MacDonald-Miller brought a revolutionary idea to one of our clients, The Polyclinic.  Steve Amann, Project Executive, gave us a firsthand account of how this new system will be a game-changer for the healthcare industry.

What is Vacuum Plumbing?

Vacuum plumbing is a cost effective modular drainage system well suited for buildings that are to be reconfigured both immediately, and in the future. Rather than requiring slab penetrations to accommodate gravity drainage from relocated plumbing fixtures, vacuum waste piping is installed in easily accessible, overhead spaces along with the other overhead utilities. Fixtures deliver wastewater to an overhead piping system and on to a central vacuum center from which the waste exits the building at a single, convenient location.

Why is a modular plumbing system the perfect fit for the healthcare industry?

Conventional plumbing systems can be too costly to install in existing buildings that are being re-purposed.

When buildings do not have the plumbing infrastructure to support a healthcare tenant, the vacuum plumbing system expands the reach of the plumbing and infrastructure to serve patient toilets and large numbers of exam room sinks in a fraction of the time required for conventional renovations and at a lower overall cost. Medical clinics can now be located in non-traditional locations, like standard office buildings which have lower lease rates than designated-use medical office buildings.

How will these revolutionary breakthroughs at The Polyclinic change the landscape for healthcare facilities?

The vacuum system, engineered by ACORN VAC, implemented by MacDonald-Miller and built for The Polyclinic, is the first ever application of its kind in a medical clinic utilizing demountable, movable interior walls! With this scenario medical clinic spaces can now be remodeled at a fraction of the time and expense that was formerly required given standard plumbing and fixed walls. This efficiency provides tangible new opportunities for the business while maximizing revenue.  Now, healthcare teams can drive project decisions, rather than decisions being made by the constraints of an existing space layout, or lack of plumbing infrastructure.

What’s the impact?

The environmental impact of vacuum toilets is substantially less compared to standard low flush toilets. With only half a gallon per flush, tenants realize big savings on their water and sewer costs. The system also prevents waste pipe leaks, which occur in gravity-driven systems and contribute to a deterioration of a building’s health over time. Finally, the vacuum system eliminates toilet flush plume and the aerosolization of toilet bowl viruses and bacteria that occur with standard gravity toilets, thereby contributing to patient, personnel, and building health.

With the ever-changing nature of the healthcare industry and mounting price pressure, the combination of demountable walls and vacuum plumbing creates flexibility and provides long-term economic benefits—two elements which are in high demand within this emerging industry.

A special thanks and congratulations to the key MacMiller players and our vendor partners:
MacMiller Engineering: Greg Nanadjanians
MacMiller Plumbing: Paul Monsen, Kevin Tronsdal, Chris Brown, Karl Emig
Vendor Partnering Companies: Braley-Gray & Associates, Pacific Plumbing

Categories: General

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