Healthcare buildings have especially critical and changing needs.
The construction of hospitals and the production of objects for clinical use are very complex, not only because of the importance of health for people, but also because they must ensure safety, resistance and good hygiene.
Healthcare buildings have especially critical and changing needs, as demonstrated by the recent COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced the construction and retrofitting of hospital areas in a cost-effective, fast, and reliable manner.
These are six benefits of using steel in hospital facilities:
- Noise and Vibration Control
It is important that clinics and hospitals provide noise and vibration control to ensure not only the well-being of personnel and patients but also to guarantee the stability and correct operation of medical equipment and instruments, even in hazardous situations such as an earthquake, in which steel has proven to be a key factor for the safety of buildings.
- Practicality
The use of prefabricated components significantly reduces the cost and construction time compared to the use of concrete, even when using removable structures as mobile hospitals.
- Quality and Efficiency
The controlled production of steel parts in factories can offer greater reliability and less dependence on local suppliers than other types of construction, which results in significant savings.
- Greater Space and Lightning
The available space increases, since steel constructions require less foundation area. They can also be more illuminated when combined with glass windows.
- Easy Maintenance and Cleaning
Painted steel surfaces can be kept free of dirt, dust, and any other type of contamination more easily and effectively than other materials. Filled steel walls can also be installed to provide good thermal insulation, ideal for areas with extreme climates.
- Durability and Resistance
Finally, the main benefit of steel is that it doesn't rot or weaken over time, which offers a better quality to spaces intended for the care of people with greater durability and better resistance to deterioration and accidents.
Ternium Community Hospital
Ternium Steel in solidarity with Mexicans
One example of the importance of steel in responding to health emergencies is the record-time installation of a community hospital at the Nova Clinic in Monterrey, made with Ternium products.
Galvanized profiles were used in its construction to create solid, light, and simple structures, as well as RHS profiles and poles, sheet metal roofs, and drywall false walls, fastened to galvanized steel profiles.
Moreover, 10 out of its 110 beds are equipped with respirators and are destined for the Intensive Care Unit to attend severe cases of COVID-19. All beds are distributed in a 1,340 m² area that was previously used as a gym and a cafeteria.
This is how Ternium keeps its commitment to make health, culture and education more accessible to the community, always making sure the operations are under strict safety protocols to help maintain the good health of its personnel and patients.