DESIGN PROGRAMMING

I. Description of the Design Problem

 Definition of Related Terminologies
 Significance of the study
 The purpose of this study is to provide information on how to conjure a concept design of a
diagnostic hospital. It provides the main objectives of the study, the principles and rules used, the
laws and guidelines considered, minimum dimensions and layouts, and the functional areas and how
it was zoned and arranged.
 Objectives based on Context
 To provide information on the following guidelines and design considerations.
 To provide information on the different design standards vital to the design.
 To provide better explanation on the functional areas, zoning, and circulation which is important to
the making of the design.

II. Design Consideration

A. Principles/ Rules/ Strategies
 Design for future change has been the critical factor in
health care architecture for as long as we can
remember. Today the discussion is for more elasticity
 Design for value by balancing cost, quality, aesthetics
and access still is one of the first principles.
 The creation of friendly environment, the therapeutic values of the environment and facilities as tool and
healer are basic principles incorporated in design.

 Green facilities or sustainable healthcare buildings (materials that are non-toxic, environmentally sustainable
solutions, energy conservation, etc.) are lately more into consideration and in Europe necessary by laws into
public buildings.
When entering a healthcare facility, it’s safe to assume that most patients are going to have some level of anxiety.
Their first interaction can set the tone for the entire experience, so it’s important to address a few initial design
considerations:
 A Welcoming Front Desk. The check-in desk is typically the first space a patient experience, so it’s important to
make sure it is designed to be welcoming, with privacy from other waiting patients.
 Soothing Interior Finishes. The choices made in colors, finishes, and furnishings can greatly shape a patient’s
experience. A good design will balance the feeling of cleanliness with the feeling of being welcoming and
comforting. Soothing, cheerful colors are a great choice, as are furnishings that resist stains and are easily wiped
down. Some facilities even incorporate art installations such as sculptures or murals to make their interior spaces
more visually appealing to patients.
 Wayfinding. Healthcare facilities can be confusing to navigate when a patient initially enters them, so it’s
important to have clear wayfinding to help them out. Clear and prominent signage, as well as high-tech solutions
such as apps that can help guide them or update them on current wait times, can help ease patient anxiety.
 Access to Daylight and Nature. Daylight and fresh air have been shown to help aid overall healing and well-
being for patients. Some facilities provide operable windows, while others design healing gardens that allow for
patients to stroll amongst plants and get a bit of fresh air.  
 Addressing Spiritual Needs. Most larger hospital facilities have some space dedicated to being a space where
patients or family members can go to have a quiet space to meditate, pray or otherwise gain spiritual comfort. 

B. Conceptual framework
All information included here were a by- product of extensive research, patience, and determination to
accomplish said objective. Sources of these information were architectural books, internet, and other studies done
by other students or schools. With all these information, simplified and analyzed, it was then possible to create a
design concept that is conforming to any rules and regulations and requirements needed. Being able to understand
the information presented here helps in the improvement of the quality and design of the project at hand.
III. Design Planning Guidelines
 Laws affecting Design
• P. D. 1096 – National Building Code of the Philippines and Its Implementing
Rules and Regulations
• P. D. 1185 – Fire Code of the Philippines and Its Implementing Rules and
Regulations
• P. D. 856 – Code on Sanitation of the Philippines and Its Implementing Rules and Regulations
• B. P. 344 – Accessibility Law and Its Implementing Rules and Regulations
• R. A. 1378 – National Plumbing Code of the Philippines and Its Implementing
Rules and Regulations
• R. A. 184 – Philippine Electrical Code

