Health facility seismic vulnerability evaluation

Overview

The hospital is a highly complex facility that, while providing health care, also functions as a hotel (inpatients), an office building (medical staff and administration), a laboratory and a warehouse. It has a high level of occupancy (patients, medical and support staff, visitors) and a lot of expensive medical equipment.

The very nature and purpose of a hospital demands that it remain fully operational in the aftermath of a severe earthquake. Although hospitals are essential for dealing with disasters, their complexity, occupancy level and specific equipment and installations also make them very vulnerable in various aspects: structural (load bearing system), nonstructural (architectural elements, installation and equipment) and administrative (organization of space, functions, staff, procedures, etc.).

In areas prone to seismic activity, both existing and planned health facilities must comply with seismic design codes. These are intended to ensure the safety of the buildings’ occupants and to allow facilities to continue functioning during and after the earthquake.