NONSTRUCTURAL SAFETY OF HOSPITALS FOR DISASTER: A CASE STUDY OF PHI ’’GENERAL HOSPITAL’’ STRUMICA
Nadica ANGOVA KOLEVSKA
Abstract
Hospital complexes or buildings are specialized and complex facilities primarily designed to provide healthcare services. They are expected to function as safe and operational environments before, during, and after seismic events or other disasters, ensuring the continuity of medical care and emergency response. Hospital safety implies the highest possible level of protection for all healthcare facilities, regardless of the level of complexity of the functions they perform. However, the complexity of hospital facilities, the utilization of their capacities, the specific equipment they possess, and the built-in installations can significantly compromise hospital safety. These factors increase hospitals' vulnerability across multiple dimensions: the structural system; the non-structural system—including architectural elements, infrastructural protection and accessibility, critical systems, installations, equipment, and reserves and administrative aspects such as spatial organization of space, functions they perform, personnel, etc.
This study analyzes the second component contributing to the vulnerability of the hospital complex—the non-structural safety of the PHI “General Hospital” Strumica, with a focus on the 'Main Building' as the central facility based on the Hospital Safety Index as the chosen measurement tool. This building is the largest in terms of surface area and accommodates the majority of the hospital's functions. As part of the analysis process, an assessment of the non-structural elements—including architectural components, infrastructural protection and accessibility, critical systems, installations, equipment, and reserves—was conducted and presented, specifically for the Main Building.
Considering the fact that damage to non-structural elements in a hospital complex or facility can significantly increase the risk of loss of human life, destruction of equipment and property, and functional disruptions to the facility as a whole, it is essential to carry out an evaluation and assessment of the current condition of these elements. The primary goal of this assessment is the development of medium and long-term national policies and regulations that will ensure hospital safety in the event of disasters.
Pages: 193 - 202