iHFG Part B Mental Health Unit Adult

Part B – Health Facility Briefing & Design
180 Mental Health Unit - Adult
International Health Facility Guidelines

Version 4 May 2014
Table of Contents
180 Mental Health Unit - Adult ........................................................................................................ 3
1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 3
2 Planning ..................................................................................................................................................... 3
3 Design ........................................................................................................................................................ 8
4 Components of the Unit.......................................................................................................................... 12
5 Schedule of Accommodation – Mental Health Unit - Adult ................................................................. 13
6 Functional Relationship Diagram – Mental Health Unit - Adult .......................................................... 21
7 References and Further Reading ........................................................................................................... 22
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Health Facility Guidelines © TAHPI Part B: Version 4 2014 Page 2
Mental Health Unit - Adult
180 Mental Health Unit - Adult

1 Introduction
Description
The Adult Mental Health Unit provides assessment, admission, inpatient accommodation and
treatment in a safe and therapeutic environment suitable for adult patients with mental health and
behavioural conditions. The Adult Mental Health Unit will be suitable for patients with acute
mental health symptoms that may be accommodated in a secure or high dependency area or
patients with sub-acute conditions that can be cared for in an open, less secure unit. Patients in
the unit may exhibit behaviour that is agitated, aggressive, violent or may pose a threat to
themselves or others.
This FPU is applicable to:

 A dedicated Adult Mental Health Unit within a general hospital campus
 A stand-alone Adult Mental Health Unit or group of units.
Refer to the relevant FPUs for other mental health services including:
 Child & Adolescent unit

 Day Care Unit
 Forensic Mental Health Unit
 Intensive Care Unit
 Older Persons Unit
 Outpatients Unit
 Psychiatric Emergency Care.
2 Planning
Operational Models
The Adult Acute Mental health Unit will operate on a 24 hour per day basis. Specific Clinical
Service Operational Models will be dependent on the endorsed clinical service plan, the patient
mix, number of beds and the Model of Care to be adopted.
Models of Care
The Model of Care will reflect the number of beds planned for the unit, and identify the need for
seclusion/de-escalation spaces and secure entry spaces of entry to the proposed units.
Custodial (Acute Care) model

In this model visibility of patients is critical; a direct line of sight between staff areas and patient
areas should be maintained. Racetrack designs, long single corridors and ‘disjointed’ corridors
are avoided due to the difficulty in maintaining patient visibility by staff. The Staff Station is a
secured area, centrally located with patient recreation areas in direct view. Patient Bedrooms are
provided along corridors visible from the staff base.
Collaborative Care Model

In this model, mental health care is a joint collaboration between clinical and non-clinical streams
involving the patient, carers, community, consumers, carers, other professionals and clinicians.
The Collaborative Unit will have patient/ ‘client’ care coordinators who work individually with the
patient/ ‘client’ and their relatives or support persons.
The Unit and staff will have strong links to Primary Care facilities and specialists support which
may be external. Less emphasis is placed on visibility of patients/ ‘clients’ and more use is made
of innovative technologies such as videoconferencing, teleconferencing, shared electronic health
information, as well as direct consultation with patients/ ‘clients’ and carers.
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Planning Models
Location
The Unit will commonly be located at ground level to provide access to outdoor recreational areas
for patients. A Unit within a multi storey building will require the consideration of difficulties in
patient movement into and out of the unit and the ability to provide sufficient functional external
space for the clients.
External Planning
For stand-alone Units, the principal concept of planning should be to integrate the new facility with
its surrounds and other buildings. Planning of external spaces must take into account the
requirement for provision of secure gardens that have weather protection associated with the High
Dependency area, and an open garden area with weather protection for general use. The area
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should be based on 10 m per person.
Mental health patients may at times exhibit disturbed or high risk behaviour. Appropriate planning
and use of materials (for example safety glass, low maintenance/ resilient surfaces etc.) can
achieve an environment where all patients can co-exist with minimal disruption to each other.
Access to toilet facilities and storage of equipment for activities would also be of a high priority.
The unit should be able to accommodate patients of all levels of disturbance and distress without
taking on the characteristics of a correctional institution.
Internal Planning
Single Bedrooms are recommended to support gender separation, to provide patients with safe
personal space and reduce the risk of disturbance to other patients. Rooms may be grouped into
clusters that can be defined for distinct patient groups or gender; each cluster of rooms should
include a recreational and lounge space to allow for patient therapy/activities and flexibility for a
variety of patient categories including access to outdoor areas with appropriate weather
protection.
Additional considerations include:

