New MRI technology has made magnets lighter and faster, but also more sensitive to vibrations. Vibrations can move through the structure over multiple floors. External building vibrations caused by mechanical equipment or human foot traffic also can affect the imaging quality, especially on elevated floors. Vehicular traffic in proximity to the suite can cause ground vibrations to enter the suite. When MRI suites are located on grade-level conditions, isolation joints in the floor slab can help limit the transfer of floor vibrations entering the suite. ![]() Building Vibrationīuilding vibrations must be evaluated because vibrations can reduce the image quality of the scans. The structural engineer will perform a general capacity check of the floor, and the rigging contractor installing the MRI will be responsible to design shoring if required. Typically, an 8-foot-wide by 8-foot-high zone is required to move the magnet through the building. The design team also will review the path of travel for the MRI and how the machine is brought into the building. The structural engineer will need to evaluate the floor capacity and stiffness to determine if reinforcing is required. That is not the case any-more imaging suites can be located anywhere in the facility, including elevated floors above gradeįor instance, an existing clinic building may have been designed for a floor live load of 40 to 50 pounds per square foot supporting a 10,000 pound MRI and associated equipment will be challenging. Years ago, most imaging suites for healthcare facilities were located on ground floor slab on grade conditions because the MRI equipment was heavy. Besides the magnet self-weight, associated control-room electrical equipment can weigh between 2,500 to 3,000 pounds. Let’s start with weight, as MRI equipment is heavy, typically weighing 8,000 to 10,000 pounds with the load concentrated over a relatively small footprint of approximately 4.5-foot square. These machines provide amazing scan quality and can generate magnetic fields that are nearly 140,000 times stronger than the magnetic field of earth itself. Within the past few years, 7.0 Tesla magnets are emerging. Today, typical MRI field strength varies from 1.5 to 3.0 Tesla. MRI, or Magnetic Resonance Imaging, is a diagnostic tool that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to generate soft tissue images. Because of this investment, owners should be aware of critical structural considerations that can influence a good design. ![]() MRI suites can cost between $3 to $5 million for construction and equipment purchase. Each year, HGA’s integrated team of healthcare architects and engineers designs many successful MRI projects.
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