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DISASTER PLANNING & PROOFING plan was always ready to implement, it was routinely reviewed and tested prior to each hurricane season. When notified there was a hurricane fast approaching, a plan was put into action. This plan included securing the site three days before the hurricane would reach landfall. Tower cranes and loose materials were tied down to prevent freewheeling caused by strong winds. Doors and windows were fastened so all openings in the facility received temporary protection and the entire construction crew was sent home. As a result, the project site received minimal damage and work carried on without delays. When finished, Homestead Hospital, a replacement hospital, became the first healthcare facility of its kind designed to endure a Category-5 hurricane with winds that exceed 155 miles per hour. To achieve this milestone, the project team decided to raise the hospital's building pad elevations and critical elements, such as the emergency generators and electrical switchgear prior to construction. A heavily reinforced structural concrete frame was used with architectural precast concrete cladding and a curtainwall system specifically designed to withstand the 155 mph wind pressures and impacts from airborne debris during storm conditions. Equipment in the hospital's new central energy plant was designed to provide full HVAC and electrical services during the kind of extended power outages associated with major hurricanes. the event of threatening weather prior to construction. For example, the hospital's emergency department was elevated to the second floor and was designed to accommodate a surge of patients, incorporating exam rooms with the ability to house two beds rather than one in the event of a disaster. To further ensure the ED could accommodate an influx of patients, emergency headwall cabinets that housed additional medical gas pipes and electrical outlets were installed throughout the ED's waiting areas and hallways. Prior to construction, it's critical to design rooms with the ability to adapt in different situations. It's also crucial to be highly familiar with the area surrounding the buildings so a facility can be designed with attention to sea levels. With so many recent devastating storms, it's imperative to continue to learn from the events that have already occurred and plan for better weathering of future catastrophes. In preparation for any natural disaster, the most important thing is to never underestimate the power of preventive measures. How organizations plan and predict disaster outcomes almost always reflects the way a facility fares during a storm. Disaster proofing and planning ensures a facility will remain safe and secure, and will maintain itself as a cornerstone for the community it serves during a threatening weather event. Andrew Quirk is senior vice president and national director of Skanska's Healthcare Center of Excellence. He can be reached at Andrew.quirk@skanska.com. No more ugly tile and grout! Turn restroom complaints into compliments. BEFORE AFTER Flooding/water surge Tampa General Hospital sits on an island in Tampa Bay, Fla. When plans called for a large expansion of the hospital, team members heeded close attention to the building's sea level. Recognizing that the building's location left it highly vulnerable to flooding, many elements of the facility were specially designed to protect the building, its patients and staff in www.mcdmag.com SaniGLAZE Tile & Grout Restoration: Immediate Results, Long-Term Value. Schedule your FREE ON-SITE Demo today! www.saniglaze.com ❖ 800-266-8060 January/February 2013 | Medical Construction & Design 39