 Special Guidelines
 Environment: A hospital and other health facilities shall be so located that it is readily accessible to the
community and reasonably free from undue noise, smoke, dust, foul odor, flood, and shall not be located adjacent
to railroads, freight yards, children's playgrounds, airports, industrial plants, disposal plants.
 Occupancy: A building designed for other purpose shall not be converted into a hospital. The location of a
hospital shall comply with all local zoning ordinances.
 Safety: A hospital and other health facilities shall provide and maintain a safe environment for patients, personnel
and public. The building shall be of such construction so that no hazards to the life and safety of patients,
personnel and public exist. It shall be capable of withstanding weight and elements to which they may be
subjected.
 Exits shall be restricted to the following types: door leading directly outside the
building, interior stair, ramp, and exterior stair.
- A minimum of two (2) exits, remote from each other, shall be provided for each floor of the building.
- Exits shall terminate directly at an open space to the outside of the building.
 Security: A hospital and other health facilities shall ensure the security of person and property within the facility.
 Patient Movement: Spaces shall be wide enough for free movement of patients, whether they are on beds,
stretchers, or wheelchairs. Circulation routes for transferring patients from one area to another shall be available
and free at all times.
- A ramp or elevator shall be provided for ancillary, clinical and nursing areas located on the upper floor.
- A ramp shall be provided as access to the entrance of the hospital not on the same level of the site.
 Lighting: All areas in a hospital and other health facilities shall be provided with sufficient illumination to
promote comfort, healing and recovery of patients and to enable personnel in the performance of work.
 Ventilation: Adequate ventilation shall be provided to ensure comfort of patients, personnel and public.
 Auditory and Visual Privacy: A hospital and other health facilities shall observe acceptable sound level and
adequate visual seclusion to achieve the acoustical and privacy requirements in designated areas allowing the
unhampered conduct of activities.
 Water Supply: A hospital and other health facilities shall use an approved public water supply system whenever
available. The water supply shall be potable, safe for drinking and adequate, and shall be brought into the building
free of cross connections.
 Waste Disposal: Liquid waste shall be discharged into an approved public sewerage system whenever available,
and solid waste shall be collected, treated and disposed of in accordance with applicable codes, laws or
ordinances.
 Sanitation: Utilities for the maintenance of sanitary system, including approved water supply and sewerage
system, shall be provided through the buildings and premises to ensure a clean and healthy environment.
 Housekeeping: A hospital and other health facilities shall provide and maintain a healthy and aesthetic
environment for patients, personnel and public. 13 Maintenance: There shall be an effective building maintenance
program in place. The buildings and equipment shall be kept in a state of good repair. Proper maintenance shall be
provided to prevent untimely breakdown of buildings and equipment.
 Material Specification: Floors, walls and ceilings shall be of sturdy materials that shall allow durability, ease of
cleaning and fire resistance. 15 Segregation: Wards shall observe segregation of sexes. Separate toilet shall be
maintained for patients and personnel, male and female, with a ratio of one (1) toilet for every eight (8) patients or
personnel.
  Fire Protection: There shall be measures for detecting fire such as fire alarms in walls, peepholes in doors or
smoke detectors in ceilings. There shall be devices for quenching fire such as fire extinguishers or fire hoses that
are easily visible and accessible in strategic areas.
 Signage. There shall be an effective graphic system composed of a number of individual visual aids and devices
arranged to provide information, orientation, direction, identification, prohibition, warning and official notice
considered essential to the optimum operation of a hospital and other health facilities. 18 Parking. A hospital and
other health facilities shall provide a minimum of one (1) parking space for every twenty-five (25) beds.
 Zoning: The different areas of a hospital shall be grouped according to zones as follows:
- Outer Zone – areas that are immediately accessible to the public: emergency service, outpatient service,
and administrative service. They shall be located near the entrance of the hospital.
- Second Zone – areas that receive workload from the outer zone: laboratory, pharmacy, and radiology.
They shall be located near the outer zone.
- Inner Zone – areas that provide nursing care and management of patients: nursing service. They shall be
located in private areas but accessible to guests.
- Deep Zone – areas that require asepsis to perform the prescribed services: surgical service, delivery
service, nursery, and intensive care. They shall be segregated from the public areas but accessible to the
outer, second and inner zones.
- Service Zone – areas that provide support to hospital activities: dietary service, housekeeping service,
maintenance and motor pool service, and mortuary. They shall be located in areas away from normal
traffic.
 Function: The different areas of a hospital shall be functionally related with each other.
- The emergency service shall be located in the ground floor to ensure immediate access. A separate
entrance to the emergency room shall be provided.
- The administrative service, particularly admitting office and business office, shall be located near the
main entrance of the hospital. Offices for hospital management can be located in private areas.
- The surgical service shall be located and arranged to prevent non-related traffic. The operating room shall
be as remote as practicable from the entrance to provide asepsis. The dressing room shall be located to
avoid exposure to dirty areas after changing to surgical garments. The nurse station shall be located to
permit visual observation of patient movement.
- The delivery service shall be located and arranged to prevent non-related traffic. The delivery room shall
be as remote as practicable from the entrance to provide asepsis. The dressing room shall be located to
avoid exposure to dirty areas after changing to surgical garments. The nurse station shall be located to
permit visual observation of patient movement. The nursery shall be separate but immediately accessible
from the delivery room.
- The nursing service shall be segregated from public areas. The nurse station shall be located to permit
visual observation of patients. Nurse stations shall be provided in all inpatient units of the hospital with a
ratio of at least one (1) nurse station for every thirty-five (35) beds. Rooms and wards shall be of
sufficient size to allow for work flow and patient movement. Toilets shall be immediately accessible from
rooms and wards.
- The dietary service shall be away from morgue with at least 25-meter distance.
 Space: Adequate area shall be provided for the people, activity, furniture, equipment and utility.
 Local provisions
• Manual on Technical Guidelines for Hospitals and Health Facilities Planning and Design.
Department of Health, Manila. 1994
• Signage Systems Manual for Hospitals and Offices. Department of Health,
Manila. 1994
• Health Facilities Maintenance Manual. Department of Health, Manila. 1995
• Manual on Hospital Waste Management. Department of Health, Manila. 1997
• District Hospitals: Guidelines for Development. World Health Organization Regional
Publications, Western Pacific Series. 1992
• Guidelines for Construction and Equipment of Hospital and Medical Facilities.
American Institute of Architects, Committee on Architecture for Health. 1992
• De Chiara, Joseph. Time-Saver Standards for Building Types. McGraw-Hill Book
Company. 1980
IV. Design Standards
 Standard Layouts
 Figure 2 CONSULTATION ROOM

