Dr. Chris Iddon of SE
Controls
Comment on hospital
overheating from The Climate Change Commission report
The recently reported issue of
climate change causing overheating in hospitals with an associated increase in
related deaths, not only highlights the risk to patient health from high
temperatures and inadequate ventilation, but also questions current thinking on
building design.
According to findings from forthcoming
research by Cambridge University, headed by Professor Alan Short, around 90% of
UK hospital wards are of a design type that makes them susceptible to
overheating.
Extracts from the report released by
the Climate Change Commission, led by Lord Krebs, indicate that building design
and construction are key contributory factors to the overheating and patient
health issue. In addition, the Commission has already suggested that the
retro-fitting of air-conditioning plant would be uneconomic, so the immediate
focus is already centred on cost effective and energy efficient measures of
addressing the problem, such as natural ventilation.
While hospital overheating can be
readily managed with natural ventilation solutions, the additional benefits,
particularly in hospital wards, is that it can also reduce the build up of
pathogens, viruses and associated infections by encouraging air movement and
‘flushing’ stale air from the building. Independent research undertaken by Dr.
Cath Noakes of Leeds University shows that when windows are closed to reduce
heat losses and energy costs, there is an increased risk of infection due to a
four-fold increase in airborne pathogens.
Although air quality in critical
health and clinical areas of hospitals needs to be of the highest standard,
these principles, in many instances, have been compromised in other parts of
hospital design. In pre-operation, recovery and general wards, the opportunity
for ventilation is often limited to a 100mm wide strip of open window - a limit
governed by essential risk directives to protect patients from harm and provide
a safe environment.
However, simple modifications could
readily be implemented to the ventilation solution, such as high-level vents or
window opening, which would to not only maintain patient safety, but also
provide adequate ventilation to manage temperatures and improve indoor airquality.
When the lack of cooling is linked
to other building design issues, such as south facing glazing, low ceilings,
thin walls and the cumulative heat build up from multi-storey structures, there
will be and inevitable impact on hospital temperatures
Temperature data research and
analysis that I have undertaken with Professor Kevin Lomas, as part of the wider
Cambridge University team lead by Professor Short, reveals that in numerous
hospital wards across the UK there are number of key factors influencing
overheating risk. The work has not only highlighted the resilience of traditional,
heavyweight ‘Nightingale wards’ to overheating, but also indicated that solar
gain is the key cause of internal temperature increase.
Alongside improved ventilation and
increased air movement through carefully planned vents to maintain patient
safety, the introduction of measures to limit heat gain, such as the deployment
of external shading devices will help reduce overheating risk.
Hospital overheating is a very real
issue and this report highlights that most are not only incapable of dealing
with any predicted gradual increase in temperatures that may result from
climate change, but are also likely to be susceptible to heatwaves.
The links between building design
practice and how regulations will need to evolve to manage overheating and
assist infection control are likely to be a key outcomes from the research,
which will impact all aspects of architecture and construction.
While some retro-fitted solutions can
provide effective answers to overheating, the time to review building design
standards, specifications and regulations, particularly for future hospital
construction projects, is probably already here.
SE Controls specialises in the
design, project management and installation of advanced smoke ventilation and
natural ventilation solutions to meet the needs of architects, contractors, building
services engineers and facilities managers worldwide. Further information on SE
Controls’ products, solutions and projects can be obtained by visiting
www.secontrols.com or calling
+44 (0)1543 443060.
