Articles & Publications

Fire Safety - Importance of regular inspection stressed, IHEEM Health Estate Journal January 2015 Volume 69 Number 1 page 45

Fire safety is one of the highest priorities for all healthcare organisations given the nature of the people in our care and the significant consequences relating to a fire situation. Fire safety is a core element and consideration within CQC inspections and under the PAMS system of self-reporting (S15. safe and compliant with well managed systems in relation to: Fire Safety) NHS organisations are required to make an annual statement of compliance to provide assurance that the buildings under their control are safe and appropriately managed.
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Legionella L8 - Consider the ventilation aspects,  IHEEM Health Estate Journal November 2014 Volume 68 Number 10 page 40

The HSE ACOP L8 and supporting HSG274 Parts 1 - 3 Guidance sets the minimum standards by which everyone should work to manage the risks from waterborne microbiological pathogens. The NHS is fortunate to have further supporting guidance in the form of HTM core standard 00, 04-01 (3 parts) and HTM 03-01 (2 Parts), however with all of this available guidance some elements of healthcare building services engineering are all too often overlooked and in an attempt to stimulate discussion and raise awareness of the issues the following sets out some of the points to consider.
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Aspergillus Fumigatus - a ubiquitous foe, IHEEM Health Estate Journal October 2014 Volume 68 Number 9 page 37

Aspergillus is easy to find, challenging to control and its effect on highly vulnerable patients severe.  Anecdotal evidence and reports suggest that infections are on the rise and the overall cost in terms of patient risk and clinical episodes make an awareness of the potential risks essential for all healthcare estates professionals. Effective communication, early assessment of risk, and joint working with clinical colleagues is key to ensure that healthcare environments remain as safe as possible for those in our care.  
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Specialist Ventilation in Healthcare Society Code of Conduct

Every Authorising Engineer shall at all times so order his conduct as to uphold the dignity and reputation of his profession and to safeguard the public interest in matters of safety and health and otherwise. He shall exercise his professional skill and judgment to the best of his ability and discharge his professional responsibilities with integrity. To this end the SVH Society has developed and maintains the following code of conduct for all registered AE(V)’s.
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Fire Damper Maintenance Guidance

The following document has been issued by SVHSoc. to help clarify Healthcare Ventilation maintenance requirements for fire and smoke dampers.

It highlights a number of commonly encountered problems and provides specific guidance and advice on the minimum standards to be provided to ensure patient safety in healthcare premises.
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Air Handling Unit Condition Based Monitoring – Briefing Guidance

The following document has been issued by SVHSoc. to help clarify Healthcare Ventilation maintenance requirements for air handling plant which is in excess of its “normal” 20 year average life expectancy (as defined in HTM 03-01 Part A clause 4.4) or has been identified through risk assessment as having critical risk of single point catastrophic failure.

It highlights a number of commonly encountered problems and provides specific guidance and advice on the minimum standards to be provided to ensure patient safety in healthcare premises.
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Critical Ventilation Risk Assessment – Briefing Guidance

This guidance document has been produced to provide assistance to healthcare professional with responsibilities for the management, maintenance and use of critical ventilation systems.

It aims to outline factors to consider when assessing any critical ventilation system to ensure that unplanned unavailability issues are as far as reasonably practical minimised and identify control measures or mitigation in managing the identified risks.
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IHEEM Code of Conduct for Authorising Engineers

Every Authorising Engineer shall at all times so order his conduct as to uphold the dignity and reputation of his profession and to safeguard the public interest in matters of safety and health and otherwise. He shall exercise his professional skill and judgment to the best of his ability and discharge his professional responsibilities with integrity. To this end the IHEEM Water Technical Platform has developed and maintains the following code of conduct for all registered AE(W)’s.
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SVH Guidance on Theatre Panels

The following document provides background and guidance to the factors to consider when specifying or designing a surgeons’ panel for the control of the ventilation systems present within an operating theatre environment.

It highlights a number of commonly encountered problems and provides specific guidance and advice on the minimum standards to be provided to ensure patient safety in healthcare premises.
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SVH Guidance on Air Filter Test Classification Standards

The following document has been issued by SVHSoc. in response to the new BS EN 16798-3:2017 which has replaced BS EN13779:2007. The BS EN defines the recommended last filter stage in air conditioning in correlation with the outside air quality and the required indoor air quality.

The air filter test standard and efficiency classification system were changed in 2016 from BS EN 779:2012 to BS EN 16890:2016. The guidance will explain how to determine the Outside Air Quality, pick the appropriate Supply Air Category and select a suitable filter classification.

It is important to recognise that in the Healthcare setting these new standards are not concerned with airborne infection protection but relate to the “Breathable” air quality for all persons within a building.

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Cryptococcus Briefing for AE(V)’s, AP(V)’s & Estates Professionals

The following document has been issued by SVHSoc. in response to an incident of two patient deaths at a Glasgow hospital, reported as ‘due to infections of cryptococcus’.

The briefing document provides an information summary has been prepared to provide guidance and proportional advice to estates professionals, regarding any additional actions to consider to minimise or address estates ventilation related issues.

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Coronavirus COVID-19 - Briefing Guidance

This guidance document has been produced to provide assistance to healthcare estates professionals with responsibilities for the management, maintenance and use of critical ventilation systems.

The briefing is intended to provide an overview of the issues and points to consider when assessing the ventilation strategy and options. It has also been updated to provide some initial maintenance considerations and precautions which may need to be considered.

Following advice from Public Health England (Peter Hoffman) the briefing and guidance from the SVHSoc reflects the current official guidance and provides a range of options and areas for consideration for healthcare estates professionals to provide enhanced levels of protection for patients, staff, and visitors.

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