INFRASTRUCTURE
polymer over an equivalent steel product achieves a 67 per cent reduction in carbon emissions.
Acoustic performance One of the most well-recognised factors influencing occupant wellbeing in healthcare facilities is acoustics, with 91 per cent of respondents to our survey citing it as ‘important’ or ‘very important’. Naturally, noise levels can have a significant impact on patient comfort, which in turn is key to facilitating a rehabilitative environment. Despite this, research from King’s
College London indicates that noise levels in intensive care units regularly exceed 100 decibels – roughly the equivalent of loud music being played through headphones. Additionally, in-patient surveys revealed that 40 per cent of patients are unhappy with noise levels on their ward. A higher rehospitalisation rate was also found among coronary care patients who were treated during noisy periods. The research team believe that the hospital soundscape must be considered as a whole, extending beyond alarms and machinery to low and intrusive sounds, such as keys in locks and the sound of water running through internal pipework. While addressing these sounds will not
prove a comprehensive solution, eliminating noise from controllable sources where possible will no doubt contribute to a calmer hospital environment. By adopting a granular approach to all aspects of building design, a number of possible contributors to noisy hospital environments can be removed.
Drinking water provision Another major factor of healthy building design is the safe provision of drinking water. Naturally, with a duty of care to patients within the facility, it is paramount that the supply of this utility does not present a contamination risk to those who may already be vulnerable. At present, the most popular materials
for heating and water pipes are copper and steel, reflecting metal’s position as the traditional choice for this application. When queried on their reasons for specifying these materials, respondents cited ‘fewer tools’ and ‘more hygienic’ among the most popular reasons. However, there is a growing case to
suggest that these metals are no longer the best choice for this application, and that copper and steel are not as hygienic as they may first seem. For instance, both of these solutions are more prone to microbial contamination compared to
polymer pipework and multilayer composite pipe (MLCP). Given that 83 per cent claimed that
they still specified fittings containing lead, material specification is critical, with this able to leach into drinking water supply. Furthermore, 42 per cent also claimed that they were ‘often’ victims of copper theft, indicating another risk that is invited when specifying this material. Here, there is potential for polymer to prove to be the successor to copper and steel.
Looking to the future The next seven years represent a period of opportunity for the healthcare sector. With 40 new facilities set to be constructed by the end of the decade, M&E designers and architects have now been presented with the chance to future- proof the nation’s medical infrastructure against current and future challenges. The considerations outlined here offer only a glimpse into what can be made possible through a more granular approach to healthy building design. By making informed choices on material specification, M&E designers and architects can help create health estates that are both sustainable and conducive to the provision of high-quality treatment for years to come.
IFHE
IFHEDigest Providing insights into the vast field of healthcare engineering and facility management IFHE DIGEST 2023 93
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