Healthcare CPD
The launch of a RIBA-approved CPD on specifying windows for the healthcare market is the latest focus on this specialist sector from architectural aluminium systems supplier Kawneer.
Kawneer has gained knowledge of the sector, from working with NHS trusts responsible for hospitals including the award-winning Evelina Children’s hospital in London, and Roseberry Park, Barnet, Runwell, Whitchurch, Cefyn Coed and Minehead hospitals.
The Windows for health: specifying for the healthcare market CPD advises architects on the key market drivers such as Documents F and L of the Building Regulations (for ventilation and thermal requirements respectively), BS 7950 for security and HTM 55/BS 8213 for safety.
It also explains how the traditional decision makers such as architects and main contractors have now also been complemented by the trusts themselves and specifically clinicians, ward sisters and psychiatric nurses and doctors.
In addition, while it has become apparent that the application and end user’s comfort is very much part of the specification, the requirements of hospital staff and visitors are also paramount.
The CPD advises on the pros and cons of the most popular window types for meeting the patients’ requirements of safe opening and anti-ligature – horizontal pivot and vertical and horizontal sliding windows.
A case study details how more than 600 anti-ligature double or single sliding windows, together with more than 200 of the three-pane solutions were developed and installed at Roseberry Park Hospital for Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust.
This details the development and testing process over six months of a sample window that had to be robust enough to survive an attack with a fire extinguisher, to the extent that a “sample” room was constructed.