 clearly defined patient residential areas readily identifiable by patients who may be
disoriented or disturbed
 an effective balance between opportunities for patients' privacy and the need for staff to
observe patient behaviours
 provision of flexible use spaces that will accommodate a variety of activities
 the inclusion of amenities to support families, carers, official visitors and consumers.
Functional Areas
The Adult Acute Mental health Inpatient Unit will consist of a number of functional areas or zones
as follows:
 Entrance/ Reception
 Assessment/ Consulting area including;
- Interview - family room
- Assessment/ Consulting rooms
 Inpatient/ Therapy Area with:
- Patient Bedrooms
- Treatment/examination rooms
- Medication storage and dispensing area
- Dining area which could also be used for therapy activities
- Servery, co-located with Dining facilities
- Activities and lounge areas
- Storage – patient belongings, activity materials, linen
- Support Areas - Clinical and non-clinical including Disposal Room and IT/
Communications facilities
- External space with protection from sun and rain
 High Dependency secure area including Dining/ Activities and Lounge/ sitting areas with a
secured courtyard; the high dependency area is optional depending on the service plan
 Administration & Office Area
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 Staff Amenities.
Entrance/ Reception
The Entrance provides direct access to the unit for patients referred for admission arriving either
with relatives, via police or ambulance and alternative access to the unit for patients arriving via
the Emergency Unit of the main hospital.
The Unit should have an emergency Entrance capable of direct approach by ambulance/ police
vehicles that is secure and has shelter from the weather to allow transfer of patients to be
protected from the elements. Provision should be made for a gun safe that allows Police to deposit
firearms prior to entering the Mental Health Unit.
A stand-alone unit should have an Entry with an airlock capable of accepting an ambulance trolley
and support staff with ease. There should be provision for an intercom and CCTV that is viewable
between the entrance, the Emergency entrance and the Reception/ Staff Station.
Visitors to the Unit should not be able to access inpatient areas without passing a reception area.
The Reception Area design must provide for staff safety with consideration given to security
glazing, remote door releases, CCTV, intercoms and duress alarms.
Assessment/ Consulting Areas
The Assessment area will consist of Consult/ Interview Rooms and Exam/ Assessment Rooms, for
use by nursing, allied health and medical staff to interview patients and relatives/ carers and
examine patients as necessary. Duress alarms are required in Consult, Examination and Interview
rooms.
The Assessment/ Consulting area should be directly screened from the Waiting Area. Acoustic
privacy in Consult and Examination rooms is essential; noise transmission between rooms should
be reduced to a minimum to maintain patient confidentiality.
The inpatient area should have access to Consult and Examination rooms for use by medical and
allied health professionals for consultation and therapy.
Inpatient/ Therapy Areas
Single Bedrooms
Bedrooms should be designed to avoid a narrow corridor at the entry to the room. There should be
no ‘blind spots’ in the rooms particularly those created by open doors. An external outlook coupled
with high ceilings adds to the perception of light and space and creates a positive contribution to
treatment and care.
At least one larger patient Bedroom with Ensuite should be provided for bariatric or special needs
patients.
Doors should open fully outwards for staff access in emergencies or should a patient attempt to
blockade themselves in the room. Door viewing panels are optional in general unit bedrooms and
will be dependent on the Unit’s Operational Policy. Bedroom doors should be key lockable from
the outside.
Low wattage night lighting for use by staff when carrying out night time observations of patients
should be provided. This may include wall inserted lighting to provide soft lighting to the floor.
Acoustic treatment to bedrooms is required to minimise transference of noise between adjoining

bedrooms.
Whilst domestic-style beds may be preferred for ambience, consideration should be given to
occupational health and safety issues of staff attending to low height beds.
Two Bed Rooms

Two bed rooms are not recommended due to difficulty in allocation of suitable patients and gender
separation and may result in the disruptive movement of patients to other rooms in order to
accommodate new admissions. Two bed rooms may be included in the Unit to provide an option
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for sharing or accommodation of a mother and child, if required by the service plan or operational
policy.
Ensuites
Each bedroom in the acute unit is to have access to an ensuite. There are a number of
configurations possible including inboard, outboard and externally accessible from the corridor.
The inboard option provides improved privacy and dignity, however, design should consider the
following issues related to this option:
 a narrow passage may be created at the entrance to the bedroom that may limit observation
through the door vision panel and facilitate barricading
 blind spots may be created inside the bedroom
 staff attending any emergencies in the room must enter in single file
 position of inbuilt joinery that could limit access.
Ensuite doors should open outwards, avoid creating a blind spot when open and be positioned
prevent the ensuite door and bedroom door to be tied together to create a barricade. Ensuite
doors are to be lockable by staff when needed and have a privacy latch that can be opened by
staff in an emergency. Ensuites may require staff control of water supply and drainage or discreet
observation panels, dependent on the Operational Policy of the Unit, the patient acuity and safety
considerations.
Activities Rooms
At least two separate social spaces shall be provided, one for quiet activities and one appropriate
for noisy activities. Activities rooms may be provided as multi-function spaces for flexibility of use.
Access to an external area for all type of weather use from at least one Activities Room is
desirable.
ECT Facilities
ECT procedures should be undertaken in the Day Procedures Unit, Operating Unit or fully
accredited and equipped ECT Suite.
Group Therapy Rooms

Space for group therapy shall be provided. Group Rooms may be combined with the quiet
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Activities Room provided that an additional 0.7 m per patient is added and a minimum room area
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of 21 m , enclosed for privacy, is available for therapy activities. Group rooms may include
teleconferencing facilities for multipurpose use.
Occupational Therapy
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Each Adult Acute Mental health Inpatient Unit shall contain 1.5 m of separate space per patient
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for Occupational Therapy with a minimum total area of 20.0 m .
The space shall include provisions for:
 Hand-washing
 Workbenches
 Storage and Displays
 Sink for wet activities such as art and pottery.
Occupational Therapy Areas may be shared between adjacent mental health units as required.
Courtyards/ External areas

External areas for mental health patients must be provided. External furniture avoiding the risk of
ligature points; bench seats and tables should be constructed of solid surface materials and
securely fixed to the ground. External areas should provide some covered space for shade and
patient use in inclement weather.
A separate, secured Courtyard must be provided for High Dependency mental health patients.
The Courtyard should be supervised by staff and enclosed with a secure perimeter of a height and
type to prevent climbing; footholds and handholds. Outdoor furniture should be positioned to
prevent climbing onto fences or building structure.
Secure storage for activity equipment and access to toilet facilities near the courtyard should be
considered.
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Landscaping
Landscaping in areas accessed by patients should avoid plants that can be climbed, have ligature
points and spiky, thorny or poisonous plants. Tall plants, trees or large pots should not be located
near the perimeters of secured external areas. Surfaces suitable for outdoor sporting activities
should be provided.
Lounge/ Dining/ Servery

Patients will generally have meals in a communal Dining Room. The room should be sized to
accommodate all patients in the Unit and carers. The Dining Room may be used for other
activities when not in use for meals.
A secure Servery may be located adjacent, from which meals may be served. The Servery should
be accessible only by staff. A Beverage Bay accessible by patients and controlled by staff may be
provided in this area.
The Lounge and Dining areas may be adjoining to provide a larger activities area. Access to an
external area is desirable. A quiet lounge should be provided for patients to retreat. Lounge and
Dining areas will require good visibility from the Staff Station. An accessible toilet should be
provided close to Dining/ Activities areas for convenient patient use.
Medication/ Treatment Room

