Recognizing this, the AIA's 2001 Guidelines for Design and Construction of
Hospital and Health Care Facilities paragraph A7.2.A3 states, “Windows are ...
Code Change References The American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2001 Guidelines
Operable Windows BEYOND FIRE SAFETY
for Design and Construction of Hospital and Health Care Facilities, and the National Fire Protection Association
An Architect’s Perspective Registered Architect Gene Wells of Marshall Erdman
Natural Ventilation
& Associates, a leading national health care design and
While operable hospital windows are primarily intended
construction firm, offers the following: “In today's hospital,
for emergency use in the case of fire, there are other
huge efforts are being made to create a healing environment
situations in which patients, nurses or other staff may
for patients and their families. A non-institutional approach
desire natural ventilation. Nasty spills or smells may need
lessens the stress level for people who already
to be quickly “aired out”, a power failure or equipment
have too much stress and leads to better
failure may temporarily disable fans or a breath of fresh
outcomes. Patient's rooms, in particular,
air on a pleasant day may simply be “just what the doctor
are often designed to reflect local
ordered”. Even when windows have access control locking
culture, connect with nature or create
devices, keys are commonly available at the nursing station.
a hotel-like environment. Operable
With recent reports of “sick building” syndrome,
windows can be an integral part of
indoor air quality is certainly a topic of concern for anyone in building management or the construction industry.
this atmosphere.” She adds, “The issue of control is also important. Operable windows can
Daylighting
give patients a small controllable
In other building types, studies have documented the
piece of an environment
salutary effects that natural daylight and ventilation
in which they may feel
have on office worker productivity and wellness, as well
like they have very
as student learning. There is no reason to doubt that a
little control. This can
similar phenomenon would be noted in patient recoveries.
increase patient satisfaction, even if
Recognizing this, the AIA’s 2001 Guidelines for Design
they never actually open the window.”
and Construction of Hospital and Health Care Facilities
PLANNING FOR
ventilation for patient rooms in the case of fire.
Patient Safety
AIA 1996: “Patient rooms or suites in new construction intended for 24–hour occupancy shall have windows or vents that can be opened from the inside to vent noxious fumes and smoke products and to bring in fresh air in emergencies. Operation of such windows shall be restricted to inhibit possible escape or suicide. Where the operation of windows or vents requires the use of tools or keys, these shall be on the same floor and easily accessible to staff. Windows in existing buildings designed with approved engineered smoke control systems may be of fixed construction.”
A Balanced Approach As a standard setting organization, AAMA recognizes that due to the general nature of any code or standard, it is
AIA 2001: “Operable windows are not required in patient rooms. If operable windows are provided in patient rooms or suites, operation of such windows shall be restricted to inhibit possible escape or suicide.”
difficult to prescribe whether operable or fixed windows are the appropriate choice for all hospital applications.
OPERABLE WINDOWS I N H E A LT H C A R E F A C I L I T I E S
However, a balanced assessment of operable windows versus “break out” fixed glazing or mechanical emergency ventilation is in the best interest of the building team,
NFPA 1985: Every patient sleeping room shall have an outside window or outside door arranged and located so that it
owner, staff, occupants, and local protective services, especially in a hospital environment.
can be opened from the inside to permit the venting of products of combustion and to permit any occupant to have direct access to fresh air in the case of emergency. The maximum shall be located on the floor involved…accessible to staff.”
the psychological well-being of many patients, as well
Energy Savings and Environmental Impact In many parts of the U.S., natural ventilation offers a
Cleaning
seasonal opportunity for air-conditioning energy savings
Certain operable windows are designed so that maintenance
if included as part of the HVAC design, balancing and
personnel can clean the outside glass surface from the
operating plan. Recognizing their sustainable design
interior. This ease of maintenance not only improves
benefits, the U.S. Green Building Council LEED™
building appearance and staff safety, but may also represent
Rating System awards points for operable windows
a life cycle cost savings since product maintenance may
in the “Ventilation Effectiveness” and “Controllability
increase service life.
requirements for operating windows to provide emergency
allowable sill height shall not exceed 36 in. (91 cm)… keys
paragraph A7.2.A3 states, “Windows are important for as for meeting fire safety code requirements.”
(NFPA) 2000 Life Safety Code Handbook have eliminated
of Systems” credit categories.
By NFPA 1997, the specific requirement for operable windows had been removed, but the commentary below had not yet been added.
AMERICAN ARCHITECTURAL MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION 1827 Walden Office Square, Suite 550
NFPA 2000: “Paragraphs 18.3.8.1 and 19.3.8 requires an
Schaumburg, IL 60173-4268
outside door or outside window in each room where patients
(847)303-5664
sleep. The window is not required to be operable. A maximum allowable sill height of 36 in. (91 cm) is specified for new health
FAX
(847)303-5774
WWW.AAMANET.ORG
AMERICAN ARCHITECTURAL MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION
care occupancies…. Sill height is limited in new construction
The Source of Performance Standards, Product Certification,
to ensure access to the window should it ever need to be used
and Educational Programs for the Fenestration Industry.SM
for ventilation purposes…”
WWW.AAMANET.ORG
Windows
Smoke Dampers Though often considered the “first line of defense” against
Windows are expected to meet a variety of objectives in building projects – lighting, ventilation, aesthetics, security, building envelope protection, thermal performance, emergency escape and rescue, and more.
