Sanitary Piping:
Protecting Operations
From the Inside Out

Aging sanitary piping corrode, clog, and fail — creating odors, sewer flies, and, in the worst cases, black-water incidents. These failures threaten infection prevention, disrupt patient care, and drain budgets with repeat emergency calls.

Schedule a Sanitary Piping Assessment
 

GHP expertly advised us every step of the way. We’re so grateful for their expertise, which was needed for a project of this complexity.
—Andy Coelho, Senior Vice President of Construction, Facilities & Design, Sunrise Senior Living

 

The Risks You Can’t See

 

We help hospitals and senior living facilities move from reactive “break/fix” to proactive, systemwide replacement — keeping operations running while fixing the root cause.

Sanitary piping is one of the least visible — and most critical — building systems in healthcare and senior living facilities. When stacks deteriorate, the risks add up quickly:

 

Hidden Failures

Corrosion and buildup compromise pipes inside walls, ceilings, and slabs.

Clinical Continuity

Patient care can’t pause; projects must phase around active units, kitchens, and towers.

Infection Prevention

Live-line replacements carry high risk without proper controls.

Cost & Capital Planning

Emergency calls add up — while phased programs smooth budgets and reduce downtime.

 

Case Study:

Major Acute-Care Hospital
Sanitary Stack Replacement

 

Challenge:
A large regional hospital was experiencing frequent sanitary stack failures, resulting in recurring emergencies, costly downtime, and rising maintenance expenses.

Approach:
GHP performed a full system assessment, prioritized high-risk areas, and developed a multi-year phased replacement plan.

Outcomes:

  • Significant reduction in emergency incidents
  • Predictable capital planning
  • Uninterrupted patient operations
 
 
 

Our Process

 

Replacing sanitary stacks in active healthcare environments requires more than plumbing skills. It takes a partner who understands infection prevention, clinical continuity, and the complexity of multi-year capital planning.

At GHP, we bring deep healthcare infection-prevention expertise, proven experience phasing projects without disrupting care, and fully integrated teams of architects, construction managers, and environmental specialists. Just as importantly, we approach every project with a program mindset — transforming one-off emergencies into long-term, proactive solutions.

 

Diagnose the System

We begin with a detailed assessment — mapping every stack, identifying corrosion and buildup, and prioritizing the highest-risk areas.

Plan Around Operations

From developing phasing strategies that minimize rooms offline to designing and building temporary kitchens and coordinating shutdown windows, we align every step with infection-prevention protocols and operational needs.

Execute End-to-End

Unlike firms that handle only one piece of the puzzle, GHP manages the entire effort under one roof. Our architects design reroutes and temporary kitchens, our construction services team delivers replacements and manages contractors, and our environmental specialists oversee infection-prevention compliance and verification.

 

Featured Experts

 

Behind every successful project is a team of specialists who understand both the technical and operational realities of working in complex healthcare environments. At GHP, our architects, engineers, and construction professionals bring deep experience across system assessments, infection prevention, and live-facility execution — from emergency response to long-term infrastructure planning.

Our sanitary stack programs are led by cross-disciplinary teams that coordinate assessment, design, and phased replacement under one roof. It’s the same integrated expertise that supports our clients across architecture, environmental consulting, and construction services — proof that sanitary systems are just one part of a much larger capability.

 
Rich Crim, PE, LEED AP BD+C
VP, Director of Operations
Don Cole
VP, TN Environmental
 

Explore More Resources

 

Sanitary stacks may be hidden, but their impact on operations is anything but. From preventing costly emergencies to protecting infection control, our team brings the technical expertise and healthcare know-how to plan and execute replacements without disruption. Explore our articles to learn more about the challenges, solutions, and best practices shaping building system performance.


Infection Prevention Meets Infrastructure: Executing Live-Line Work Safely

From Emergency Response to Programmed Replacement
 

Talk to an Expert

Whether you’re facing repeat emergencies or planning for long-term improvements, our team is here to help. Let’s start the conversation about protecting your facility — and the people who depend on it.

 
 
 
 
 

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