Today, the rapidly growing healthcare sector is in desperate need of effective MEP design that will modify the existing healthcare buildings to be more accommodating and competent. This will, in turn, boost the efficiency of the healthcare sector as a whole, if adopted on a global scale.
The difference between different types of healthcare facilities can be quite difficult to understand. Since healthcare building services play a major role in establishing healthcare, it is imperative to engineer environments that cater to the needs of today’s healthcare sector. A well-rounded healthcare system requires a competent MEP engineering which efficiently provides systems like ventilation, air conditioning, water and drainage, lighting, power heating, and infection control.
In order to promote the spirit of healing and well-being in the healthcare sector, it is imperative that the same attitude is reflected in the environment and the engineering of the healthcare facility.
MEP design needs to be such that it brings out the optimum performance of healthcare facilities and provides a comfortable experience to the patients. Below are a few reasons why MEP designs in healthcare are of utmost importance.
1. Infection Control
The entire healthcare system design exists to provide cures to infections, diseases, and contagious viruses. It is therefore crucial while designing to consider the threat of infections and take measures to minimize the same. Working with risk managers helps a healthcare facility determine the probability of infections and minimize the risk.
It is necessary to minimize the risk of infections by optimizing air changes in operating rooms, safely increasing temperatures in operation theatres, and co-locating units with facilities requiring isolation like operation theatres, ICUs, and hospital wards. This will also ensure cost efficiency and will also save energy.
2. Resilience
Constant functioning of the essential system is a must in all healthcare facilities. If any system fails to operate or undergoes a glitch, it can have an adverse effect on the well-being of the patients.
Thus, a resilient MEP design reduces the risk of ineffective systems and ensures an efficient system that provides an uninterrupted power supply and provides immediate backup in cases of power cuts.
3. Performance
Close inspection of every stage, from design to commissioning is prudent. Hence, making the required changes in the model helps in optimizing the performance of the healthcare facility. Inputs from staff in addition to patients are also valuable in making changes in the MEP designs.
4. Live environment
The design of the healthcare facility has to be pre-decided in order to avoid inconsistency in the high-performing environment of the building. A simple and effective design should be adopted as an uncomplicated approach helps maintain efficiency better over a longer period of time.
5. Investment returns
An effective MEP design, which is created simultaneously with the conceptualization of the facility is helpful in reducing the budget of the healthcare facility. Smart MEP designs implemented at the root level for large-scale projects help the developers save a considerable amount and offer better investment returns.
Given the importance of these parameters in MEP design, there are specific design standards and codes that are used while creating the plan. So stay tuned for the upcoming post.
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