Figure 3 LABORATORY ROOM

 Figure 4 EXAMINATION ROOM

Figure 5 X-RAY ROOM

 Minimum dimensions
Space Area in Square
Meters

Administrative Service

Lobby

Waiting Area 0.65/person

Information and Reception Area 5.02/staff

Toilet 1.67

Business Office 5.02/staff

Medical Records 5.02/staff

Office of the Chief of Hospital 5.02/staff

Laundry and Linen Area 5.02/staff

Maintenance and Housekeeping Area 5.02/staff

Parking Area for Transport Vehicle 9.29

Supply Room 5.02/staff

Waste Holding Room 4.65

Dietary

Dietitian Area 5.02/staff

Supply Receiving Area 4.65

Cold and Dry Storage Area 4.65

Food Preparation Area 4.65

Cooking and Baking Area 4.65

Serving and Food Assembly Area 4.65

Washing Area 4.65

Garbage Disposal Area 1.67

Dining Area 1.40/person

Toilet 1.67

Cadaver Holding Room 7.43/bed

Clinical Service

Emergency Room

Waiting Area 0.65/person

Toilet 1.67

Nurse Station 5.02/staff

Examination and Treatment Area with Lavatory/Sink 7.43/bed

Observation Area 7.43/bed

Equipment and Supply Storage Area 4.65

Wheeled Stretcher Area 1.08/stretcher

Outpatient Department
  Other relevant Data
1. 0.65/person – Unit area per person occupying the space at one time
2. 5.02/staff – Work area per staff that includes space for one (1) desk and one (1) chair,
space for occasional visitor, and space for aisle
3. 1.40/person – Unit area per person occupying the space at one time
4. 7.43/bed – Clear floor area per bed that includes space for one (1) bed, space for
occasional visitor, and space for passage of equipment
5. 1.08/stretcher – Clear floor area per stretcher that includes space for one (1) stretcher

a. Corridors for access by patient and equipment shall have a minimum width of 2.44 meters.
b. Corridors in areas not commonly used for bed, stretcher and equipment transport may be reduced in width
to 1.83 meters.

 PARKING DIMENSIONS:
One (1) off-street cum on-site car parking slot for every twenty five (25) beds; and one (1) off-RROW (or off-
street) passenger loading space that can accommodate two (2) queued jeepney/shuttle slots; provide at least
one (1) loading slot for articulated truck or vehicle (a 12.00 meter long container van plus 6.00 meter length
for a long/hooded prime mover) and one (1) loading slot for a standard truck for every 5,000.00 sq. meters of
gross floor area (GFA); and provide truck maneuvering area outside of the RROW (within property or lot lines
only).

 MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR AIR CHANGE

- 0.29 cu. m. MIN and 0.43 cu. m. MAX (per minute/person)

V. Design Requirements
 Functional Areas
a. THE RECEPTIONIST
- The receptionist is usually the doctor’s assistant, bookkeeper and collector. She keeps an eye to all works
in the office, see, and acknowledge the arrival of the patient, follow the progress of the doctor for the
proper flow and direction of the office.

b. WAITING ROOM
- The waiting room is the space that gives first impressions to the patient. The room physical appearance
supports the type of care a client can expect to receive.
QUALITIES OF A GOOD WAITING ROOM:
1. Provided with adequate table and chairs properly spaced to make reading possible giving the patient a
feeling of freedom.
2. The room should be properly decorated to have an over-all homely and restful effect.
3. The room should allow a view of the outside. The view refers to a pleasing one, such as flowers, trees, and
distance. In its absence, an interesting view of people and activity is the alternative.
4. Waiting room must be separated from the office activity or a traffic aisle.

c. CONSULTATION ROOM
- Consultation room should not be necessarily spacious but properly furnished with tasteful furniture,
decors, and colors.

d. EXAMINATION ROOM
- Examination room should be properly lighted designed in accordance with the doctor’s habit and
preference. A patient could be prepared ahead by the doctor’s assistant if two or more examination rooms
are available.
 e. LABORATORY
- Laboratory room should be provided with an ample counter space and toilet facilities.

f. X-RAY ROOM
- The doctor should decide earlier before acquiring what kind of x-ray, dark room, and developing
equipment he will buy. planning of the structure will be adjusted to the above data and information. All
interior walls, ceilings and doors of the x-ray room should be protected by lead or concrete as required by
the building code.

 Zoning
 Circulation