Blending fire safety, functionality and well-being, in modern healthcare design

Within our healthcare buildings, you will find a variety of spaces – from waiting rooms and patient recovery areas to operating theatres and MRI rooms. With each space serving a specific function, you can expect to see a range of differing requirements and expectations for the building materials and finishes installed in these settings.

Balancing function, design and safety

As well as meeting the required level of performance and functionality, there has also been a renewed emphasis on design, following research into the positive impact design can have on both patient well-being and shaping patient experiences. This can vary from improved wayfinding, helping to reduce stress and minimise confusion when navigating a hospital interior; the use of colour to impact on how we perceive a space; to the careful specification of materials to create a more welcoming and comforting environment, compared to one what is intimidating or overly clinical. Even the type of lighting used can make a difference, contributing to a more positive experience for patients and visitors alike.

With this in mind, it’s clear to see why glass has risen in popularity as a building material within the healthcare space. As well as opening up spaces and offering a more contemporary look and feel, glass can help to bring in natural daylight and provide visual access to outdoor spaces or gardens for patients and visitors to enjoy.

Of course, in addition to function and design, safety is a critical consideration – particularly fire safety. Healthcare buildings can present unique challenges from a fire safety perspective; not least due to the size, scale and complexity of the buildings, with numerous corridors, wings and departments, but also the logistics of safely evacuating sick patients in the event of a blaze.

This is where fire safety glass comes in, commonly installed within multiple applications in these settings.

Compartmentation

Compartmentation is a key part of any passive fire protection strategy, whereby a building is split into a series of fire safe ‘compartments’.

Understandably, the unique challenges of evacuating sick and vulnerable people in the event of a fire make it even more essential that safe escape routes for the able, safe entry routes for the emergency services and protected compartments for those too ill to evacuate, all form a fundamental part of the design. This can be achieved through the careful specification of varying fire safety glass classifications, ranging from E (which protects against flames and smoke) to EI (which offers the highest level of protection, including heat insulation). In situations where creating fire safe compartments are required to support a hospital’s ‘stay put’ policy, EI fire safety glass is the perfect solution.

Fire doors are common means of creating these fire-rated compartments. While wired safety glass has historically been the go-to product for these specifications, advancements in the cuttable glass market mean that there are now more modern and clear solutions available, such as Pyroguard Advance, that provide enhanced aesthetics and performance.

Of course, it isn’t just doors that facilitate compartmentation but other surfaces and building features too, including walls, partitions, atriums and windows. This is where the multi-functionality of laminated fire safety glass and the technical specialism of industry experts really comes into play.

That said, fire safety glass is not a one size fits all solution. With the right technical advice, fire safety glass can offer enhanced performance and multi-functionality beyond its basic fire protection capabilities.

Impact resistance

As hospitals transition away from the dimly lit corridors and outdated waiting areas of the past, glass is increasingly used to create brighter, open spaces that are easier to clean and maintain. Within modern healthcare facilities, you will often see central atriums or glass partitions replacing the traditional brick walls.

However, in such specifications, fire safety glass must not only provide essential fire protection but also be capable of withstanding everyday impacts, such as people leaning against it or accidental falls. Specifying toughened glass with 1B1 impact resistance, in accordance with BS EN 12600, can help to ensure the safety of staff, visitors, and patients alike.

Acoustics

While glass offers numerous aesthetic advantages, replacing solid walls with glass partitions can present other challenges, particularly concerning acoustic performance.

Acoustics play a critical role in healthcare environments, with research showing a clear link between excessive noise and increased patient stress, sleep disruption, and extended recovery times. For example, acoustical engineers at Johns Hopkins University discovered that hospital noise levels have escalated significantly since the 1960s, with average daytime sound levels rising from 57 to 72 dB and nighttime levels increasing from 42 to 60 dB.[1] All of these exceed the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended 35 dB upper limit for patient rooms.

In such cases, toughened laminated fire safety glass can not only provide fire protection but also improve sound insulation. This type of glass can be carefully engineered so as to reduce sound transmission, enhancing acoustic performance. Any visit to a healthcare setting, whether as a patient or visitor, can be a stressful time, meaning noise reduction should be a fundamental consideration in the design process.

Patient privacy

Another challenge presented by the switch to glass can be privacy. While glass does create light and open spaces, this can simultaneously lead to a compromise on patient privacy levels. While the installation of traditional blinds may, on the surface, appear an obvious solution, this does raise concerns around practicality and hygiene in sterile or clean environments.

Just as fire safety glass can be engineered to deliver acoustic properties, so too can a system be specified that offers levels of privacy built in, ensuring patient confidentiality – especially in more sensitive areas. For example, it is possible for blinds to be integrated within the glazing system itself, or for the glass to have a special finish, such as screen printed, obscure or mirrored.

Switchable glass takes this option even further, with the ability to switch between a clear or opaque appearance at the click of a button, depending on what is required at that specific moment.

Smoke control

In the case of a fire, the threat posed by toxic smoke is often underestimated compared to the fire itself. However, the smoke can often be more deadly, not only causing breathing difficulties but also significantly reducing visibility, affecting people’s ability to evacuate a building safely. In fact, most fatalities in fire incidents occur due to smoke inhalation, rather than physical burns.

To mitigate this risk, smoke control solutions play a crucial role in a building’s passive fire protection strategy. These systems work to form a reservoir or channel to either contain or divert the hot smoke, buying time for the occupants to safely evacuate.

Among the various types of smoke control solutions, glazed smoke control systems are gaining popularity, especially when compared to the alternative permanent heavy material sheets or mechanical smoke curtains. Manufactured from toughened glass, glass smoke control systems are suspended from the ceiling and offer a high performance yet aesthetically pleasing solution.

Demand more from your fire safety glass

It’s clear that healthcare buildings can present unique challenges when it comes to selecting building materials, as they must meet the rigorous demands for safety, hygiene and comfort. Fire safety glass is particularly essential in this context, not only serving its primary role in protecting against fire but also offering a range of multi-functional benefits that are equally important in healthcare environments.

Beyond fire safety, glass systems can be designed to enhance patient comfort and contribute to improved well-being, providing natural light, soundproofing and a more welcoming, contemporary interior, as well as facilitating effective supervision and patient monitoring.

Pushing these capabilities even further, for the more specialist medical spaces – such as operating theatres or MRI rooms – there are also developments of bespoke, high-performance specialist fire safety glass solutions to meet the specific criteria required. These can include additional features such as radiation shielding for MRI rooms or enhanced impact resistance for higher risk areas.

With the correct technical expertise and specification advice, modern fire safety glass can offer a holistic approach to meeting the diverse needs of healthcare buildings, blending fire protection with patient care, safety and privacy in one solution.

At Pyroguard, we have been manufacturing and supplying fire safety glass for over 35 years, with the widest range of solutions on the market and a comprehensive bank of robust test evidence. This rich heritage, combined with our industry knowledge and specialist technical expertise allows architects and specifiers to create safe, functional and aesthetically beautiful spaces.

For more information, please visit: www.pyroguard.eu.

[1] https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/11/051121101949.htm