Infection Control In A Hospital During A Construction Project
Over the course of the past several years, the AIA (American Institute of Architects), CDC (Centers for Disease Control), and JCAHO (Joint Commission for Accreditation of Health Care Organizations) have all published guidelines to assist owners, design professionals, and contractors in preventing the spread of contaminants during construction-related activities.
The emphasis of this article is the role the design professional plays in assisting the owner and the contractor in managing a safe air quality environment during a construction project in a hospital or other health care facility. Design and construction of hospitals present many unique challenges, and the complexity of maintaining a safe environment is certainly one of the most difficult. The safety issues become even more evident when you consider that nearly 75% of all construction projects in health care involve an expansion or renovation to an existing hospital structure.