RMC RECEIVES GRANT Riverside Medical Center has received a grant through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Project which will pay the cost of replacing the windows in all of the buildings owned by the hospital. The hospital has awarded the bid to Kent Construction, Inc. of Mandeville, LA, who will serve as the general contractor. Plans are to begin with the replacement of the impact resistant windows during the summer of 2010 and to be completed by December 2011. Currently, all of the glazed openings at Riverside Medical Center contain standard 1/8” and 1/4” thick glass. Tempered safety glazing is used at glass entrance doors and at other locations where code requirements dictate. None of the glazing is impact resistant. None of the aluminum frames which contain the glazing are impact resistant. As one of only two acute care medical facilities in Washington Parish, services which are provided by RMC in this area would be severely impacted by a breach in the exterior skin. Loss of glazing can result in extremely adverse conditions on a building interior and, under the right conditions, can even lead to envelope failure, including roof uplift. Mechanical and electrical systems could be compromised and patient rooms could become unusable, along with specialized medical equipment. Types of Hazards the Proposed Project will Mitigate: Installation of the impact resistant glazing system will offer protection against sudden impact. The goal of the installation is to keep the glass in the frame upon impact. The loss of only a few windows creates internal pressure that, when combined with external pressures, compromises the building envelope. Wind-borne debris is a major factor in storm-related damage during hurricanes and other high velocity winds. The use of impact-resistant glazing will help minimize the effects of wind-borne debris during hurricanes and other high-velocity wind generated events. We apologize for any inconvenience this construction project may cause our patients and patients’ families. We appreciate your patience. |