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Delivering HTM complaint solutions with modular

In healthcare facilities, compliance is critical. To provide the highest quality of care for patients, all buildings must meet specific safety standards, and be compliant with NHS England’s guidance, including the Health Technical Memoranda (HTMs).

HTMs are standards that ensure compliance in the design, installation, and operation of specialised technology and building services. Covering everything from critical ventilation to medical gas systems, HTMs-compliant buildings provide patients with optimal safety.

Modular buildings are a great solution to sites that need HTMs complaint buildings delivered quickly and almost immediately ready for use. Not only that, but modular buildings also provide flexibly designed spaces that can be adapted over the years to meet changing healthcare needs, all whilst upholding compliance.

Understanding the key elements of HTMs compliance helps to show why modular construction is increasingly being used across healthcare estates.

Key considerations for HTMs compliant solutions

HTMs are used as the industry standard for building design when it comes to delivering a compliant and safe healthcare facility. For example, engineering systems must align with HTM 03-01 for specialised ventilation to maintain air quality, alongside other HTMs covering medical gas and electrical services to protect patient safety. Safety systems should meet HTM 05 standards, which outlines fire safety requirements in healthcare design, and HTM 08-03, which standardises nurse call systems to ensure reliability and accessibility

Another key area for compliance is water and sanitation. For instance, HTM 04-01 provides guidance on safe water management and HTM 64 outlines the requirements needed for sanitaryware, such as deep, non-splash sinks.

Furniture and storage are also addressed as part of HTMs guidance, with HTM 63 covering durable, fit-for-purpose healthcare furniture such as laboratory benches, and HTM 71 focusing on modular storage systems designed to support infection control and efficient use of space.

With this in mind, modular buildings are ideally suited to delivering a solution that meets all industry standards and aligns with HTMs compliance.

How can HTMs compliance be achieved with modular buildings?

Modular buildings support HTMs compliance from the outset. As manufacture of the building takes place offsite in a controlled factory environment, modular buildings benefit from repeatable quality checks at every stage of the build. This not only eliminates the disruption associated with live construction sites, but also provides a continuous high quality standard across the entire building ensuring HTMs standards are met where needed.

It goes without saying that maintaining a hygienic environment is crucial for healthcare. However, as modules are built using hygienic, easy-to-clean materials that prevent the spread of infection, modular building can support long-term infection control in NHS facilities, meeting the recommended HTMs guidance. Alongside compliant ventilation systems, modular healthcare buildings can be individually designed for each hospital’s needs, with features such as antimicrobial surfaces and hands-free fixtures to provide optimal infection control. For instance, at the Kent and Medway Orthopaedic Centre at Maidstone Hospital we delivered the UK’s first modular barn theatre which featured open-plan theatre spaces with partitions and HEPA-filtered ventilation. These bespoke features helped maintain high air quality and minimise the risk of cross-contamination between patients in the operating theatre.

Another consideration for NHS buildings is maintaining compliance as clinical needs evolve over time. Modular building can be the answer to this as they are adaptable and offer the flexibility needed to support long-term compliance, without major disruption to clinical services. As opposed to their bricks-and-mortar counterparts, modular spaces can be reconfigured or expanded with little impact on surrounding areas. For example, rooms can be repurposed from consultation space to treatment areas, or additional modules can be added to increase capacity, all while ensuring continued alignment with relevant HTMs. This adaptability is particularly valuable as patients needs, and hospital capacity, fluctuates over time.

By supporting safe adaptation, phased expansion and ongoing compliance, modular construction provides healthcare providers with a resilient, future-ready solution. The result is a facility that not only meets HTMs standards, but can continue to deliver safe, compliant patient care for years to come.

Read more about our modular healthcare solutions or contact our team directly today.