Facilitate ventilation and emergency egress

Although usually not required by code, some healthcare systems and government agencies, including the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), recommend considering operable windows for their facilities. In the rare case of a fire, facilities with operable windows have the option of venting smoke and aiding egress.

Operable windows provide a backup for smoke evacuation in case of an engineered smoke control system failure and may alleviate the need for dangerous firefighter glass breakage to conduct emergency evacuation from the exterior. With operable units, custodians may quickly vent foul smells or noxious fumes. During normal operating conditions, concealed hinges and tamper-resistant locks prevent patients from compromising security by opening the window.

In hurricane-prone regions, wind-borne debris protection is also essential. Ensuring hospital windows stay intact during such an event keeps the building serviceable and protects occupants. These regions require large-missile-tested products at lower floors of healthcare facilities. In the event of an emergency, the laminated or polycarbonate security glazing will be practically impossible to break out—operable windows may be the preferred choice for firefighter access. Outside of hurricane-prone regions, healthcare facility managers are advised to consider their location’s likelihood of tornadoes or other natural disasters, as evacuation may be impossible.

Some healthcare facility professionals are surprised to learn about half of the states are susceptible to seismic activity. Large hospitals are “essential facilities,” classified as Occupancy Category IV by the American Society of Civil Engineers and Structural Institute/Structural Engineering Institute (ASCE/SEI) 7, Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures. Guided by this standard, the International Building Code (IBC) includes detailed provisions to help hospitals not just withstand an earthquake, but also continue functioning during and after a seismic event.

To properly engineer windows and curtain walls to withstand earthquakes, parameters specific to the building and site must be considered. Glazing assemblies must elastically accommodate lateral seismic drift without glass breakage or losing weather resistance. Under inelastic movements, safety of occupants and passersby is critical. Additionally, inertial forces must be safely transferred to the building structure.

Early design coordination with adjacent wall system movement and anchorage provisions is essential for maintaining overall envelope integrity. The California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) helps ensure healthcare services remain available during and after major seismic events. Through strict adherence to HCAI administrative and technical requirements, project approvals are obtained in a timely manner.

Adapt for reuse

Renovations offer a healthcare facility manager a chance to enhance safety with improvements to the structure. For renovations or expansions, matching an existing structure’s window sightlines and symmetry can be challenging. Working closely with a glazing contractor and window manufacturer, healthcare facilities can achieve the desired aesthetic without compromising performance and safety. For major renovation projects, installation of in-situ samples is highly recommended.

The need for easy customization and durability has made aluminum an important material choice for historically influenced window replacement work. Applied muntin grids can help achieve a classic, multi-pane appearance. Environmentally responsible finishing service providers offer anodized and fluoropolymer painted aluminum as long-lasting options to match existing color schemes, without affecting indoor air quality (IAQ) by introducing volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Aging facilities may be returned to their original colors or updated after years of chalking, peeling, or expensive repainting.

In cases when existing windows are weather-tight, and operation for ventilation is not required, the addition of high-quality, custodian-operable, interior-accessory windows can be a viable option, facilitating behavioral occupancy of structures originally intended for another use. With appropriate caution to avoid between-glass condensation and thermal stress breakage of existing glass, these economical add-on units improve control of sound, energy, air, and light, while leaving existing windows undisturbed.

The University of Minnesota’s Medical Center Fairview Behavioral Health Services renovated its facility for patient safety and energy efficiency. Privacy, security, and aesthetics were key considerations in selecting the window system. The new windows were configured with three lites per bay to echo the facility’s previous aesthetic. The specified windows are security-glazed with laminated glass for impact resistance, and a low-e coating for energy efficiency and condensation resistance. Even during Minneapolis’ freezing winter months, the windows help keep patients comfortable in their rooms.