Impact of prefabricated modular operating rooms

Eng. Ahmad Jawhar, PE, NSPE, AIA, Director and Senior Consultant, Healthcare Consulting & Planning S.A.L
April 15, 2020

The structural features of the surgical suite can influence not only the efficacy of the treatment provided but also the overall patient and staff experience. Modular operating room construction (MOR) is a concept that aims at improving architectural and engineering design as well as ergonomics of the occupied space.

Various marketed advantages of MORs include increased functionality, sterility and cleanliness, comfort, safety, flexibility, durability and aesthetics. Aspects such as ease of maintenance and renovation and the possibility of making swift modifications and upgrades to existing utilities are also emphasised.

The substructure is the skeleton of the MOR architecture to which the wall and ceiling elements are installed, connected and sealed. The profiled floor rails, vertical supports and ceiling rails form the framework, creating cavities for the passage of utilities (such as electricity, water and gases). It is because of this substructure that no walls or partitions are required for installing MORs. They may be installed in open-plan areas, alleviating the necessity for duplicated construction (reducing cost and space redundancy).

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