Because patients deserve peace and quiet—not front-row seats to a construction zone.
Renovations are inevitable. Disruptions don’t have to be.
For healthcare facilities, the challenge is clear: how do you modernize your space without compromising patient care, safety, or satisfaction? The answer starts with rethinking how you contain construction zones.
The New Reality of Healthcare Renovations
Healthcare environments are under constant pressure to evolve—whether it’s expanding patient capacity, modernizing outdated infrastructure, or responding to ever-stricter compliance standards. But here’s the challenge: these renovations can’t come at the expense of patient care.
In an era where HCAHPS scores directly impact reimbursements, construction disruptions aren’t just an annoyance—they’re a business risk. Noise, dust, and visual clutter degrade the patient experience, leading to lower satisfaction scores and potential revenue hits.
So how do you renovate smarter? With solutions designed to ‘undisrupt’ renovation from the start.
The Problem with Traditional Containment (and Its Hidden Costs)
For decades, plastic sheeting and temporary drywall have been the default for construction containment. But their shortcomings are no secret:
- Poor dust and noise control.
- High labor costs for setup and teardown.
- Single-use waste adding to landfill volumes.
- Aesthetic eyesores that degrade patient and visitor experiences.
More critically, temporary drywall is expensive when viewed through a lifecycle lens. According to data from our Rejecting Drywall’s Hidden Costs eBook, the true cost per linear foot skyrockets when you factor in materials, labor, and disposal—often exceeding $20 per foot per use. In contrast, STARC’s reusable modular walls can bring that figure down to $10 per foot—or less—over multiple projects.
Bottom line: Drywall’s “cheap and easy” reputation doesn’t hold up under scrutiny.
Modular Walls: A Triple Win for Healthcare Projects
At STARC, we designed our modular temporary wall systems to address three critical needs:
- Enhance the patient-centered environment.
- Reduce infection risks like HAIs.
- Improve labor productivity without budget blowouts.
Products like RealWall™, LiteBarrier™, and FireblockWall™ are engineered to minimize noise, contain dust, and blend seamlessly into healthcare environments. They install up to 4x faster than drywall, reducing downtime and labor costs.
By swapping out temporary drywall for modular walls, facilities see immediate gains:
- Faster project starts.
- Cleaner, quieter environments.
- Fewer disruptions to daily operations.
Compliance & Safety: Why Healthcare Can’t Afford to Compromise
Containment isn’t just about appearances. Healthcare facilities must meet strict standards:
- ICRA Class IV/V for infection control.
- ASTM E119, ASTM E84, NFPA 241 for fire safety.
Products like FireblockWall are certified as a one-hour fire-rated temporary containment system—a reusable, sustainable alternative that meets or exceeds these critical standards.
For a quick overview of why certifications like ASTM E84 and E119 matter, check out our Fire Safety Infographic. It breaks down the “One Critical Question” you should always ask about fire safety compliance.
Additionally, evolving standards like ASHE ICRA 2.0™ are raising the bar for infection control during construction. Our recent ICRA 2.0 adoption survey found that over 67% of healthcare facilities have adopted ICRA 2.0 guidelines, driving demand for better ICRA barriers.
Real-World Results: Healthcare Facilities Leading the Way
Facilities like Tucson Medical Center and Abbott Northwestern Hospital have already embraced modular containment to elevate patient care during renovations.
At Tucson Medical Center, modular walls helped maintain a clean, quiet environment during critical upgrades, minimizing disruptions to patients and staff. Similarly, Abbott Northwestern prioritized STARC’s solutions for infection control and project efficiency in active care environments.
You can explore more real-world applications on our Healthcare Focus Page.
Sustainability: Saving Budgets and the Planet
In an era of corporate ESG goals and increasing environmental scrutiny, the ability to reuse containment solutions across dozens of projects is a strategic advantage.
Here’s the impact in numbers:
- 100 linear feet of STARC walls reused five times saves approximately 5 tons of drywall waste from landfills.
- Some clients report 50+ reuses per project cycle, dramatically lowering their environmental footprint.
Modular containment isn’t just a better operational choice—it’s a smarter, more sustainable investment.
Labor Productivity & Multi-Phase Renovation Efficiency
Labor constraints and tight project timelines are common in healthcare construction. STARC’s modular systems address these challenges head-on:
- Install 100 linear feet of wall in under an hour.
- Reconfigure layouts quickly to adapt to project phasing.
- Maintain airtight seals without the need for skilled trades to build temporary drywall.
For multi-phase projects or renovations in space-constrained areas (think active patient wings), STARC’s systems enable seamless transitions without costly downtime.
Patient Experience: The Silent Metric That Pays Off
Noise and dust aren’t just nuisances—they’re tangible factors in patient recovery and satisfaction. Studies show that environmental factors like quietness and cleanliness significantly influence HCAHPS scores.
STARC’s containment systems are designed with this in mind:
- Noise reduction up to 50% compared to traditional methods.
- Clean, professional aesthetics that reassure patients and families.
- Airtight seals to prevent the spread of dust and pathogens.
Better environments mean better patient experiences, which directly correlate with improved satisfaction scores—and by extension, better reimbursement outcomes.
Have questions or a project in mind?
Our team is here to help you navigate the best containment solutions for your facility’s unique needs. Contact us today to start the conversation.
Renovate Without the Headaches—We’ll Show You How
Modern healthcare renovations demand smarter, safer, and more sustainable solutions. STARC’s ICRA barriers are engineered to meet these needs, delivering undisrupted renovations that protect patients, staff, and your bottom line.
Explore how we help healthcare facilities stay operational, compliant, and patient-focused here.