Disaster Prevention and Mitigation of Hospitals: Damage and Loss of Function

Abstract

For ensuring the stable continuation of medical services during a disaster, critical hospitals that serve as a regional disaster base have prepared Business Continuity Plans (BCPs). However, the BCPs do not consider sufficiently the damage to the facilities and equipment. This study examines the extent of damage to hospital facilities in this future earthquake disaster through shaking table tests that reproduce earthquake motion and seismic response simulation of hospital building models. The threshold acceleration and velocity of floors that cause rocking and tumbling of medical equipment were identified. The strength increase factor used for the design of critical hospitals does not necessarily decrease the damage to the non-structural component and critical equipment. Assuming that hardware measures such as seismic retrofitting of buildings would be difficult, improvements to the current BCP, such as listing potentially fragile equipment, would be a realistic option in increasing hospitals' disaster resiliency.