The Medication/ Treatment room will be used for storage of medication and medication trolleys it
may also be utilised for the dispensing of medications to patients, patient injections and
treatments. The room should be located near the Staff Station and be secured with patient access
only under staff supervision. Space for a resuscitation trolley should also be included.
Patient Laundry
A patient laundry with domestic washing machine, dryer and ironing facilities should be provided
for patients to launder small items of clothing. External ventilation for this area is essential to
prevent moisture due to dryer heat. The room may also be used for activities of daily living (ADL)
assessment. The room should be lockable with access under staff supervision.
Patient Property Store

A secure patient property store may be required for patient belongings not stored within the
Bedroom such as additional clothing, bags and suitcases. Patient property should be stored in
separate compartments within the room.
Staff Station
The staff station should be located with good visibility of the Unit entrance and patient recreational
areas. The staff station design will be dependent on the Model of Care adopted for the Unit and
the patient acuity. The Staff Station may be a fully enclosed room with glazed security screens if
the custodial care model is implemented, or open and accessible to patients in the collaborative
care model. Patient information should be secure, records may be electronic.
The functions for this space may include:
 Staff handovers and case discussions
 Space for technology use e.g. computers, printers, phone charging and mobile duress
charging racks
 Storage of stationary and paper records
Support Areas
Support areas include Beverage Bays, Cleaner’s Room, Dirty Utility, Disposal Room, Linen Store
or cupboard, Equipment Storage, Offices and Stores and should be located in staff only
accessible areas. If located within the patient areas, the rooms or bays must be enclosed and
lockable.
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High Dependency / Seclusion

The High Dependency/ Unit should be located adjacent to the Staff Station to ensure good
visibility by staff, security and enhanced safety of staff and patients, promote rapid staff response
in patient emergencies and avoid transit of disturbed patients though the general unit.
This area should be capable of secure separation from the remainder of the unit. There should be
defined areas for male and female patients. Patients in this area will require access to a secured
courtyard.
The High Dependency bedrooms must be lockable and able to be opened from the corridor should
a patient attempt to blockade themselves in the room. Doors require a viewing panel, positioned
to ensure that should the glass be broken or removed, a patient cannot put an arm through and
operate the door lock. High Dependency bedrooms may be accessible to both the low
dependency and high dependency sections of the unit. The High Dependency Areas will require a
separate Dining/ Lounge/ Activities room and access to a Seclusion Room. The High
Dependency Area must have high impact resistant surfaces and finishes and tamper proof, anti-
ligature fittings.
Administration and Office Areas
Administration and office areas will require controlled access to prevent unauthorised entry by
patients or visitors.
The Unit Manager’s Office should be located in, or directly adjacent to the patient area and the
Staff Station. Access to workstations for allied health and medical staff should be considered in a
discreet area of the staff station.
Staff Amenities Areas

Staff amenities will consist of a Staff Room, Locker areas and Toilets. Staff amenities areas
should be located in a discreet area with restricted entry and able to be accessed 24 hours per
day.
Functional Relationships
External
The Adult Acute Mental health Unit will have a close functional relationship to:
 Other units of the Mental Health Service
 ECT Services
 Community Health support services
 External practitioners and mental health specialists
 Police
A stand-alone Unit will also have strong functional links to outsourced supply services which will
include the delivery of drugs, food, linen, general consumable supplies and waste handling for
deliveries and collections.
Internal
The Adult Acute Mental health Inpatient Unit should be located with ready access to the
Emergency Unit, Diagnostic Services, Day Surgery or Operating Unit, Main Entry and service and
support areas including Catering Unit, Cleaning/ Housekeeping, Linen Handling, Pharmacy,
Waste Management and Supply Unit.
3 Design
General
The design of the unit and external spaces should be domestic in nature rather than formal or
monumental. The Mental Health Unit will need to provide a sufficient amount of space for patient
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recreation, to reduce potential for aggressive behaviour and minimise claustrophobia while not
being excessive. The design should:
 create a therapeutic environment for patients which provide opportunities for privacy,
recreation and self-expression
 keep entry points to a minimum with the focus being on the Main Entrance to the facility
 separate the points of entry for patients and staff for safety issues
 provide for patient movement/ ambulation both indoors and outdoors with unobtrusive
environmental boundaries
 provide staff with unobtrusive observation of patients
 incorporate appropriate safety provisions for patients and staff
 provide clear directional signage to the service both internally and externally.
The Mental Health Unit will require building fabric that is resilient, impact resistant and able to
withstand damage due to violent behaviour and prevent opportunities for self-harm, irrespective of
whether the unit is accommodating acute or sub-acute patients. This will include floors, walls,
ceiling, doors, glazing, all fittings, furniture and fixtures.
Environmental Considerations
Acoustics
Acoustic treatment should be applied to the following areas:
 Patient lounge, dining and activities areas
 Bedrooms including high dependency, intensive care and seclusion rooms
 Consulting, Examination and Interview Rooms
In rooms requiring acoustic privacy, return air grilles should be acoustically treated and door grilles
avoided, minimising transfer of conversations to adjacent areas.
Windows and Glazing
Wherever possible, the use of natural light is to be maximised.
All windows and observation panels shall be glazed with toughened laminated glass.
Polycarbonate is not recommended due to surface scratching which may reduce visibility over
time.
Internal windows shall be double glazed in patient accessible areas; windows and frames are to
be flush faced.
For glazing, graduate the impact resistance of the glass from toughest at lower level to weakest at
high level. Specifically, toughened laminated glass with a minimum nominal thickness of
10.38mm, or equivalent approved is recommended for patient areas at low level.
In areas where damage to glass may be expected, avoid larger pane sizes. Smaller panes are
inherently stronger for a given thickness than larger panes.
The use of integral venetian in external windows should be considered to reduce the risk of self-
harm.
The addition of fly screens to windows that are able to be opened should be secured to reduce the
risk of removal by patients but still be able to be cleaned.
Where windows are operable, effective security features such as narrow windows that will not
allow patient escape, shall be provided. Locks, under the control of staff, shall be fitted.
Space Standards and Components

