How does natural disasters affect building function in hospitals?5 answersNatural disasters pose significant challenges to hospital buildings' functionality. Hospitals must withstand various hazards like earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods to remain operational during emergencies. The impact of disasters on hospitals can lead to structural and non-structural damages, affecting the loss of function degree in health facilities. Hospital disaster managers face challenges in ensuring hospitals remain safe and operational during and after disasters, emphasizing the need for disaster preparedness and effective management systems. A novel model integrating Bayesian Networks and Building Information Modeling helps decision-makers analyze the effects of disasters on hospital utility systems, enhancing spatial understanding and expediting response to critical situations. Hospitals must be prepared to operate at different levels during disasters, balancing routine duties with sudden increases in demand for medical services.
How does natural disasters affect building aesthetics in hospitals?5 answersNatural disasters can significantly impact building aesthetics in hospitals. Disasters like earthquakes can cause structural and non-structural damage to hospital buildings. This damage includes disruptions to the building's support systems, such as frames and walls, as well as non-structural elements like pipes, windows, and chimneys. Hospitals are crucial components of disaster response, but they are also vulnerable to infrastructure damage that disrupts patient care. Ensuring hospital safety from disasters is a global challenge, with the health sector being particularly vulnerable to damages. The importance of disaster management for hospitals lies in mitigating risks and ensuring the continuity of health services during and after disaster events. Therefore, implementing appropriate mitigation methods and disaster plans is essential to safeguard hospital aesthetics and functionality in the face of natural disasters.
How effective are Indonesia's hospital building codes and standards in mitigating earthquake damage?5 answersIndonesia has made significant efforts to enhance the resilience of its infrastructure, including hospitals, against earthquakes. The country has developed Seismic Design National Standards and continuously updates seismic hazard analyses to improve building codes and standards. However, studies highlight vulnerabilities in hospital buildings, particularly non-structural components like ceilings, which are prone to damage during earthquakes. While Indonesia's earthquake management policies have been systematically formulated and implemented effectively, there is room for improvement in areas such as information access, infrastructure development, and coordination between central and regional governments. Assessments of existing structures show that compliance with the latest standards can ensure safety, with considerations for material condition, structural system evaluation, and performance against earthquake loads.
How can the design of earthquake resistant buildings be improved?4 answersThe design of earthquake resistant buildings can be improved by considering the specific structural systems and materials that are introduced in the construction profession. It is important to understand the details of the seismic behavior of these systems in order to improve their performance. Traditional seismic protection methods involve increasing the load-bearing capacity of the main structures, while special measures focus on reducing loads through modifications of the dynamic work schemes. Additionally, the use of new technologies such as dry friction dampers and the optimization of their locations within the building can enhance the resistance to seismic and dynamic impacts. It is also crucial to take into account the irregularities defined in building codes and use image processing methods to evaluate the conformity of structural system decisions to these codes at the early stages of the design process.
What are the weak points of buildings under earthquake?4 answersThe weak points of buildings under earthquake include discontinuity in mass, stiffness, and geometry of the structure. Irregular structures, which have these discontinuities, are more prone to failure during earthquakes. Vertical irregularities, such as variations in mass and stiffness along the height of the building, are major reasons for structural failures. Weak-storey irregularity is another weak point, where the upper floors are more rigid than the base floors, leading to differential seismic behavior. The main weak point in traditional historic buildings is the connection of materials and construction, particularly in buildings made of mud. These weak points need to be evaluated and reinforced to prevent damage during earthquakes.
What item of retrofitting can be use in heritage building?3 answersEnergy-efficient retrofitting measures that can be used in heritage buildings include draught-proofing, windows, insulation, ventilation, heating, solar photovoltaics, and phase change materials. The use of renewable energy sources, such as air-to-water heat pumps, is also feasible for retrofitting heritage buildings while preserving their historic values. Replacing windows can be a challenge for heritage buildings, but options such as secondary glazing or internal shutters are more acceptable to residents. In terms of preserving and enhancing historical and architectural heritage, a new composite material consisting of natural hydraulic lime-based mortar strengthened by Sisal short fibers has shown promise for retrofitting interventions. When retrofitting modern heritage buildings, it is important to assess the potential for condensation problems and the hygrothermal performance of the envelope, particularly when adjusting envelope construction and HVAC systems.