Abstract
Controlling excessive floor vibrations is critical in modern healthcare facilities where high-resolution imaging and diagnostic equipment are often used. These types of equipment have stringent floor vibration criteria to ensure the accuracy of their results. Controlling floor vibrations is further complicated as existing healthcare facilities are being renovated and upgraded to meet current healthcare demands, while remaining in operation. This paper presents a case study of an existing hospital which is undergoing extensive renovations. This hospital houses a variety of diagnostic imaging equipment including Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) equipment, as well as mass spectrometers. To determine the extent of the vibration mitigation required such that the equipment can remain operational during construction, vibration tests simulating the future construction activities were conducted. The vibration tests consisted of striking the ground with an excavator, while accelerometers were placed at strategic locations throughout the hospital to capture the excitation.
Highlights
Many healthcare facilities are undergoing renovations and upgrades to meet the growing healthcare demands
This paper presents an ongoing renovation project for an existing hospital complete with diagnostic imaging equipment and clinical laboratory spaces that must remain operational throughout the construction period
To simulate the different activities, the following simulation activities were conducted: excavator bucket striking the ground at three different locations outside the hospital, heavy weight drop within the basement, and concrete coring at two different locations within the hospital
Summary
Many healthcare facilities are undergoing renovations and upgrades to meet the growing healthcare demands. Medical equipment and technology are constantly improving and producing more accurate results. With the advancement of medical equipment, the acceptable vibrations that the equipment can accurately operate under, are becoming more stringent. As such, being able to predict and control constructioninduced vibrations within healthcare facilities is steadily becoming an integral part of the planning, design and construction of these renovation projects. This paper presents an ongoing renovation project for an existing hospital complete with diagnostic imaging equipment and clinical laboratory spaces that must remain operational throughout the construction period. Construction vibration simulations and prediction methods are described, along with a variety of considered vibration mitigation options
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