High Stakes Roofing

Hospitals pose some of the toughest tests in roofing and reroofing. Replacing the roof on occupied buildings is always challenging, but when work takes place above patients and delicate high-tech equipment, it raises the stakes even more.

Keeping the building envelope weathertight, waterproof, and impervious to damage is crucial. But keeping water out is not the only goal; some rooms, such as laboratories, might need to be airtight, while others need to ensure positive or negative pressure to minimize the spread of airborne germs. The COVID-19 pandemic helped put these dynamics — and the role of those constructing the hospital’s building envelope — into the spotlight.

This issue profiles some recent health care projects, including emergency roof repairs and replacements; a roof restoration that included a vegetative system; and new construction projects. It also does something a little different by checking in on the status of an 18-year-old hospital roof to see how it is performing.

In the case of Reid Health in Richmond, Indiana, the answer is pretty darn well. In the words of Jeff Cook, the director of engineering at Reid Health in Richmond, Indiana, “The roof just stands up. It’s not something I really even worry about.”

In 2005, when current hospital was built, Cook made the decision to specify a gravel built-up roofing system manufactured by The Garland Company and installed by AAA Roofing. It’s still performing well today, notes Cook, who might know as much about the needs of the hospital environment as anyone.

“Any time you have a breach in a building envelope, you increase the risk of a hospital-acquired infection,” Cook explained. “We keep the building envelope sealed up. Where we need positive pressure, we have positive pressure. Where we need negative pressure, we have negative pressure. What that means for patient safety and quality outcomes is huge.”

Cook maintains being proactive, inspecting the roof periodically, and catching any possible problems quickly are all essential, but that investment keeps the hospital’s primary focus where it should be — on patients.

“Our mission statement — delivering quality care one person at a time — is a real goal, and a real commitment to all the communities we serve,” Cook said. “There are a lot of things that go into building a new hospital and the roof is one of the most important elements. It starts the building enclosure. If the building enclosure doesn’t work, then nothing works. At the end of the day, if I’m not worried about the roof, I can sleep at night.”

— Chris King