How Zero•Net™ Products Are a Good Fit for Healthcare Facilities
Healthcare facilities such as hospitals have unique requirements that demand careful consideration. One of the most critical aspects is ensuring that the occupants, especially patients, are comfortable. Given that many patients in hospitals are recovering from illnesses or injuries, it is crucial to provide a comfortable and safe environment that promotes healing and recovery. One factor that can significantly affect patient recovery is the quality of indoor air. Poor air quality can hinder healing and worsen the condition of the patient. As such, maintaining healthy indoor air quality is crucial. FreMarq’s Zero•Net™ products are an innovative solution that can address these challenges.
These products use advanced technology to promote occupant comfort, reduce carbon emissions, and save energy. By doing so, they help hospitals maintain a healthy and safe environment that can aid in patient recovery. Moreover, they promote energy efficiency, which can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the facility, benefiting both the environment and the hospital’s bottom line.
Controlling Condensation
Hospitals face a major issue with condensation which can cause the transmission of infections from one surface to another. On the other hand, extremely low humidity levels in the air can make viruses like influenza and COVID-19 more survivable. Therefore, hospitals need to find a way to balance these factors to provide the safest possible environment for patients, staff, and visitors. One solution is to place radiant heat panels above window openings, but this requires a significant amount of energy. For instance, a healthcare facility in Pennsylvania faced a similar issue with condensation. However, this issue was resolved using the FreMarq Zero-Net envelope products.
A proper thermally insulated envelope helps protect patients from infection and allows hospitals to safely run humidifiers in patient rooms to reduce the transmission of airborne disease.
High Thermal Performance
It is essential to maintain stable temperatures for the comfort of occupants, aside from the specific issue at hand. Hospitals require different indoor temperature ranges for various areas. For instance, operating rooms are best kept between 68° to 78°F. In areas where high temperatures are necessary for patients’ comfort, such as delivery rooms, it is crucial to maintain a good thermal envelope. Loss of heat from the building can lead to high utility bills, which increases the costs and affects the facility’s carbon footprint.
Our FortMax™ thermal barrier isolates the most inefficient parts of the window system, holding heat in (or out in the case of extremely hot weather). This reduces the cost of keeping the hospital at the slightly higher temperatures needed for patient comfort.
Safer Air Quality
Poor air quality in hospital buildings is a constant, and complex, problem. Some areas, like the OR, have very strict ventilation requirements. Indoor air pollutants negatively impact health and poor ventilation also encourages the spread of healthcare-acquired infections, which can range from COVID to norovirus to bacterial infections.
FreMarq products can help in two ways. First of all, if there are issues with outdoor pollution, a good curtain wall can help keep it out. Second, our Zero•Net™ zero-sightline vents allow the appropriate intake of external air to help clean out pollutants and contaminants that originate inside the facility without the need to open windows. Combined with a properly designed ventilation system, this allows facilities to control the mix of indoor and outdoor air to protect patients.
We can work with you and your architect to develop the perfect system for your project.
Zero•Net™ Products Are the Best Option for a Happy and Safe Environment in Healthcare Facilities
FreMarq’s Zero•Net™ products are an excellent solution for healthcare facilities, especially hospitals. They help hospitals maintain healthy indoor air quality, promote occupant comfort, save energy, and reduce carbon emissions. By doing so, they can provide a safe and comfortable environment for patients and staff, which is essential for everyone’s overall health and well-being. These products also offer maximum thermal efficiency, which improves occupant comfort by helping maintain a steady temperature, particularly important in healthcare. Additionally, they save healthcare facilities money, which can be spent on more important things like new equipment or doctors’ salaries.
If your healthcare facility has high heating and cooling bills or issues with patient comfort, it might be time to renovate your building envelope. Contact FreMarq Innovations to discuss how we can help you.