New Guidelines Released for Healthcare Facility Design

CHICAGO—The Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) announced publication of the 2010 edition of the Guidelines for Design and Construction of Health Care Facilities. Updated every four years, the FGI Guidelines currently are used by more than 42 states and several federal agencies to regulate healthcare facility design and construction around the United States.

The 2010 revision cycle has resulted in a revised document with new material and updates to the language of the 2006 edition of the guidelines. Completely new language includes material on preparation of a patient handling and movement assessment (PHAMA) as part of planning for healthcare facility projects; recommendations for the design of bariatric and medical oncology units and cancer treatment facilities; and guidance on acoustic design for healthcare facilities. A detailed white paper describing how to prepare a PHAMA will be available for download from the FGI Web site in January 2010, accompanying the release date of the 2010 edition.

Another significant change to the guidelines is the incorporation of the 2008 edition of ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170: Ventilation of Health Care Facilities as Part 6 of the document. This merger is intended to eliminate any confusion caused by having two national ventilation standards for healthcare.

The 2010 edition is being published in three formats—a bound book, a loose-leaf version for placement in a three-ring binder, and a searchable CD. For a purchase price of $168, the 2010 edition provides owners, clinical users, design professionals, constructors and authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) with professional expertise as well as the full text of ASHRAE Standard 170, white papers on acoustics and on patient handling and movement, draft guidelines for critical access hospitals, and a resource guide on the selection of surfaces and furnishings for healthcare facilities.