ASHRAE, ASHE release ventilation guideline

ASHRAE, ASHE release ventilation guideline

ASHRAE and the American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE) last month released the ASHRAE/ASHE Guideline 43, Operations Guideline for Ventilation of Health Care Facilities. The guideline serves as an advisory on how to properly operate and maintain ventilation systems within health care facilities and acts in collaboration with the design standard American National Standards Institute/ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170, Ventilation of Health Care Facilities. The guideline covers the implementation of a ventilation management program and provides guidance on legacy systems, condition indicators, excursion variations and program improvement opportunities.

ASHE leader appointed to battery safety committee

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Board has announced that Chad Beebe, AIA, CHFM, CFPS, CBO, FASHE, deputy executive director of the American Society for Health Care Engineering, has been selected as a member of the technical committee for NFPA 800, Battery Safety Code. NFPA 800 is a proposed new standard that would provide uniform, minimum requirements that address battery hazards across all stages of a battery’s life cycle and in the context of various common applications.

ASPR shares violence prevention recommendations

The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response released a bulletin on workplace violence in health care that includes recommendations for strengthening security protocols, enhancing emergency preparedness, supporting workforce mental health and promoting information sharing. The bulletin also shares relevant resources on active shooter responses, mass violence and behavioral health for disaster victims. The bulletin cites Occupational Safety and Health Administration data estimating that nearly 75% of about 25,000 workplace assaults reported annually happen in health care settings.

IAHSS releases fourth edition guidelines

The International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS) released the fourth edition of the IAHSS Security Design Guidelines for Healthcare Facilities. The guidelines provide comprehensive and up-to-date best practices for designing appropriate security measures into new health care construction and renovation projects. Developed by leading health care security experts and design professionals, this new edition reflects significant updates to the third edition, new guidelines for outpatient facilities and design principles that can help mitigate violence in health care, such as weapons screening. This publication is intended to guide health care security practitioners, design teams and building owner representatives involved in the design process.