Updated September 15, 2025 Fire barriers play a critical role in protecting patients and staff—and meeting code requirements is essential. But even the most robust wall system won’t fly unless the Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) sign off on it. For Facilities Managers and Project Managers, understanding who the AHJs are—and how they operate—can mean the… Read more »
What Is ASTM E90? Understanding Sound Transmission in Temporary Walls
Updated September 18, 2025 Noise is one of the most common—and frustrating—challenges during construction projects. Whether the work is happening in a hospital, airport, office building, or university, excess noise disrupts occupants, impacts productivity, and even raises safety concerns. That’s why understanding ASTM E90, the test used to measure sound transmission in wall systems, is… Read more »
5 Cases Using ICRA 2.0: Test Your Understanding
By JANET HAAS, PhD, RN, CIC, Principal Consulting Epidemiologist, Innovative Infection Prevention The latest version of the infection control risk assessment has been called ICRA 2.0 to distinguish it from the original version that facility managers and infection preventionists have been using for several years. As mentioned in my previous blog post on this topic,… Read more »
Prevent Fire Damage During Renovations: NFPA 241
Updated January 2024. During healthcare construction and renovation projects, fire safety issues typically arise from a lack of knowledge or understanding of NFPA 241, the standard that provides measures for preventing or minimizing fire damage to structures during construction, alteration or demolition.
What Are demountable walls?
Updated September 24, 2025 Demountable walls are modular barriers that can be quickly installed and removed to control dust, noise, and air movement during construction or renovation. They’re widely used in healthcare facilities, offices, and commercial spaces where safety and flexibility matter.
Who tests and certifies fire-rated barriers?
As a protective measure, almost every product or structure you come into contact with on a daily basis is regulated and certified for safety and code compliance.
What is the ICRA 2.0 Precautions Matrix?
An ICRA is a multidisciplinary, organizational documented process intended to reduce infection risks during all phases of facility planning, design, construction, renovation and facility maintenance. The ICRA 2.0 precautions matrix is the recently updated tool that is used by whoever is planning and implementing the construction. ASHE members and non-members can download a copy of… Read more »
Safety Organizations in California and Kansas Are First to Approve STARC Systems’ FireblockWall™
The California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) and the Kansas Office of the State Fire Marshal accepts the first reusable one-hour fire-rated containment solution for occupied renovations
What is ICRA 2.0?
The use of infection control risk assessments (ICRAs) during healthcare construction projects has been a work in progress spanning several decades.
ICRA 2.0: Eliminating Guesswork for Safer Healthcare Renovations
By JANET HAAS, PhD, RN, CIC, Principal Consulting Epidemiologist, Innovative Infection Prevention Facility managers, infection preventionists and contractors have been using infection control risk assessments (ICRA) for preventing infections related to healthcare construction and renovations since the 1996 Facilities Guideline Institute’s (FGI) Guidelines for Design and Construction of Healthcare Facilities recommended them. However, the application… Read more »