Basic Documentation

Innovation and Design
Process
The GGHC created the Innovation and Design
Process (ID) to provide design teams and projects
with the opportunity to achieve additional points for
exceptional performance above credit goals set by
the GGHC and innovation for green building goals or
strategies.
Sustainable Sites
Hospitals store and manage chemicals in both
underground tanks and other outdoor facilities. By
minimizing potential leaks and spills, hospitals can
protect the surrounding community.
Leaks and Spills
Hospitals are required to have an Emergency Power
System (EPS) that will be the source of electrical
power for the healthcare facility during an extreme
event. Level 1 system(s) are installed when failure of
the equipment to perform can result in the loss of
human life or serious injuries. NFPA 99 Healthcare
Facilities further identifies the criteria for EPSS used
in hospitals. Generators set must restore power
within 10 seconds following loss of normal power
and be able to provide power for the time period (for
example: 96 hours
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) as required by local code.
Typically fuel storage tanks associated with storage
of fuel for emergency or backup generators are
installed with a fuel storage tank monitoring system
that allows fuel tank levels, delivery information, and
leak sensing alarms to be monitored by the building
automation system. These systems usually provide
leak sensing for underground storage tanks,
containment sumps, dispenser pans, and monitoring
wells, in addition to line leak detection and inventory
control/management.
GGHC (SS10.2) Community Contamination
Prevention: Leaks & Spills: requires underground
fuel-oil storage tank to comply with U.S. EPA Title
40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 112, or local
regulations, whichever is more stringent.
Page 2 of 12 Siemens Industry, Inc.
Document No. 149-822
4. Design Guide for Improving Hospital Safety in Earthquakes,
Floods and High Winds, U.S. Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA), publication FEMA 577, June
2007, pp 4-105
Hospitals with an above ground storage tank (AST)
capacity of greater than 1,320 gallons or total
underground storage tank capacity greater than
42,000 gallons must prepare and implement a
SPCC plan to prevent any discharge of oil per 40
CFR Part112.3.
Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) are regulated
by Federal regulations 40 CFR Part 280 or 40 CFR
281 (State UST regulations). All USTs installed after
December 2, 1988 are required to provide a method
for monitoring the release leak detection as
identified in 40 CFR Part 280.43.
Figure 2 shows an UST Detection system.
Figure 2. Underground Storage Tank Monitoring
System.
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To learn more about the Clean Water Act and other
environmental regulations that apply to hospitals,
see the Healthcare Environmental Resource Center
website at:
http://www.hercenter.org/regsandstandards/cwa.cfm
Water Efficiency
Typical water use per capita in hospitals ranges from
40 gallons per day to 350 gallons per day. The
allocation of water at a facility varies depending on
the services provided, in-patient versus out-patient
visits, staff attendance, equipment used, age of the
facility, and periodic maintenance practices followed.
5. Inside ASHE, Sept/Oct 2005