Modifications in the updated Sub Divisional Hospital (SDH) 31 ... - IIMB

Seismic Safety Guidelines
Seismic safety of non-structural elements in Hospitals/Health facility.
Annexure VI
• Health Facility/Hospital should remain intact and functional after an
earthquake to carry on routine and emergency medical care.
• There may be increased demand for its services after an earthquake.
• Hospital accommodates large number of patients who cannot be evacuated in
the event of earthquake.
• Hospitals have complex network of equipment specialised furniture, ducting,
wiring, electrical, mechanical fittings which are vulnerable due to earthquake.
• The Non-structural element may value very high from 80% to 90% incase of
Hospital unlike office buildings due to specialized medical equipments.
• Even if building remains intact, it may be rendered non-functional due to
damage to equipments, pipelines, fall of partitions and store material, etc.
• While the safety of building structure is the duty of PWD and designers of the
building, the risk of non-structural component has to be dealt by staff and
authorities of the health facility.
• This non-structural Mitigation & reduction of risk can be achieved through
series of steps:
i) Sensitization (understanding earthquakes and safety requirements)
ii) Earthquake Hazard Identification in the hospital
iii) Hazard survey and prioritization.
iv) Reducing non-structural hazards.
Step I : Understanding Earthquakes and Safety requirements
• Awareness and sensitization about safety
• The structural elements of a building carry the weight of the building like
columns, beams, slabs, walls, etc.
• The Non-structural elements do not carry weight of the building, but include
windows, doors, stairs, partition and the building contents: furniture, water tank,
hospital equipment, medical equipment, pharmacy items and basic installation
like water tanks, medical gases, pipelines, air conditioning, telecommunications,
electricity etc.
Step II : Earthquakes hazard identification in the hospital
• Tall, narrow furniture like cupboards can fall on people, block doors/
passages/exits
• Items on wheels or smooth surfaces can roll and crash
• Large and small things on shelves, etc. can knock, fall, crash and damage
severely.
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