ICRA 2.0-Compliant Dust Barriers Keep Patients Safe and Sound(less)
Half the ER was under construction. The other half? Saving lives. STARC’s RealWall™ helped DPR pull off both—without missing a beat.
We were focused on sound attenuation, dust control, and a professional look, from the acoustics and gasketing to the ceiling and floor seals, RealWall offered the best solution.
– Tim Hyde, Senior Project Manager, DPR Construction
The Challenge: No Margin for Error in the ER
Renovating 75% of an active emergency department while patients receive critical care is like replacing the engine on a moving vehicle. That was the reality facing DPR Construction at Tucson Medical Center (TMC). With patient rooms just feet from active construction zones, infection control, sound attenuation, and visual professionalism weren’t just nice to have—they were mandated.
“This project is literally in the middle of the emergency department,” said Tim Hyde, Senior Project Manager at DPR. “Some of the most compromised patients are right on the other side of our construction. Our containment needed to be robust.”
TMC’s contractor handbook originally called for framed drywall partitions: fully built, taped, painted, sealed, and finished with floor base. While this method “looks fine at the end of the day,” Hyde noted that it demanded significant labor across multiple trades and created waste with every project phase. Worse yet, temporary drywall was vulnerable to air leakage, posing risks to infection control in sensitive patient care areas.
In a live healthcare environment, that’s a risk no one can afford.
The Solution: ICRA Barriers That Raised the Bar
Knowing drywall wouldn’t cut it, Hyde and his team proposed an upgrade: STARC’s RealWall system — durable, reusable temporary construction walls specifically engineered for ICRA 2.0 compliance.
“We were focused on sound attenuation, dust control, and a professional look,” Hyde explained. “From the acoustics and gasketing to the ceiling and floor seals, RealWall offered the best solution.”
Unlike traditional temporary barriers, RealWall’s telescoping panels, dual gaskets, and 360° sealing system created an airtight, stable environment that exceeded infection prevention standards. This not only protected patients and staff but also supported smooth project phasing without the mess and disruption of constant drywall rebuilds.
ICRA 2.0 compliance ensures that any construction activity within healthcare facilities rigorously controls airborne contaminants, protects high-risk patients, and minimizes operational disruption. RealWall made achieving those standards simpler—and more sustainable.
The Results: Quiet, Clean, Compliant—and Reusable
STARC’s RealWall system enabled DPR to phase the renovation efficiently while protecting patient safety and comfort. The system effectively blocked noise and contained dust, ensuring that healthcare operations continued without unnecessary disruption.
“With drywall, you build it, you paint it, and you throw it away,” Hyde said. “With RealWall, we’re getting better performance, and we can reuse it. It’s just smarter.”
Why RealWall Wins in Healthcare Renovations
- 50% noise reduction
- True dust containment
- ICRA 2.0 compliance
- Install up to 100′ in an hour
- Reusable across phases and projects
Ready to see how STARC can help you undisrupt your next healthcare renovation?
Contact us today to learn more about RealWall and our full line of ICRA-compliant solutions.
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