Size of Unit
The endorsed Clinical Service Plan and Operational Policy shall determine the size and function of
the Adult Mental Health Unit.
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The schedule of accommodation has been developed for typical 20 and 30 Bed Adult Mental
Health Unit. For alternative configurations, allocate space for key areas according to the following
guide:
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 Lounge/dining/activity areas - General - 7.5 m per person
2
 Lounge/dining/activity areas - Secure HDU – 10 m per person
2
 Outdoor areas (courtyards and terraces) - General – 7.5 m per person with a minimum area
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of 20 m
2
 Outdoor areas (courtyards and terraces) - Secure HDU – 10 m per person
 Consult/ Interview rooms - 1 per 5 beds ( which may also be used as family conference/
meeting rooms)
 Exam/assessment rooms - 1-2 per unit
Accessibility
Ensure all waiting areas, meeting rooms, interview rooms, consult and examination rooms will
accommodate patients/ visitors in wheelchairs. The provision of at least one fully accessible
Patient Bedroom with Ensuite in the general unit should be considered.
Safety and Security

Security within the facility and the surrounding outdoor area, related to patient movement requires
careful consideration and may include use of video surveillance, motion sensors, electronic
locking and movement sensor tracking systems. The safe and secure access by staff, community,
domestic services and deliveries should also be considered.
The design should assist staff to carry out their duties safely and to supervise patients by allowing
or restricting access to areas in a manner which is consistent with patient needs/skills. Staff
should be able to view patient movements and activities as naturally as possible, whenever
necessary.
Controlled and/or concealed access will be required as an option in a number of functional areas.
Functionally the only difference between an open and a secured (locked) area in their design
should be the provision of controls over the flow to, from and throughout the facility. Such controls
should be as unobtrusive as possible.
A communication system which enables staff to signal for assistance from other staff should be
included.
Duress
The provision of both fixed and individual mobile duress equipment with location finders should be
considered and planned for early in the project.
Finishes
The aesthetics are to be warm and user-friendly wherever possible. Surface finishes should be
impact resistant and easily cleaned. Floor finishes are to be non-clinical where possible and easy
to maintain.
Ceilings
Ceiling linings in patient areas within the Unit are to be solid sheet - not ceiling tiles. Provide
secure, tamper resistant, solid sheet ceilings to all patient areas, Seclusion Rooms and High
Dependency Units.
Refer also to Part C of these Guidelines.
Furniture, Fittings, Fixtures and Equipment

Furniture should be selected to be robust, impact resistant, and not be able to be used as a
weapon.
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Fittings and fixtures should be safe and durable and should avoid the potential to be used either
as a weapon or to inflict personal damage, there should be no ligature points.
Fittings, including hooks, curtain tracks and bathroom fittings should have no sharp edges, no
ligature points and a breaking strain of not more than 15kgs. Paintings, mirrors and signage
should be rigidly fixed to walls with tamper proof fixings.
Mirrors shall be of safety glass or other appropriate impact resistant and shatterproof construction
and must not distort the patient’s image. Mirrors shall be fully glued to a backing to prevent
availability of loose fragments of broken glass.
Holland blinds, venetian blinds and curtains should be avoided in patient areas with the preference
for integral venetian to external windows. Curtain tracks, pelmets and other fittings that provide
potential for patients to hang themselves should be avoided or designed so that the potential is
removed noting the breaking strain of 15kgs..
Generally, all fixings should be heavy duty, concealed, and where exposed, tamper proof.
Doors & Door Hardware
Doors and door frames should be impact resistant. All doors except Ensuites should be fitted with
vision panels of a suitable impact resistant glass. Where privacy is required, vision panels are to
be covered or obscured this can be achieved by the use of integral venetians or slide panels. The
doors may also provide a ligature point which must be considered; doors are not required to
patient wardrobes to minimise ligature points.
Door hardware must not provide points for ligature.
Building Service Requirements

