ICRA and PCRA During Hospital Construction

Short Answer

ICRA usually refers to infection-control risk assessment for construction, renovation or maintenance activity. PCRA is used here as pre-construction risk assessment, covering broader facility and service-continuity risks before work begins.

Both tools are useful when a hospital plans civil work, HVAC work, plumbing, electrical shutdowns, ward renovation, OT modification, ICU work, laboratory changes or any activity that may disturb patients, staff, airflow, dust, utilities or emergency access.

ICRA Focus

• Construction activity type and duration.
• Patient-risk group affected by nearby activity.
• Infection-control class or control level.
• Dust barriers, airflow controls and cleaning frequency.
• Waste route, PPE, monitoring and authorisation.

ICRA connects closely with IPC construction and renovation controls. The IPC team should be involved before work starts, not only after dust or contamination complaints begin.

PCRA Focus

• Infection, fire, utilities, structural, noise and vibration risks.
• Patient movement, emergency access and service-continuity controls.
• Shutdown planning for oxygen, electricity, water, lifts, HVAC or medical equipment.
• Communication with affected departments and escalation owners.

PCRA connects closely with FMS pre-construction risk assessment because facility changes can affect emergency response, utility reliability and patient-care continuity.

Implementation Tip

The most useful ICRA/PCRA meeting happens before purchase orders and work permits are finalised. Once contractors are on site, risk controls become harder and more expensive to enforce.