MIL-HDBK-1191
corridors, or spaces, with patient or visitor traffic. Automated cart traffic
may occur in staff corridors and dedicated spaces, provided adequate warning
and safety devices are furnished. Vertical movement of automated carts shall
occur in dedicated elevators. Arrange cart lifts to provide adequate cart
staging that is independent of workroom or circulation areas.
17.2.5
Clean and Soiled Material Separation. Materials management
programs shall provide for clean and soiled separation consistent with all
applicable codes and standards, including those of the Joint Commission for
the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).
17.2.5.1
Soiled Material. Soiled materials are normally transported in
separate covered or closed carts designed to provide containment of the
material. Soiled material transport may occur in the same corridor and
elevator systems that handle other traffic; however, soiled materials are not
transported on the same elevator at the same time with patients, visitors, or
clean or sterile materials. Transport circulation design shall allow soiled
carts to be adequately washed prior to reuse as a soiled container, and washed
and sanitized prior to use for clean materials.
17.2.5.2
Sterile Material. Transport all sterile material for use in
Surgery, Catheterization and Labor/Delivery or other areas requiring sound
aseptic controls from the sterile processing / storage area to its destination
via a clean route that will not compromise the integrity of the material.
Where case carts are used, they shall be transported from sterile storage to
the clean surgical core by means that protect the cart and its contents from
contact with less clean environments.
17.2.6
Palleted Material. Except in warehouses and bulk storage areas,
materials shall not normally be moved on pallets beyond the main receiving and
storage areas.
17.2.7
Elevator Traffic Separation Guideline ETSG. Figure 17.1 provides
a matrix showing general guidelines for the separation of traffic. To use the
Elevator Traffic Separation Guideline, review the "Characteristics" column for
the approximate conditions represented by the project. Then review the column
represented by the "Facility Type" being considered to determine general
separation considerations. The most severe separations are to be followed.
Each individual facility must be analyzed for unique considerations; however,
vertical traffic separation will follow Figure 17.1, as a general guideline.
17.3
TRAFFIC FLOW RATES AND QUEUING. Design general circulation right-
of-way, including corridors, staircases and lobbies to provide the following
general flow and queuing rates:
17.3.1
Corridor Widths. Design corridor widths to provide average flow
volumes through corridors of a maximum of 3 to 4.5 pedestrians per meter of
walkway width, per minute (10 to 15 pedestrians per foot of walkway width, per
minute). Corridor widths should be not less than 1.8 meters (6 feet) for
patient/visitor corridors and 2.4 meters (8 feet) for patient corridors with
gurneys and/or carts.
17.3.2
Pedestrian Area. Average Pedestrian Area Occupancy (APAO) shall
not be less than 1.4 sm (15 sf) per person in walkways.
17.3.3
Open Lobby Queuing.
Average queuing level for open lobby areas
17-3
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