Avoid exposed services; for example, sink wastes which may be easily damaged or used as
ligature points. Toilet cisterns enclosed behind the wall, Shower heads flush to the wall and
downward facing and taps without ligature points.
Light fittings, smoke detectors, thermal detectors and air-conditioning vents to higher dependent
areas, particularly Seclusion Rooms, should be vandal proof and incapable of supporting a
patient's weight.
Patient/ Staff/ Emergency Call System
An emergency call system must be provided and may include fixed and personal duress systems
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that are worn by staff; ceiling locators are installed to support mobile duress units with a 5m
position locator. Fixed duress call buttons should be located strategically around the Unit for
convenient access by staff. A Patient call system is recommended to be installed to patient
Bedrooms and Ensuites. The Unit Operational Policies and guidelines will determine the need for
inclusion of a patient/ nurse call system and the type required. Considerations include location of
buttons that may not always be in easy reach of patients, patient abuse of systems and the type of
patients in the Unit that are usually ambulant and able to seek assistance from staff
independently.
Patient and emergency call buttons must be tamper proof and covered. Mobile duress units for
staff may also include telephone capabilities e.g. DECT phones and duress. Duress pendants are
not supported due to risk of harm to the wearer.
Infection Control
Handbasins for staff hand washing must be provided in corridors and patient activities areas.
Basins should have a shroud or cover to plumbing and tapware and outlets must not provide
ligature points, sensor or push button operated tapware is recommended.
Refer to Part D – Infection Control for additional details.
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4 Components of the Unit
The Adult Mental Health Unit will consist of Standard Components to comply with details
described in these Guidelines. Refer also to Standard Components Room Data Sheets and Room
Layout Sheets.
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5 Schedule of Accommodation – Mental Health Unit - Adult
Adult Mental Health Unit with 20 Beds and 30 Beds, located within a health facility
ROOM/ SPACE Standard Component RDL 2 RDL 3 RDL 4 & 5 RDL 6 Remarks
Room Codes N/A N/A Qty x m2 Qty x m2
Reception/ Consult 20 Beds (16+4) 30 Beds (24+6)
Airlock - Entry AIRLE-10-I 1 x 10 1 x 10
Reception/ Clerical RECL-10-I RECL-12-I 1 x 10 1 x 12
Waiting WAIT-15-I WAIT-20-I 1 x 15 1 x 20 May be divided into Female/ Family areas as applicable
Waiting - Family WAIT-15-I WAIT-20-I 1 x 15 1 x 20 May include a child Play Area
Parenting Room PAR-I 1 x 6 1 x 6 May share with Main facility if located close
Consult - Mental Health CONS-MH-I 4 x 14 6 x 14 Interview function, family meetings; 1 per 5 beds
Examination/ Assessment EXAS-MH-I 1 x 15 1 x 15 1 – 2 per unit depending on size of unit
Meeting Room, Medium/ Large MEET-L-20-I MEET-L-30-I 1 x 20 1 x 30 Also for Group Therapy & patient reviews
Store - Files STFS-10-I 1 x 10 1 x 10 For clinical records; optional if electronic records used
Store - Photocopy/ Stationery STPS-8-I 1 x 8 1 x 8
Toilet - Accessible WCAC-I 1 x 6 1 x 6 May share with Main facility if located close
Toilet - Public WCPU-3-I 2 x 3 2 x 3 May share with Main facility if located close
Sub Total 177.0 227.0
Circulation % 35 35
Area Total 239.0 306.5
Inpatient/Therapy Areas - General Open Unit 16 Beds 24 Beds

1 Bed Room - Mental Health 1 BR-MH-18-I 12 x 18 20 x 18
1 Bed Room - Mental Health, 28 m2 1 BR-MH-28-I 2 x 28 2 x 28 Special purpose room as required
2 Bed Room - Mental Health 2 BR-MH-28-I 1 x 28 1 x 28 Optional, dependent on Operational Policy
Ensuite - Mental Health ENS-MH-I 15 x 5 23 x 5
Dining Room (Mental Health) DINMH-30-I 1 x 40 1 x 60 See Note 1
Gymnasium GYAH-45-I (sim) 1 x 20 1 x 20 Optional in a 20 Bed Unit
Laundry - Mental Health LAUN-MH-I 1 x 6 1 x 6
Lounge/ Activities Room LNAC-55-I (sim) 1 x 40 1 x 60 See Note 1
Multifunction Activities Room MAC-20-I (sim) 1 x 40 1 x 40 See Note 1
Quiet Lounge LNPT-15-I 1 x 15 1 x 15
Seclusion Room SECL-I 1 x 14 1 x 14 Optional in a General Unit
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Courtyard CTSE-I 1 x 120 1 x 180 Based on 7.5 m2 per person
Bathroom BATH-I 1 x 16 1 x 16 Optional; locked
Bay - Handwashing BHWS-B-I (sim) 4 x 1 6 x 1 With anti-ligature tapware & basin fittings
Bay - Linen BLIN-I 1 x 2 2 x 2 Enclosed and locked
Bay - Resuscitation Trolley BRES-I 1 x 1.5 1 x 1.5 Locate in Staff Station or Medication/ Treatment
Cleaners Room CLRM-5-I 1 x 5 1 x 5
Communications Room COMM-I 1 x 0 1 x 0 Size dependant on IT specifications; area is a part of Plant
Dirty Utility DTUR-10-I 1 x 10 1 x 10
Disposal Room DISP-8-I 1 x 8 1 x 8
Medication/ Treatment Room MED-MH-I 1 x 12 1 x 12
Office - Clinical/ Handover OFF-CLN-I 1 x 15 1 x 15
Servery/ Trolley Holding (Mental Health) SERV-MH-I 1 x 15 1 x 15 Locate adjacent to Dining
Staff Station SSTN-14-I SSTN-20-I 1 x 14 1 x 20 May be re-sized or sub divided for surveillance
Store - Equipment STEQ-10-I STEQ-16-I 1 x 10 1 x 16
Store - General STGN-6-I STGN-12-I 1 x 6 1 x 12
Store - Patient Property STPP-I 1 x 8 1 x 8
Toilet - Accessible WCAC-I 1 x 6 1 x 6 May be located near Dining/ Activities areas
Toilet - Staff WCST-I 1 x 3 1 x 3 Located in a staff only accessed area
Sub Total 805.5 1111.5
Circulation % 35 35
Area Total 1087.4 1500.5
HDU - Secure Unit 4 Beds 6 Beds Optional - Dependent on Service Plan

