All nonstructural components?

[taisau]

Question about a Nonstructural component, ASCE 7, Risk Category IV, zone D Ip=1.5 hospital

Our reviewer is asking for seismic testing certifications per ASCE 7-16 13.21 of hospital medical equipment. The equipment is for elective procedures and is not needed for the reason it is a risk category IV building, that being there is also an emergency dept in the same building.
It will be anchored of course, but the seismic testing certifications do not exist for this equipment, so it may not work after an event.

“The component is in or attached to a Risk Category IV structure, and it is needed for continued operation of the facility or its failure could impair the continued operation of the facility.”
The reviewer's position is that the “continued operation” should be the same before and after an event, if it is needed enough to be installed before, it must be needed after.

Can you not have anything in a building like this without a seismic testing certificate, even though it is unrelated to the risk category/importance factor?

 

[mtlogcabin]

or its failure could impair the continued operation of the facility.”

The equipment is for elective procedures

Elective procedures are not life saving procedures so that is the answer why a seismic testing certificate does not exist from the manufacturer for the equipment.

 

[taisau]

I think the reviewer acknowledges that there are no certifications, I suppose he thinks they should be made.

If you invented a cure-for-cancer-machine, with the only downside was that it could never be made to withstand an earthquake. In this interpretation, it would not be allowed in the same building as an emergency facility.

Is medical eqpm really an architectural component per ASCE 7 chapter 13?
It says “All components” under importance factor, then excludes “temporary or mobile equipment”, so I infer that fixed equipment is not exempt.

 

[JPohling]

I would consider a device that is used for elective procedures to be temporary. It will be replaced by another device that more people choose for elective procedures that generate more income

 

[taisau]

I have found that CBC/HCAI has issued PIN policy intent notice that defines “Essential Equipment”. Other than the defined basic services, “The facility shall determine which equipment is essential”. That is missing in ASCE 7.
It also modifies ASCE equipment exemptions into categories like Fixed, Movable, Mobile, Essential, Temporary...

I think I am basically at the conclusion that there is no clear guidance from official OSSC or ASCE sources. That is why CBC has this policy notice.