530
Cost Base: Description of Hospitals Studied
532.4.6
Washington, D.C., VA Hospital
Probably because of the height restrictions in Washington, D.C., the
planning of this hospital results in very large floors which must contain
many activities other than, those directly connected with the treatment of
inpatients. A typical floor consists of four T-shaped ward areas stemming
from a central core, which contains social and clinical areas not
necessarily related exclusively to inpatient care.
532.4.7
Martinez, California, VA Hospital
The Martinez field station is the oldest of the projects reviewed and was
planned and constructed before the current policies for air-conditioning
were developed. It is a conglomeration of cooled and non-cooled areas
on each floor and also has clinical and outpatient facilities located on the
ward floors. A typical floor contains 160 beds in peripheral rooms, some
of which were permitted to have cooling as well as heating, others of
which were not. The original design provided for future cooling of all areas
by adding to the central chilling plant. Since its original occupancy, only
limited areas have been authorized for cooling, not enough at any one
time to take advantage of the provision for the new, larger chiller. The
original design attempted to accommodate the interim period between
partial and complete air-conditioning by providing a fresh-air duct in
however, were initially provided with controls, which would accommodate
future chilled water in all cases. The result is that the overall system, only
partially cooled, is among the more costly installations.
532.5
PLUMBING DISTRIBUTION
The plumbing distribution subsystems in both the Memphis and Miami
hospitals have the following characteristics, with exceptions noted:
1. Central drinking chilled water, vacuum, nitrous oxide and oxygen with
extensive distribution systems.
2. Soiled and waste, vertical drains down to basement and horizontal
collection mains by gravity to sewer. The deep therapy area at Miami
is pumped.
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