To meet these objectives, numerous factors
pay particular attention to special mechanical requirements
always required by code in ducted barrier penetrations in
“In the case of fire, it is the nurse’s
and assess the incremental costs involved in analysis,
hospitals. Some provisions are designed to protect occupants
primary responsibility to calm patients
equipment and installation, as well as the adequacy of
in other areas such as the Florida Administrative Code
and ensure their safety. Whether they are
the smoke exhaust rate in a fire emergency.
(ACHA) Chapter 59A-3 which states, "During a fire
ambulatory or in need of complete bed rest,
alarm, fan systems and fan equipment shall be stopped
it takes time for a nurse to prepare them
every third lite usually adds about 10% to the average
or controlled to prevent the movement of smoke by
to move out of a smoke-filled room.” She
installed cost of a fixed strip window system of comparable
mechanical means from the zone in alarm.” However,
adds, “Instant access to fresh air would
performance and features. This added cost should be
stopping fans also naturally slows the exhaust ventilation
help immeasurably. Either patients or
weighed against the cost of the “engineered smoke control
of the area near the fire.
nurses could be asthmatic, adding to
system,” recognizing that operable windows offer more
the urgency of the situation.”
benefits than just those related to fire safety.
Engineered Smoke Control
Fire Safety Alternatives
healthcare facilities, like hospitals, require
The AAMA “Window Selection Guide” (WSG.1-95) states,
smoke control” systems may be used. As an example, the
some additional attention considering the
“Most deaths occur in fires because of suffocation, not
Massachusetts State Board of Building Regulations and
because of burning.” This fact becomes especially important
Standards 780 CMR 921.2 states, “[Mechanical] provisions
purpose and occupants of the building.
in hospital patient rooms considering that, according to
[can] be made for smoke removal from the space at a rate
Based on this concept, architects should
the NFPA Life Safety Code® Handbook, 2000 edition,
of not less than two changes per hour … moved directly
“Unlike most other buildings and use groups addressed
to the outside without re-circulation to other areas of the
carefully evaluate and accommodate fire
by the Code, the least desirable emergency action in a
building.” The Florida Building Code Section 412.5
safety needs for hospital applications.
health care occupancy is the wholesale relocation and
requires six changes per hour and adds, “…the air handling
evacuation of patients. For this reason, a defend-in-place
equipment [must be] connected to the standby power and
strategy is used … During a fire, the emergency evacuation
light system.” NFPA requires that such smoke control
of patients in health care facilities is an inefficient, time-
systems be fully tested on a periodic basis and designed
consuming process.” This suggests that smoke control
as “fail-safe” in a power outage or equipment failure.
options should be key considerations when designing
Paragraph A7.2.A3 of the AIA’s Guidelines for Design
hospital patient rooms.
and Construction of Hospital and Health Care Facilities,
An operable side-hinged in-swing casement vent at
In some local code jurisdictions, complex “engineered
2001 edition, states, “Windows … are also essential for
Operable Windows
continued use of the area in the event
It is the condition of the patient nearest the fire that
of mechanical ventilation
is most relevant when considering the use of operable
system failure.”
it into previously unaffected areas.
In the absence of operable windows, the designer must Registered Nurse Margaret Zvoda notes,
for any building application; however,
smoke in the immediate area without spreading
Evaluating Costs
the spread of smoke from room-to-room, dampers are not
must be considered when selecting windows
emergency ventilation windows, which may relieve
A Nurse’s Perspective
■ Fully Tempered Safety Glass – This glass is even more
The Practical Side of Glass Breakage or Removal
difficult to break since it is at least four times as strong as annealed glass, although it does shatter into small,
It is assumed that fixed glass could be broken out in case of emergency for ventilation in typical patient rooms. While professional emergency responders, with special tools and training, may meet fewer challenges when attempting this, it is typically a member of the nursing staff who is first on the scene and may have difficulty breaking the glass in commercial windows.
object fails to break tempered glass, a sharp pointed instrument or object is typically effective. ■ Special Glass Types – In some cases, laminated acoustical glass, hurricane impact-resistant glass, psychiatric glass or polycarbonate are required and will present an effectively impenetrable barrier to occupants and staff. In these cases, glass breakage cannot be expected and emergency ventilation must be accommodated another
Glass Breakage Challenges Glass Thickness – To ensure structural integrity, 1/4” (6mm) or thicker glass is typically specified for non-residential applications. Even non-heat-treated annealed
relatively harmless fragments. If the force of a blunt
1/4”
way. Irreversible – In some instances involving differential atmospheric pressure, the introduction of added oxygen
glass is difficult to break unless employing a heavy object
from an open window could actually make a small fire
or other tool with a sharp, tough edge. Panic, confusion,
more difficult to contain. Since operable windows can
integral Venetian blinds, window coverings and reduced
be re-closed, the flow of oxygen exacerbating the fire
visibility in a smoky room all add to the difficulty.
can be stopped.
Broken Glass – Injury hazards may exist when glass is
Glass Removal
broken out of a window. ■ Standard Annealed and Heat Strengthened Glass – These
Architectural framing systems require specialized knowledge and tools to deglaze and, in most cases, cured sealants
types of glass lites break into large fragments which
must be cut. While complete glass removal might appear
may remain in the opening and the sharp edges pose
to be a preferred alternative to glass breakage, it is simply
a serious hazard to people on the inside and outside.
not realistic.
