Re-engineering NFPA 99
Re-engineering the Standard for Health Care Facilities (NFPA 99)
ASHE is undertaking an unprecedented project of re-engineering NFPA 99.
Why is ASHE Doing This?
The similarity between the NFPA standard Health Care Facilities and the physical plant and support services attributes of healthcare facilities held to this standard are striking. Just as many hospitals today are a combination of multiple buildings cobbled together over decades of additions, this NFPA standard originated as a number of individual standards (pamphlets) that were combined to form a single comprehensive document in the early 1980's. Just as building complexes can be joined together without creating a truly integrated set of buildings or systems, so were these documents combined without truly creating a fully integrated standard. Just as many healthcare organizations have to make the tough decision and consider building a new healthcare facility or undertaking a complete infrastructure renewal to encourage growth within an integrated environment of care, NFPA leadership has given the "green light" for a full review and rebuilding of NFPA 99. This "green field" project will produce an integrated document that is scalable for a large variety of care settings, while being robust enough to address existing conditions, and timely in addressing the emerging risk management needs of each healthcare delivery methodology.
Opportunity
ASHE has accepted this challenge and will be the leader in developing a replacement NFPA 99 which will recognize and encourage cost effective standards supporting appropriate patient care. The expert knowledge, experience, and opinions of ASHE members and its strategic partners are being harnessed to produce a document that effectively addresses and manages risks while bringing efficiencies to the regulatory compliance burden faced by healthcare providers.
Scope
The opportunity for improving this industry standard is now. ASHE has the ability to:
- Remove antiquated and unnecessary compliance and annex language,
- Re-engineer and cross reference the minimum standards up against a growing list of care settings,
- Assist with structuring the document to be user-friendly and of value in its application by our members and enforcing authorities,
- Set standards to effectively design, commission, and operate the healthcare environment,
- Establish chapters for both existing and newly installed systems such as gas & vacuum, electrical (both normal and emergency power), electrical equipment, etc.
- Provide scalable standards to appropriately addressing not only the inpatient settings of acute care (rural, community, and tertiary) and long-term care, but also behavioral health, ambulatory surgery, board & care, rehabilitation, dental, oncology, and home care, and
- Address the emerging trends of healthcare today and into the future.