Design Measures to Implement for an Operational Hospital During Flooding Rideout Regional Medical Center

Facility Rideout Memorial Hospital

TypeRegional Medical Center

Size of Facility215,000 sq. ft.

Location Marysville, CAYuba County

Population 12,072 in city72,155 in county

Client ContactMr. Tony ModdesetteVice President, Facilities and Projects

Architect of RecordStafford King Wiese Architects Associate Architect, Kelly Architecture & Planning

Structural EngineerBuehler & Buehler Structural Engineers, Inc.

Mechanical/PlumbingFrank M. Booth Design Build, Co.

Electrical EngineeringToft Wolff Farrow, Inc.

Located 40 miles north of Sacramento, Marysville is flanked by rivers and levees on three sides. The Feather River is to the west, and to the south and east the Yuba River boarders the city. The two rivers converge just southwest of the city. Due to the proximity of the Sierra Nevada moutains, snow runoff or heavy rain from winter storms present a significant flooding risk to the city.

When Fremont-Rideout Health Group decided to expand their Rideout Memorial Hospital into a Regional Medical Center, the design team took the opportunity to implement certain “flood proofing” measures into the design. Because Marysville is in a natural flood plain, it was likely that routine flooding may occur in the region and it was important that this critical care facility could stay operational and continue to serve the community.

9 1 6 . 9 3 0 . 5 9 0 0 s k w a i a . c o m

Feather River

Yuba River

MARYSVILLE

Rideout Memorial Hospital

Rideout Regional Medical Center

water levelsEstimates of routine flooding water levels between •zero and 10 feet

100 year flood plain estimates water levels to reach •26 feet

flood-proofing measures

architectural solutionsDue to flood risk, all utilities are located above ground •floor and building design omitted basement

Emergency food storage room located on 6th floor•

structural solutionsEmergency generators are 50,000 pounds each with •an additional 20,000 pounds of concrete curbs - this equipment caused a 50% increase in steel weight in this area

Main electrical room and associated equipment with •housekeeping pads - caused a 35% increase in steel weight to support the room

Emergency generator at the main roof is estimated to •be 6,800 pounds. - caused an increase in the supporting steel for the single pad

The braced frame lateral system was significantly •impacted in the area affected on the 2nd floor level. The brace sizes and associated connections increased due to the amount of weight added to the structure. As many as eight of the braced frames have increased loading at the 2nd floor level. However, the seismic anchorage demand on the units attached to the low roof at the 2nd floor level is nominally larger and yields similar anchorage. The foundation system has slight increases but the capacity of the auger cast pile system allows for the flexibility to move the electrical system up to the 2nd floor level with little impact.

mechanical & plumbing solutionsWith the exception of the bulk oxygen and specialized •surgical gasses, all major mechanical and plumbing equipment needed to maintain ventilation, heating and med gas needs for patient care are located on the 6th floor.

Domestic water and propane connections are provided •in the penthouse to provide emergency water and heating needs.

electrical solutionsMain electrical room and emergency generators located •on the 2nd floor at 15 feet above grade level

An additional housekeeping pad was provided on the •tower’s roof to allow emergency portable generator to be air-lifted to the building and installed for temporary use

A mechanism was integrated to de-energize the 1• st and 2nd floor in the event of flooding. To do this, “kirk-key” operated breakers were specified to disconnect all electrical lines (branch circuits and feeders) at the third floor. To operate at kirk-key breaker, one physically takes a “key” from the breakers on the 3rd floor and “turns” this breaker to the “open circuit” position so that no current will flow between floors 2 and 3. Next, one removes this same “key” and proceeds to the roof, where a portable generator will be dropped on the roof from a helicopter and positioned near an electrical distribution panel. This panel will have breakers that are “keyed” to match the breakers on the 3rd floor. With the key from the 3rd floor, the roof breakers, after connecting to the portable generator will be “turned” to the “closed” position allowing current to flow until it reaches the “open circuit” on the third floor. Now the building is energized from a generator on the roof and the 1st and 2nd floors are de-energized.

Emergency generator units

on 2nd floor rooftop at 15

ft. above grade

helistop

additional housekeeping pad for emergency portablegenerator

Main electrical room

main electrical room; systems have ability to disconnect from 2nd floor during flooding

additional housekeeping pad for emergency portable generator

3rd floor = 31 ft.

2nd floor = 15 ft.

Rideout Regional Medical Center

aesthetic roof screen lengthened to enclose electrical room

Designated room on

6th floor for emergency

food storage

Designated room on

6th floor for emergency food

storage

All major mechanical

and plumbing equipment needed for

patient care is located on

6th floor