2018 FGI Guidelines proposal review period extended to Nov. 18
Although the proposal period is now closed, the public can still review proposals to two Facility Guidelines Institute Guidelines: The Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals and Outpatient Facilities and the Guidelines for Design and Construction of Residential Health, Care and Support Facilities until Nov. 18, with the option to add opinions to either strongly support or disagree with what is being proposed based on evidence from the field

FGI says the goal of the public proposal period is to gather information to update and improve any part of the content of the current editions to add to the 2018 editions. FGI formed a cost-benefit committee to review the potential costs and benefits associated with all proposed changes.

The public can add comments using FGI’s electronic proposal system, which is organized into three portals: hospitals; outpatient facilities; and residential health, care and support facilities.

Also this week:

ASHRAE seeks comments on proposed addenda to Standard 170
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers is seeking public comment on four proposed addenda to ASHRAE Standard 170: Ventilation of Health Care Facilities.

CDC posts new tools for outpatient hemodialysis center infection prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has added new tools for infection prevention specialists in hemodialysis facilities. The audit tools and checklists promote CDC-recommended practices.

ICC, ASHRAE publish new code resource for water efficiency
The International Code Council (ICC) and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers have partnered to publish 2015 WEP: Water Efficiency Provisions of the International Green Construction Code (IgCC). The publication covers topics of water conservation and efficiency while complying with various codes. It includes water-related ICC provisions to support jurisdictions facing critical water challenges and drought.

Institute kicks off effort to develop national BIM guideline
The National Institute of Building Sciences is working with the building community to develop the National BIM Guideline to help building owners and their design teams utilize building information modeling (BIM) during the building design, construction and operations process. NIBS is working with the American Institute of Architects, Building Owners and Managers Association International, International Facility Management Association and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers on the new guideline.

Architects Foundation expands National Resilience Initiative
The Architects Foundation, along with the American Institute of Architects and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture is in the second phase of its National Resilience Initiative (NRI), which includes a nationwide search to add three more members to the NRI. The growing network of resilient design studios is geared toward helping local communities become more resilient to natural disasters and climate change.

DHS campaign features cybersecurity events, resources
As part of National Cyber Security Awareness Month, the Department of Homeland Security has released new tools and is hosting events to educate the public and private sectors on how to protect against cybersecurity incidents.