1998 iifhe.pdf (1.45 MB)
Designing for short life: the emerging need for packaged reusable building services components in the UK healthcare sector
conference contribution
posted on 2012-04-17, 12:42 authored by Roy S. Webb, John R. Kelly, Derek ThomsonDerek ThomsonCurrent and emerging influences in the general business environment often necessitate that
businesses develop dynamic working methods by focusing on their short term function. Such
function requires the support of flexible building spaces that can readily accommodate changes
in the use of their internal spaces.
Changing the use of space is often accompanied by changes in services requirements. If
services installations are to be operated in an efficient, environmentally-friendly manner
throughout building life, they must become adaptable at the time of space use change to readily
satisfy revised performance requirements. The high cost of adapting services installations using
current practices limits the flexibility of serviced usable spaces. The rising extent and complexity
of services installations in all types of building further impedes the provision of the flexible
buildings increasingly demanded by clients.
This paper identifies the need for a new approach to the servicing of buildings. Packaged
reusable building services components are proposed as a method of increasing services
installation adaptability by reducing the cost of frequent alteration. Other industries are reviewed
to identify aspects of existing reuse practices that may be transferred to construction to
implement the reuse of building services components.
Healthcare providers are exposed to influences necessitating their development of dynamic
function. As healthcare providers also utilise buildings that are extensively serviced to stringent
requirements, this sector is ideally suited for adoption of reusable services components.
Successful utilisation in this sector will establish the premise for industry-wide adoption of
reusable components.
The paper concludes that the reuse of components or products may be viable, but further work is
required to address the technical feasibility and economic viability of the proposal. It is perceived
that component reuse will be a viable tool for use by healthcare sector building operators to
better satisfy user demands for flexible building space which is likely to increase in the next
millennium.
History
School
- Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering
Citation
WEBB, R.S., KELLY, J.R. and THOMSON, D.S., 1998. Designing for short life: the emerging need for packaged reusable building services components in the UK healthcare sector. IN: Healthcare Engineering into the Next Millennium: Proceedings of the 15th International Congress of the International Federation of Hospital Engineering, 15th-19th June 1998, Edinburgh.Publisher
NHS EstatesVersion
- AM (Accepted Manuscript)
Publication date
1998Notes
This is a conference paper.Language
- en