Technical Platforms’ varied activities discussed in Epsom

The ‘Update from the IHEEM Technical Platforms’ was given in a mid-morning session at the 2023 AE Conference on 11 July, which was titled ‘Delivering the standard’, and also saw presentations on topics including ‘The importance of CPD’, an ‘Update from the Decontamination Board’ on the work and role of APs and CPs, and an in-depth look at a new ‘digital solution’ on which IHEEM has been working with external software and technology specialist, QuiqSolutions. This is designed to simply, and improve the efficiency of, the AE auditing process, and to help NHS Trusts and Health Boards manage year-round compliance with the relevant HTMs in each area via a new selfassessment tool (see also pages 44-45)

The updates from each IHEEM Technical Platform followed a brief introduction from Eddie McLaughlan, an IHEEM Council Member who chairs the Institute’s Technical Platform Committee. The first Technical Platform representative to speak was Andrew Poplett, an Authorising Engineer for both Water and Ventilation, who explained that a few years ago he had been approached to chair the Ventilation Technical Platform. He said: 

“The Platform has existed for quite some time, but in the last three years we’ve tried to bring in more of a structure.” The Ventilation ‘TP’ was ‘slightly different to other Technical Platforms’, in that it has a governance committee structure with all of the IHEEM-registered AEs as members, and a small number of other specialists on the governing committee. He explained: “Below that we have currently 89 affiliate or other members – because ventilation covers many different disciplines, and we wanted a very broad church represented. Everybody with an interest in ventilation is welcome to be an affiliate member.”