20% of hospital infections may be attributed to airborne bacteria and viruses. The choice of doors in the hospital environment can play a vital role in improving patient healthcare, and good air quality can assist
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Hermetic sealing sliding doors at the entrance to an ICU.
in ensuring the psychological and physical wellbeing of inhabitants.
Hermetic sealing sliding doors have a
99.9% airtight seal which helps to reduce cross-contamination, wound infections, and expensive air-handling costs. This makes them ideal for use in operating theatre boundaries, for example in conjunction with air-handling dampers in isolation rooms or ICUs. These sliding doors can also be supplied as glazed units, bringing light into the room, while also enabling staff to keep a close eye on patients. In many areas of hospitals, doors will be manually operated. However, there are cases where automation could be used to improve efficiency, as well as to protect the door and ensure that it remains damage-free. Automated doors are often used in areas of high traffic flow, and where individual members of staff may be passing through an area frequently with beds or trolleys. They are also ideal for use in areas which require access control, and where doors must not be held open. It is important to consider the positioning of the method of actuation (whether it be a push-button, kick plate, or touchless sensor), to maximise the benefits of automation to the users. For example, site the automation on the route to the door, rather than have the activation beside the door, thus ensuring that the user doesn’t need to stop to wait for the door to open.
Fire doors Specifying fire doors has become an increasingly complex task. Fire safety is a
Doors should be able to tolerate constant cleaning with a number of different chemicals, including prolonged use of disinfectants, chlorine-releasing agents, and alcohol-impregnated wipes
October 2023 Health Estate Journal 105
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