Richard H. Hutchings Psychiatric Center

Photo courtesy of AMBICO

Manufacturers are actively innovating to meet enhanced standards and requirements for healthcare facilities This anti-barricade security wood door and steel frame assembly was developed for the Richard H. Hutchings Psychiatric Center in Syracuse, N.Y., and was thoroughly tested and approved for use by the New York State Office of Mental Health.

Balancing the need for strength and security along with patient comfort is an essential goal of behavioral health facility managers and their building design teams. The desire to develop a wood door robust enough to satisfy the physical abuse requirements of behavioral health patients has been an exhausting challenge. The designers of behavioral health facilities have long searched for wood door solutions for high-risk areas such as patient rooms. Traditional solid core wood door solutions have not proven robust enough for these types of openings and traditional steel doors fail to contribute to the warm, nurturing atmosphere called for in this context.

A newly developed wood security door utilizes a proprietary structural steel core to ensure the necessary strength provisions. The anti-barricade security wood door and steel frame assembly was thoroughly tested and approved for use by the New York State Office of Mental Health and included in their Patient Safety Standards, Materials and Systems Guidelines document.

The doors were used in a test project at the Richard H. Hutchings Psychiatric Center in Syracuse, N.Y. The Center was being renovated on one floor. This floor was an area that was designated for particularly agitated patients. The doors selected had to withstand years of abuse.

In addition to the structural steel core door panel, steel door frames were uniquely developed with the option to utilize a swing clear stop, allowing the door to swing in either direction for anti-barricade safety and security. The door manufacturer furnished assemblies with a super heavy-duty double acting continuous hinge. Assemblies had the flexibility to be furnished with any available veneer species and could also be custom factory stained, clear coat, or prime painted for custom paint finish.

Specialty Concerns: Hygiene and Radio Frequency

Door assemblies in the healthcare environment often need to satisfy multiple criteria, including fire ratings, acoustic requirements, ADA regulations, and safety measures. In addition, hospital and medical doors have other unique challenges.

In an environment directly concerned with cleanliness, doors are a high-touch area, so hygiene parameters become crucial. Stainless steel doors, beyond durability and service life, offer superior cleanliness for use in healthcare facilities. Stainless steel washes easily and is corrosion resistant and compatible with a variety of cleaning chemicals. Additionally, stainless steel is naturally antimicrobial, making it easy to sanitize. Stainless steel assemblies prove an excellent choice for use in ICU and operating room environments.

Sanitary bases may be added to a door assembly. A sanitary base modifies the doorframe by eliminating extra corners at the frame sills, making it easier to clean and mop at the frame sills. Stainless steel products can be custom designed and produced in a range of alloys including #304 and #316.

Healthcare buildings also have a distinctive need for lead-lined and radio frequency-rated doors and frames. IEEE 299 is the standard method for measuring the effectiveness of electromagnetic shielding enclosures. The shielding effectiveness testing occurs at frequencies from 9 kHz to 18 GHz (extendable to 50 Hz and 100 GHz, respectively) for enclosures having all dimensions greater than or equal to 2.0 m.¹² The purpose of this standard is to provide the following: a) A standard procedure for the measurement of the effectiveness of shielded enclosures, in a broad range of radio frequencies (RFs), including a minimum set of recommended frequencies; b) Identical procedures applicable to frequencies other than the standard set; c) An optional measurement technique to detect the nonlinear behavior of high-permeability ferromagnetic enclosures.¹³

Under IEEE 299, conventional X-ray rooms, PET scan theatres, or modern CyberKnife clinics face a demanding requirement to contain radiation within those treatment areas, as well as protect against interference from radio waves, which can be generated by cell towers, radio stations, and even computers. Protection from radio frequency is particularly important in rooms housing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines. Protective shielding is required in any room where radiation is used. This shielding must be designed by a qualified expert and requirements may affect both the location of the radiation facilities and the type of building construction. Shielding must also comply with National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) Report No. 147. Requirements are based on energy, workload, orientation, distance, occupancy, material, and code and health requirements. These factors influence the predetermined thickness of lead in walls, doors, windows, and other components.

Door assemblies for areas requiring shielding are available, with lead lining measuring from 1/32” in thickness to over 1” lead thickness. A commonly specified amount is 1/16” lead lining, which equates to 4 pounds of lead per square foot. Manufacturers can provide lead-lined door assemblies that combine protection against radiation with the appearance of standard door and frame products, providing a matching aesthetic.

Radio frequency (RF) and electromagnetic interference (EMI) door and frame assemblies provide operational certainty when combined with complementary constructed rooms. RF shielding doors are measured in decibels and over a range of frequencies. Performance can be specified for a specific band of frequency or to attenuate across a spectrum. Frequently RF assemblies have acoustic as well as RF shielding ratings. Seals on RF assemblies are critical; these must be supplied as dictated by performance requirements, as the seal aids in conducting electromagnetic energy.

Photo courtesy of AMBICO

Stainless steel doors offer superior cleanliness for high-touch areas.

Photo courtesy of AMBICO

Special door assemblies provide radiation protection for medical imaging.

PARTNERING FOR SUCCESS

The colors, materials, textures, and qualification levels of specialized healthcare products offer designers and facility staff limitless options to enhance the aesthetics of a facility’s interior while delivering much-needed protection and well-being. Thanks to innovations in technology, designers no longer have to compromise their vision or sacrifice durability for aesthetics.