Airlock - Entry AIRLE-10-I 1 x 10 1 x 10 Secure entry with weather protection
Waiting - Secure WAIT-SEC-I 1 x 6 1 x 6 May be shared between secure units
Exam/ Assessment Room EXAS-MH-I 1 x 15 1 x 15 May be shared between secure units
1 Bed Room - Mental Health 1 BR-MH-18-I 4 x 18 6 x 18 May be subdivided into pods, each with a Sitting room
Ensuite - Mental Health ENS-MH-I 3 x 5 4 x 5 Accessible from Corridor, 1 for Assessment room
Dining Room/ Beverage Bay (Mental Health) DINBEV-38-I (sim) 1 x 20 1 x 25 Used for Activities between meals; see Note 2
Lounge - Activities (Mental Health) LNAC-20-I 1 x 20 1 x 20 See Note 2
Multi-Function Activities Room (Mental Health) MAC-20-I 1 x 15 See Note 2
Seclusion Room SECL-I 1 x 14 2 x 14
Sitting Area SIT-3-I 4 x 3 6 x 3 Combine as appropriate depending on layout
International
Courtyard - Secure CTSE-I 1 x 40 1 x 60 Based on 10m2 per person
Bay - Handwashing BHWS-B-I (sim) 1 x 1 2 x 1
Bay- Linen (Locked) BLIN-I 1 x 2 1 x 2
Staff Station SSTN-10-I SSTN-14-I 1 x 10 1 x 14 May be combined with General Unit Staff Station
Store - Equipment/ General STEQ-6-I 1 x 6 1 x 6 May be combined with General Unit Equipment Store
Store - Patient Property STPP-I 1 x 4 May be combined with general Unit
Toilet - Staff, (M/F) WCST-I 1 x 3 1 x 3
Sub Total 246.0 356.0
Circulation % 35 35
Administration/ Offices & Staff Amenities

Waiting - Sub WAIT-SUB-I 1 x 5 1 x 5
Bay - Beverage BBEV-OP-I 1 x 4 1 x 4 May be located near Meeting room/s
Meeting Room, Small MEET-9-I 1 x 9 1 x 9 Interviews
Meeting Room, Medium/ Large MEET-L-20-I MEET-L-30-I 1 x 20 1 x 30
Office - Single, 12 m2, Director OFF-S12-I 1 x 12 1 x 12
Office - Single, 12 m2, Psychiatrist OFF-S12-I 1 x 12 1 x 12
Office - Single, 9 m2, Nurse Manager OFF-S9-I 1 x 9 1 x 9
Office - Single, 9 m2 OFF-S9-I 2 x 9 4 x 9 See Note 3
Office - 2 Person, Shared, Medical Staff OFF-2P-I 1 x 12 2 x 12 See Note 3
Office - 2 Person, Shared, Nursing Staff OFF-2P-I 1 x 12 2 x 12 See Note 3
Office - 2 Person, Shared, Allied Health OFF-2P-I 1 x 12 2 x 12 See Note 3
Office - 4 Person, Shared OFF-4P-I 1 x 20 2 x 20 See Note 3
Property Bay - Staff PROP-3-I PROP-6-I 2 x 3 2 x 6
Staff Room SRM-15-I SRM-18-I 1 x 15 1 x 20
Shower - Staff SHST-I 1 x 3 1 x 3 Optional
Toilet - Staff WCST-I 2 x 3 2 x 3
Sub Total 192.0 290.0

Circulation % 25 25
International
Grand Total 1898.5 2650.1
2
Note 1: Overall size of recreational areas in the General Unit is based on 7.5 m per person; rooms may be re-sized according to numbers of persons to be
accommodated.
2
Note 2: Overall size of recreational areas in the HDU/ Secure areas are based 10 m per person; rooms may be re-sized according to numbers of persons to be
accommodated.
Note 3: Offices to be provided according to the number of approved full time positions within the Unit
Note 4: Kitchen size and equipment will be dependent on Operational Policy - food prepared off site or on site; method of food preparation and delivery
Please also note the following:

 Areas noted in Schedules of Accommodation take precedence over all other areas noted in the FPU.
 Rooms indicated in the schedule reflect the typical arrangement according to the Role Delineation.
 Exact requirements for room quantities and sizes will reflect Key Planning Units identified in the Service Plan and the Operational Policies of the Unit.
 Room sizes indicated should be viewed as a minimum requirement; variations are acceptable to reflect the needs of individual Unit.
 Staff and support rooms may be shared between Functional Planning Units dependant on location and accessibility to each unit and may provide scope to
reduce duplication of facilities.
International
Stand-alone Adult Mental Health Unit with 20 Beds and 30 Beds

Reception/ Consult 20 Beds (16+4) 30 Beds (22+8)
Airlock- Entry AIRLE-10-I 1 x 10 1 x 10
Waiting WAIT-15-I WAIT-20-I 1 x 15 1 x 20 May be divided into Female/ Family areas as applicable
Waiting - Family WAIT-15-I WAIT-20-I 1 x 15 1 x 20 May include a child Play Area
Parenting Room PAR-I 1 x 6 1 x 6
Consult - Mental Health CONS-MH-I 4 x 14 6 x 14 Interview function, family meetings; 1 per 5 beds
Examination/ Assessment EXAS-MH-I 1 x 15 1 x 15 1 – 2 per unit depending on size of unit
Meeting Room, Medium/ Large MEET-L-20-I MEET-L-30-I 1 x 20 1 x 30 Also for Group Therapy & patient reviews
Store - Files STFS-10-I 1 x 10 1 x 10 For clinical records; optional if electronic records used
Toilet - Accessible WCAC-I 1 x 6 1 x 6
Toilet - Public WCPU-3-I 2 x 3 2 x 3
Sub Total 177.0 227.0
Circulation % 35 35
Inpatient/Therapy Areas - General Open Unit 16 Beds 24 Beds

