Planning "intelligent buildings"

Colin Phillips says that cabling, the core of many hospital services, can be planned efficiently to help facilitate many expected technological advances.

How does one create an intelligent building? What is meant by `intelligent building' is a productive, cost-effective and optimised environment in terms of infrastructure, systems and services. The inter-relationship between that infrastructure and management ensure that the building runs at optimised levels.

The defining feature in an intelligent building is its infrastructure, the cabling core that integrates all the building automation functions and electronic hardware and devices within the building. Already extremely popular in the US, applying this infrastructure in a hospital environment could eliminate pitfalls regularly experienced by traditional cabling methods.

TRADITIONAL METHODS

During a traditional installation, the main contractor must liaise with numerous suppliers, ensuring that all of their cabling requirements are met. The diameter and number of cables are taken into account as well as their positioning - to ensure that they are not damaged or affected by interference.

Co-ordination can be complex. Floors must be raised, ceilings removed and each project must be scheduled to avoid destabilising the building or delaying another project. This results in hundreds of actions needing precise sequencing, by numerous suppliers -- a logistical nightmare. Errors or changes can disrupt the entire project, causing costly delays.

In hospitals, the suppliers must also work in a unique environment - staff working in shifts, infection control, alternative bed availability and restricted areas must be juggled with installation schedules. Suppliers must ensure minimal disruption and be careful not to interrupt essential services.

A SINGLE SOLUTION

Unlike traditional methods, cabling for an intelligent building is installed when the building is constructed. This does not mean that the services have to be installed immediately - by using a common interface, they can be connected at any time providing that the infrastructure has been properly designed. Using a single cabling distribution system also means there is only the need for one project team to engineer; install and project manage the entire installation.

One installer with sole responsibility can remove the need for complex scheduling and co-ordination, improving efficiency of the overall project and reducing cost. Consolidating the cabling means a single cabling infrastructure provides the point of contact for all services, saving on cost and maintenance. The installer can budget to include all the required services in advance, and ensure that all existing and future cabling requirements are met.

PLANNING AN INTELLIGENT HOSPITAL

The heart of an intelligent hospital is the central cabling system. This enables all the services to be integrated and controlled from a central location or Building Automation System (BAS). A BAS is designed to ensure uniformity throughout the building and a reduction in maintenance and running costs.

An example is Trend's PC based building management system (BMS), which is designed to deliver a level of accuracy and reliability crucial to a hospital environment. Featuring full reporting, control and monitoring, it can also personalise views and functions for each individual user. Using BMS, sensors can be placed to detect areas that are vacant, adjusting lighting and heating accordingly.

Centralised services can include all low voltage facilities required in the hospital, for example air conditioning, ventilation, comfort cooling, voice and data, electricals, fire detection and security systems such as access control and surveillance. BAS technology can also be used to monitor emergency generators, lifts, medical gases, blood banks and other services essential to a working hospital.

Selection of a suitable communications systems installer is critical. The installer should have the expertise to offer advice, and design the best solution for that particular building, given its likely uses and lifecycle. Standards such as ISO9000, Investors in People and the new Constructionline accreditation are excellent indicators of quality standards.

THE FUTURE

The pace of technology has already had a huge impact on the medical community. For instance, until recently data networks in hospitals have been restricted to administration (bed management, admissions, pathology etc). Now data networks can cover the entire hospital, down to data presentation on every bedhead. An example is Patientline, the new entertainment system many hospitals are currently installing, which allows individual patients access to telephone, digital TV and email (see article, p25).

These extra services demand a more comprehensive communications network. With proper planning and intelligent buildings, medical staff will soon be able to access data at the bedhead, downloading charts and accessing information on laptops. The internet will allow doctors to diagnose and treat patients thousands of miles away, and new cures and treatments will be transmitted directly to the correct patient record in real time.

Intelligent buildings will be able to offer the infrastructure to meet the future needs, offering a full range of facilities and providing cost and administrative savings, as well as flexibility. Systems and applications may change and expand many times, but with an intelligent building, the infrastructure should last a lifetime.

Colin Phillips is managing director at Intercept Telecom.

Copyright Wilmington Publishing Ltd. Jul 2001
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