One definition for institutional building includes buildings that “typically contain large numbers of people interacting to accomplish a general or specific purpose.” ASHRAE doesn’t have an institutional building category in its 2015 HVAC Application Handbook, but instead breaks out these “buildings typically containing large numbers of people” into more specific categories, e.g., retail facilities, commercial and public buildings, etc.
As I think about institutional buildings, I came up with a list of common problems that can have serious detrimental results to its occupants. It got me thinking that it would be helpful to design engineers and building operating engineers to have a master checklist of issues and concerns that can be referred to when drafting a building program, proceeding with the project design, and sustaining these preventive measures through facility management. Here is my first pass at such a checklist for institutional buildings, and I welcome you to offer your suggestions to this list.