1 Bed Room - Mental Health 1 BR-MH-18-I 12 x 18 20 x 18
1 Bed Room - Mental Health, 28 m2 1 BR-MH-28-I 2 x 28 2 x 28 Special purpose room as required
2 Bed Room - Mental Health 2 BR-MH-28-I 1 x 28 1 x 28 Optional, dependent on Operational Policy
Ensuite - Mental Health ENS-MH-I 15 x 5 23 x 14
Dining Room (Mental Health) DINMH-30-I 1 x 40 1 x 60 See Note 1
Gymnasium GYAH-45-I (sim) 1 x 20 1 x 20 Optional in a 20 Bed Unit
Laundry - Mental Health LAUN-MH-I 1 x 6 1 x 6
Lounge/ Activities Room LNAC-55-I (sim) 1 x 40 1 x 60 See Note 1
Multifunction Activities Room MAC-20-I (sim) 1 x 40 1 x 40 See Note 1
Quiet Lounge LNPT-15-I (sim) 1 x 15 1 x 15
Seclusion Room SECL-I 1 x 14 1 x 14 Optional in a General Unit
Courtyard CTSE-I (sim) 1 x 120 1 x 180 Based on 7.5m2 per person
Bathroom BATH-I 1 x 16 1 x 16 Optional; locked
International
Bay - Handwashing BHWS-B-I (sim) 4 x 1 6 x 1 With anti-ligature tapware & basin fittings
Bay - Linen BLIN-I 1 x 2 2 x 2 Enclosed and locked
Bay - Resuscitation Trolley BRES-I 1 x 1.5 1 x 1.5 Locate in Staff Station or Medication/ Treatment
Cleaners Room CLRM-5-I 1 x 5 1 x 5
Dirty Utility DTUR-10-I 1 x 10 1 x 10
Medication/ Treatment Room MED-MH-I 1 x 12 1 x 12
Office - Clinical/ Handover OFF-CLN-I 1 x 15 1 x 15
Servery/ Trolley Holding (Mental Health) SERV-MH-I 1 x 15 1 x 15 Locate adjacent to Dining
Staff Station SSTN-14-I SSTN-20-I 1 x 14 1 x 20 May be re-sized or sub divided for surveillance
Store - Equipment STEQ-10-I STEQ-16-I 1 x 10 1 x 16
Store - General STGN-9-I STGN-12-I 1 x 9 1 x 12
Store - Patient Property STPP-I 1 x 8 1 x 8
Toilet - Accessible WCAC-I 1 x 6 1 x 6 May be located near Dining/ Activities areas
Toilet - Staff WCST-I 1 x 3 1 x 3 Located in a staff only accessed area
Sub Total 808.5 1318.5
Circulation % 35 35
Area Total 1091.5 1780.0
HDU - Secure Unit 4 Beds 6 Beds Optional - Dependent on Service Plan

Airlock - Entry AIRLE-10-I 1 x 10 1 x 10 Secure entry with weather protection
Waiting - Secure WAIT-SEC-I 1 x 6 1 x 6 May be shared between secure units
Exam/ Assessment Room EXAS-MH-I 1 x 15 1 x 15 May be shared between secure units
1 Bed Room - Mental Health 1 BR-MH-18-I 4 x 18 6 x 18 May be subdivided into pods, each with a Sitting room
Ensuite - Mental Health ENS-MH-I 3 x 5 4 x 5 Accessible from Corridor, 1 for Assessment room
Dining Room/ Beverage Bay (Mental Health) DINBEV-38-I (sim) 1 x 20 1 x 25 Used for Activities between meals; see Note 2
Lounge - Activities (Mental Health) LNAC-20-I 1 x 20 1 x 20 See Note 2
Multi-Function Activities Room (Mental Health) MAC-20-I 1 x 15 See Note 2
Seclusion Room SECL-I 1 x 14 2 x 14
Sitting Area SIT-3-I 4 x 3 6 x 3 Combine as appropriate depending on layout
Courtyard - Secure CTSE-I 1 x 40 1 x 60 Based on 10 m2 per person
Bay - Handwashing BHWS-B-I (sim) 1 x 1 2 x 1
Bay- Linen (Locked) BLIN-I 1 x 2 1 x 2
International
Staff Station SSTN-10-I SSTN-14-I 1 x 10 1 x 14 May be combined with General Unit Staff Station
Store - Equipment/ General STEQ-6-I 1 x 6 1 x 6 May be combined with General Unit Equipment Store
Store - Patient Property STPP-I x 1 x 4 May be combined with general Unit
Toilet - Staff, (M/F) WCST-I 1 x 3 1 x 3
Sub Total 246.0 356.0
Circulation % 35 35
Administration/ Office Areas

Waiting - Sub WAIT-SUB-I 1 x 5 1 x 5
Bay - Beverage BBEV-OP-I BBEV-ENC-I 1 x 4 1 x 5 May be located near Meeting room/s
Meeting Room, Small MEET-9-I 1 x 9 1 x 9 Interviews
Meeting Room, Medium/ Large MEET-L-20-I MEET-L-30-I 1 x 20 1 x 30
Office - Single, 12m2, Director OFF-S12-I 1 x 12 1 x 12
Office - Single, 12m2, Psychiatrist OFF-S12-I 1 x 12 1 x 12
Office - Single, 9m2, Nurse Manager OFF-S9-I 1 x 9 1 x 9
Office - Single, 9m2 OFF-S9-I 2 x 9 4 x 9 See Note 3
Office - 2 Person, Shared, Medical Staff OFF-2P-I 1 x 12 2 x 12 See Note 3
Office - 2 Person, Shared, Nursing Staff OFF-2P-I 1 x 12 2 x 12 See Note 3
Office - 2 Person, Shared, Allied Health OFF-2P-I 1 x 12 2 x 12 See Note 3
Office - 4 Person, Shared OFF-4P-I 1 x 20 2 x 20 See Note 3
Store - Files STFS-8-I STFS-10-I 1 x 8 1 x 10
Sub Total 170.0 260.0
Circulation % 25 25
Staff & Support Areas

