FEATURE ARTICLES
Importance of fire damper safety testing underlined
The NHS has a legacy of ageing properties, many with ventilation systems where it is not possible to gain access for effective cleaning or mandatory annual safety inspection and testing of fire dampers. This issue needs to be afforded much higher priority on risk registers, argues the MD of an independent ventilation, air, and water hygiene specialist.
How clean are the door handles you touch?
Is it correct to assume that manual daily cleaning provides the best protection for people who use high-touch surfaces like door handles? In this article, Ian Graham, founder of Glana, and developer of the Axiene Clean Touch antimicrobial door handle system (HEJ – November 2021), describes the findings from hygiene performance trials comparing standard cleaning procedures with new Axiene technology
AI-driven system improves reliability and efficiency
At the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, a new medical gas plant developed by SHJ Medical Gas Specialists has ‘addressed areas of energy inefficiency, vastly increased the system’s productivity, resilience, and reliability’, and aided carbon emission reduction.
‘UK needs to be more self-sufficient on energy’
A Net Zero and Sustainability keynote session at Healthcare Estates 2022 included an interesting and somewhat chastening look at the ‘size’ of the energy generation challenge facing the UK in the short-to-medium term by Dame Sue Ion, a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering
‘Enabling infection-resilient healthcare environments’
At Healthcare Estates 2022, four scientists and academics discussed hospital ventilation – including some of the key learnings for hospital engineers in the wake of COVID-19. HEJ’s editor reports on an address by one of the four – Prof. Cath Noakes of the University of Leeds
Celebrating excellence at biggest Awards Dinner yet
The presentation of awards in 12 categories, plus the chance to make new acquaintances, and renew contacts faceto-face, were among the highlights of last month’s Healthcare Estates 2022 IHEEM Awards Dinner in Manchester.
First female President sets out her goals and ambitions
Last month saw the Institute’s first ever female President, Alison Ryan, take over the chain of office at IHEEM’s 2022 AGM. She discusses her career to date, her involvement with IHEEM, her goals during her Presidency, and some of the areas where she believes the Institute can have even greater impact.
Ensuring modern telemetry systems function properly
More and more modern hospitals now rely on medical telemetry systems for the smooth operation of the ICT and communications technologies that are critical to efficient patient care. Here electronic engineers, Tetsuo Endo, Takashi Kano, and Eisuke Hanada, give an overview of new guidelines for the use of such systems in Japanese hospitals.
‘Common language’ needed for better hospital planning
Speaking at the IFHE’s 2022 Congress in Toronto, IHEEM’s CEO, Pete Sellars, and President, Paul Fenton, argued that the planning and construction of ‘siloed’ hospitals ‘is over’, discussing a very different model for future healthcare planning.
COVER STORY: The ‘right filter for the right outlet’ guaranteed
The recent Healthcare Estates 2022 Conference & Exhibition in Manchester marked the exclusive launch of the new ‘Medical Tap Filter Fixed Position’ product by T-safe, the Danish-based water filtration manufacturer.
Combining ‘smart logbooks’ with Systems Thinking
Stephen Bartlett, an experienced information professional with considerable experience of resource planning, risk management, and healthcare estates management, considers how the updated HTM 03-01, Specialised ventilation for healthcare buildings can – as he puts it – be ‘a catalyst for continuous operational improvements and service transformation’.
Effective treatment options for a safe, hygienic supply
Michelle Roe, Technical Healthcare specialist at water solution provider, Whitewater, discusses the impact that water quality has on hospital-acquired infections, and some of the key water treatment methods available to combat the growth and proliferation of harmful waterborne microorganisms.
COVID’s lessons highlight the need for flexible primary care
Sarah Beaumont-Smith, CEO of Fulcrum Infrastructure Group, highlights the impressive way the primary care estate ‘flexed’ and demonstrated its adaptability during, and in the wake of, the COVID-19 pandemic. She believes that ‘what was done at great speed and out of necessity’ has ‘helped to change the mindset’ of how capacity in the primary care estate could be used over the longer term.
How post-Grenfell fire safety has ‘changed for good
Dr Louise Webb, Project director, and David Butler, Authorising Engineer – Fire Safety, of DRLC, discuss the changes in fire safety brought about since the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017, and some of the key legislation, standards, and guidance, in this key area for healthcare estates management teams to take note of.
HOCl-based system aiming to reduce airborne infection
Dr Thomas Bone-Winkel, founder and CEO of oji Europe, explains the potential impact the company believes its hypochlorous acid-based oji active air system could have in eradicating harmful airborne pathogens in hospitals and other healthcare facilities, and thus significantly reducing the chances of infection for patients, staff, and visitors
Delivering the right lighting where it’s needed
Whitecroft Lighting has been lighting UK healthcare for nearly 80 years, with Healthcare Sales director, Karen Bramman, at the forefront since 2001. Much has changed over two decades, and here she shares how Whitecroft tries to stay one step ahead of ‘a market in perpetual motion’
Ensuring that specifications actually ‘work’ on site
John McKinlay, Brand manager at CS Medical – a specialist manufacturer and supplier of IPS and medical sanitaryware, washroom components, and furniture for medical use – considers the benefits of, and optimal approach for, specifying and installing IPS pre-plumbed assemblies for healthcare facilities
Meeting the new energy efficiency regulations
Over the course of 2022, key updates are being introduced to the Building Regulations in England, Scotland, and Wales. These changes will mean that both new-build and refurbishment projects will need to meet tougher requirements. Jonathan Ducker, head of Regulatory Affairs at Kingspan Insulation GB, discusses the key changes being introduced this year for energy performance.
Flexible healthcare models for sub-Saharan Africa
Polly Barker, director and Healthcare lead at independent architectural, design, and planning practice, tp bennett, discusses how, over the past 11 years, the business has worked on a number of hospitals across sub-Saharan Africa for NMS Infrastructure, ‘developing a flexible, adaptable, and low-impact model for delivering much-needed district and clinic hospitals across several countries’.
Mitigating uncertainty and risk on a complex ‘refurb
Healthcare architect and consultant, Efthimia Pantzartzis, and Nikolaos Pantzartzis, a mechanical engineer with extensive experience in complex public schemes, both of Studio di Ingegneria e Architettura Pantzartzis in Bari in Italy, discuss a recent project to comprehensively refurbish the Surgical Block at San Paolo Hospital in Puglia. They also set out some of the lessons learned on how to successfully undertake such a project amid the constraints and challenges posed by an unexpected event – in this case the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Stuart Turner has a proud history that stretches back over 115 years. Founded by Sidney Marmaduke Stuart Turner, he started his career as a resident engineer in charge of electrical generators, using his free time to design, produce and sell steam engines.
In 1906, Stuart Turner was incorporated, with a vision to continually strive to be the...