Published quarterly, the Powered by Specifile™ series of publications focus on specific design sectors of industry from a product perspective. This first publication covers the Healthcare sector and covers fittings, fixtures and products for hospitals, clinics and mortuaries.

We’ve also included some very useful information on key aspects of hospital design. Vollie Brink, well-known to many as Mr Plumber, has submitted a detailed outline of considerations to take into account when designing plumbing and drainage for hospitals, a pivotal aspect of hospital projects and for which, surprisingly, there are no regulations as yet.

Peta de Jager and her colleagues from the SAFHE (South African Federation of Hospital Engineers) cover four very important tips to follow when designing hospitals, while Saint-Gobain Ecophon highlights the importance of acoustics in hospital design and provides some surprising facts on the relationship between noise and ill-health.

Find out how the Netcare group is reaching its sustainability goals in hospital design, with environmentally sustainable principles incorporated into the design of all new Netcare facilities, while existing facilities are going through energy, lighting and water upgrades. Interestingly (and sensibly) Netcare is also in the process of implementing a water desalination plant at its Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital on Cape Town’s Foreshore.

We hope you will find this issue of Healthcare Design useful. Remember that you can find detailed product information on the Specifile website