Site selection
The site for a healthcare facility must be dry, elevated, and well-insolated. It is important to consider the wind rose: the hospital should be located on the windward side relative to industrial facilities and sources of atmospheric pollution.
Building hospitals on the site of former landfills, cattle burial grounds, cemeteries, sewage irrigation fields, and areas with radiation or chemical contamination is strictly prohibited. The groundwater level must be at least 1.5 m for low-rise buildings and at least 2.0 m for multi-story buildings.
The optimal site shape is rectangular (with an aspect ratio of 1:2 or 1:3), and the relief should have gentle slopes facing south for natural water runoff.
Hospital site zoning
The territory of a healthcare facility is divided into functional zones to prevent the crossing of clean and contaminated flows. It includes the following main zones:
- Inpatient building zone (infectious disease, pediatric, maternity, and other wards).
- Outpatient clinic zone.
- Park and recreation zone.
- Service and utility zone (laundry, garages, boiler room, waste collection areas).
- Pathology department zone (morgue, ritual area).
The hospital grounds must not accommodate residential or third-party facilities that are not functionally related to the treatment process.
Landscaping requirements
Vegetation on the territory of a healthcare facility serves aesthetic, windbreak, noise-absorbing, and even bactericidal (due to phytoncides) functions.
- Area: at least 60% of the territory.
- Park and recreation zone: calculated based on the standard of 25 m² per bed.
- Protective belt: if the hospital is located within a residential area, a green belt with a width of at least 15 m (two rows of tall trees and shrubs) is planted along the perimeter.
- Distances: so as not to obstruct the natural lighting of the buildings, trees with broad crowns must be planted no closer than 10 m from walls, and shrubs no closer than 5 m.
Sanitary maintenance and waste
Daily cleaning of the territory is mandatory. Municipal waste is collected in tightly sealed containers placed on asphalt or concrete pads located at least 25 m away from inpatient buildings. Containers are regularly washed and disinfected.
Specific hospital waste (pathological and anatomical specimens, postoperative tissues) is disposed of by incineration in special furnaces located in the service and utility zone.
Placement of special facilities
The pathology department (morgue) and ritual area require maximum isolation.
They must not be visible from the windows of patient wards or neighboring residential buildings. Separate entrances that do not intersect with patient routes must be provided for the morgue and the service yard.
Briefly: answers to topical questions
What are the main hospital building systems?
Three main systems are distinguished for the construction of healthcare facilities. The decentralized or pavilion system involves placing hospital departments in standalone low-rise buildings. The centralized system consolidates the main departments into a single multi-story building or several interconnected buildings. The mixed system combines a main multi-story building with separate low-rise buildings, housing somatic and diagnostic departments in the main building, while placing infectious disease, maternity, pediatric, radiological, and pathological departments, service units, and the outpatient clinic in separate buildings.
What are the hygienic requirements for the orientation of hospital ward windows relative to cardinal directions?
The optimal orientation of hospital ward windows relative to cardinal directions depends on the geographical latitude of the area. In southern latitudes, southern and northern orientations are recommended. In middle latitudes, southern, southeastern, and eastern orientations are optimal. In northern latitudes, ward windows should face south, southeast, and southwest.
Class and exam questions
What should the distance be between hospital buildings?
The gap between buildings must equal 2.5 times the height of the tallest opposing building, but in any case, at least 24 meters. This is necessary for proper insolation and ventilation.
Why is a protective green belt needed around a healthcare facility?
It protects the hospital grounds from noise, dust, and wind coming from the urban development area. The width of such a belt must be at least 15 meters.
Where should a hospital be located relative to industrial enterprises?
The hospital must be located on the windward side according to the wind rose so that industrial emissions are not blown toward the inpatient facility. Compliance with the sanitary protection zone is also mandatory.
What else to study on this topic
- Therapeutic and protective regimen in the inpatient setting
- Occupational hazards of medical staff
- Requirements for the interior layout of inpatient departments
- Organization of the infectious disease unit
Master the entire topic in the "Hygiene" course
This is a summary. The course covers everything tested in classes and exams.
- Complete study guide on "Hospital Building Systems" and 530 more pages on the subject
- Assignments and quizzes after every topic — just like in a colloquium
- AI tutor answers questions on the topic anytime
- 95 video lessons for the subject
Other topics in the section "Chapter 8. Hygiene of Healthcare Facilities"
Prepared by WhiteCoat Pro faculty in accordance with the medical school curriculum. For educational purposes only.