Alternate Care Sites/Non-Traditional Site Conversion

As the spread of COVID-19 is stretching operational systems in healthcare, critical fire and life safety needs must be balanced with patient care. Fire and building safety involves many areas from fire protection consulting to code consulting to fire hazard analysis. Our engineers and consultants can leverage our existing relationships with AHJs (Authority Having Jurisdiction) to expedite the permitting and design process for USACE and FEMA teams.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineering has mandated the inclusion of a registered Fire Protection Engineer on all Alternate Care Sites projects. We have the most fire protection engineers in the U,S. We will help tackle aggressive challenges and provide rapid response to the needs of those on the frontlines fighting COVID-19.

Security is critically important to assure the safety of both staff and patients. The best way to ensure a cohesive approach to security at any surge or ACS location is to develop a Security Master Plan that will enable you to prioritize, estimate the cost, and implement risk mitigation measures that can be adapted if the facility’s operational or threat environment changes. As part of the plan, we review and develop an exterior security plan, evaluate and design security checkpoints; review and develop existing physical and technical security controls; develop and implement a site-specific credentialing plan for all persons entering the facility; and create an overarching transportation plan regarding how all vehicles securely access the facility

The development of a rapid response plan to emergencies — such as fire, weather, utility system failures and external threats to the facility — is key to helping protect staff and patients. We ensure that staff and patients, who may be incapable of self-preservation, are protected from human, technological and natural disasters or threats. We conduct life safety code reviews, hazard vulnerability assessments, fire evacuation planning, and communication planning.

Our multi-disciplinary team is composed of experienced leaders and experts in world-class security, fire and emergency management domains. These include, for example, global and local crisis planning for healthcare facilities; healthcare emergency management training; complex protective operations planning for federal, state and municipal crisis response and protest management; and interagency planning supporting complex, large-scale events such as National Special Security Events.