Cleaners Room CLRM-10-I 1 x 10 1 x 10 Includes storage of cleaning consumables
Communications Room COMM-I 1 x 0 1 x 0 Size dependant on IT specifications; area is a part of Plant
Kitchen NS 1 x 30 1 x 40 See Note 4 ; Dependent on Operational Policy
International
Loading Dock LODK-I (sim) 1 x 15 1 x 20
Linen Holding - Clean DISP-10-I 1 x 10 1 x 10
Linen Holding - Dirty DISP-8-I 1 x 8 1 x 8
Store - Medical Records STFS-20-I (sim) 1 x 20 1 x 25 Size will be dependent on quantity of records to be held
Staff Room SRM-15-I SRM-18-I 1 x 15 1 x 20
Property Bay - Staff PROP-3-I PROP-6-I 2 x 3 2 x 6
Shower - Staff SHST-I 1 x 3 1 x 3 Optional
Toilet - Staff WCST-I 2 x 3 2 x 3
Waste Holding/ Recyclables WACO-I (Similar) 1 x 20 1 x 25
Sub Total 159.0 195.0
Circulation % 25 25
Grand Total 2073.8 3135.8
2
Note 1: Overall size of recreational areas in the General Unit is based on 7.5 m per person; rooms may be re-sized according to numbers of persons to be
accommodated.
2
Note 2: Overall size of recreational areas in the HDU/ Secure areas are based 10 m per person; rooms may be re-sized according to numbers of persons to be
accommodated.
Note 3: Offices to be provided according to the number of approved full time positions within the Unit
Note 4: Kitchen size and equipment will be dependent on Operational Policy - food prepared off site or on site; method of food preparation and delivery
Please also note the following:

 Areas noted in Schedules of Accommodation take precedence over all other areas noted in the FPU.
 Rooms indicated in the schedule reflect the typical arrangement according to the Role Delineation.
 Exact requirements for room quantities and sizes will reflect Key Planning Units identified in the Service Plan and the Operational Policies of the Unit.
 Room sizes indicated should be viewed as a minimum requirement; variations are acceptable to reflect the needs of individual Unit.
 Staff and support rooms may be shared between Functional Planning Units dependant on location and accessibility to each unit and may provide scope to
reduce duplication of facilities
International
6 Functional Relationship Diagram – Mental Health Unit - Adult
International
7 References and Further Reading
 Australasian Health Facility Guidelines, Part B Health Facility Briefing and Planning, Adult
Acute Mental Health Unit, Rev 5, 2012; refer to website www.healthfacilitydesign.com.au
 National Advisory Council on Mental Health (Australia), December 2010, Fitting Together the
Pieces: Collaborative Care Models for Adults with Severe and Persistent Mental Illness.
 DH (Department of Health) NHS Estates (UK) Health Building Note 35 Accommodation for
people with Mental Illness, part 1 – The Acute Unit., 2006; refer to website
www.estatesknowledge.dh.gov.uk
 Royal College of Psychiatrists (UK), 2007, Standards for Medium Secure Units, Quality
Network for medium secure units
 The Facility Guidelines Institute (US), 2010 Edition. Guidelines for Design and Construction
of Health Care Facilities; ) refer to website www.fgiguidelines.org .
International
The International Health Facility Guidelines recommends the
use of HFBS “Health Facility Briefing System” to edit all
room data sheet information for your project.
HFBS provides edit access to all iHFG standard rooms, and

departments, and more than 100 custom report templates.
The Health Facility Briefing System (HFBS) has numerous

Health Facility modules available via annual subscription. It suits healthcare
Briefing System Architects, Medical Planners, Equipment Planners Project
Managers and Health Authorities.
Use the HFBS Briefing Module to quickly drag in health facility
departments or pre-configured room templates from the iHFG
standard, edit the room features such as finishes, furniture,
fittings, fixtures, medical equipment, engineering services. The
system can print or download as PDF more than 100 custom
reports including room data sheets, schedules, and more…
To learn more about the HFBS web-based Healthcare Briefing
and Design Software and to obtain editable versions of the
“Standard Components” including Room Data Sheets (RDS)
and Room Layout Sheets (RLS) offered on the iHFG website,
Briefing signup for HFBS using the link below.
Module Get Started Now:
hfbs.healthdesign.com.au
 iHFG Room Data Sheets and

Departments are instantly editable in
the HFBS software available online.
 You can access hundreds of report

templates to print your iHFG room
data in HFBS.
 HFBS has a onetime free 3 day trial

available to all new users.
Get Started Now:

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Health Facility Briefing System

hfbsinfo.com | techsupport@healthdesign.com.au

iHFG Part B Mental Health Unit Adult

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Part B – Health Facility Briefing & Design

180 Mental Health Unit - Adult

International Health Facility Guidelines

180 Mental Health Unit - Adult

This FPU is applicable to:

 Child & Adolescent unit

Custodial (Acute Care) model

Collaborative Care Model

Additional considerations include:

Acoustic treatment to bedrooms is required to minimise transference of noise between adjoining

Two Bed Rooms

Group Therapy Rooms

Courtyards/ External areas

Lounge/ Dining/ Servery

Medication/ Treatment Room

Patient Property Store

High Dependency / Seclusion

Staff Amenities Areas

Space Standards and Components

Safety and Security

Refer also to Part C of these Guidelines.

Furniture, Fittings, Fixtures and Equipment

Door hardware must not provide points for ligature.

Building Service Requirements

Refer to Part D – Infection Control for additional details.

4 Components of the Unit

5 Schedule of Accommodation – Mental Health Unit - Adult

Inpatient/Therapy Areas - General Open Unit 16 Beds 24 Beds

HDU - Secure Unit 4 Beds 6 Beds Optional - Dependent on Service Plan

Administration/ Offices & Staff Amenities

Sub Total 192.0 290.0

Grand Total 1898.5 2650.1

Please also note the following:

Stand-alone Adult Mental Health Unit with 20 Beds and 30 Beds

Inpatient/Therapy Areas - General Open Unit 16 Beds 24 Beds

HDU - Secure Unit 4 Beds 6 Beds Optional - Dependent on Service Plan

Administration/ Office Areas

Staff & Support Areas

Grand Total 2073.8 3135.8

Please also note the following:

6 Functional Relationship Diagram – Mental Health Unit - Adult

7 References and Further Reading

HFBS provides edit access to all iHFG standard rooms, and

The Health Facility Briefing System (HFBS) has numerous

 iHFG Room Data Sheets and

 You can access hundreds of report

 HFBS has a onetime free 3 day trial

Get Started Now:

Health Facility Briefing System

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