Although the construction industry was badly damaged by the Great Recession, there is one area in particular where business is growing; construction and renovation of hospitals. Due to increased demand for healthcare services from aging baby boomers, hospital construction and renovation projects have increased dramatically in the past ten years and will continue to grow into the future. According to McGraw-Hill Construction Research and Analytics, healthcare construction has increased by six percent during 2011, outpacing the overall non-residential construction market. Although undertaking a hospital renovation project can be very lucrative, there are many important rules and regulations that require full compliance by the contractor. Failure to follow these rules could lead to lawsuits or, worse, the death of hospitalized patients. To avoid calamities, there are several extremely important things to know when starting your renovation.

First and foremost, builders must meticulously contain dust removed from renovation activities. Allowing airborne particles to circulate through the hospital could mean the death of sensitive patients. On a hospital renovation job site at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Inc. in Tampa, FL, three children battling leukemia, ages two, five and nine, died after contracting fungal infections. The pathogenic fungus was released and circulated through the air conditioning systems of the construction activities downstairs. To avoid tragic scenarios like this, builders need to contain dust particles as much as possible.

Second, when accessing ceiling electrical panels and wiring, subcontractors must use negative air pressure mobile containment units to fully contain dust. Mobile Containment Units are small, portable enclosures that allow builders to access roof and wall panels without allowing particles to be generated by sanding, drilling, etc. to circulate through the air. Some companies allow contractors to rent mobile containment units, but for large-scale projects, investing in one or two will save time and money in the long run. For more details on mobile containment, please contact your local surface protection providers.

Another important aspect of dust control for prime contractors on the renovation project is preventing subcontractors from spreading dust. Large-scale renovations typically require tens or hundreds of workers, and since meticulously preventing the spread of dust is so critical, all of these workers must go to great lengths to prevent contamination. Employee education is a great place to start, along with requiring workers to use personal protection. To help you stay compliant, there are several products that can make a big difference; adhesive mats, shoe covers and coveralls. Ask subcontractors to wear shoe covers and wear new pairs as often as necessary. Install a sticky mat at each door entry. Many sticky mats are inexpensive and available in packs of four with thirty pages on each mat, so be sure to replace sticky sheets often.

A third important point is to know the fire resistance requirements of your protection materials. When installing Zipwall™ systems to control dust or protect a newly installed concrete floor, use products that are certified fire-resistant to avoid violating regulations. Large 4′ x 8′ corrugated plastic fire resistant sheets are also ideal for protecting wall panels, floors, doors and more. Coverguard™ is another excellent choice for a fire resistant floor protection product that meets hospital renovation requirements.

These are just a few tips for preventing dust and protecting valuable fixtures during hospital renovation projects. For more information, contact Pat Mullen at Builders Site Protection and check the OSHA website for easy-to-follow guidelines for fully understanding and complying with the regulations.