Scanner Solutions

Placing MRI scanners on elevated steel floors adds several vibration and other design considerations. Here’s how to address them.
It’s no secret that steel framing’s inherent flexibility makes it desirable in healthcare facility designs and their everevolving layout preferences.
One recent and growing layout trend is positioning specialized hospital equipment on elevated floors, which brings many unique challenges. MRI scanners are among the most challenging equipment types to install above a ground floor, and success requires collaboration between structural engineers, architects, shielding consultants, and equipment suppliers.
MRI scanners are highly sensitive and generate powerful magnetic fields that produce precise medical imaging. They typically weigh several tons, and the supporting floor design must provide proper structural support within the building while adhering to stringent standards for optimal MRI functionality and accommodating patient accessibility requirements. The supporting structure must be designed for the weight of the scanner and its supporting equipment, vibration requirements, shielding requirements, magnetic fields, acoustic considerations, floor trenching or elevation changes, penetrations, installation and maintenance access, and other manufacturer-specified design criteria.
Publisher
Modern Steel Construction