Ventilation
Staff can monitor temperature, air flow rates and CO2
According to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), if CO2
levels reach a
concentration greater than 5,000 parts per million (ppm) in an indoor environment, this can pose a serious health risk. It has in fact been recommended that indoor concentrations of CO2
1,000 and 1,200 ppm in spaces that house sedentary people such as care homes.
Poor air quality
IAQ UK, an independent organisation that aims to raise the agenda of indoor air quality within the home and workplace, has put forward a suggestion to create an indoor air quality rating index to provide a unified, standardised assessment. The index would rate a building ‘excellent’, ‘good’, ‘fair’, ‘poor’ or ‘inadequate’ based on the overall indoor air quality. The ranking of a building would depend on a number of factors such as carbon dioxide and monoxide levels, nitrogen oxide, temperature and humidity.
If the indoor air quality is not sufficient, it may aggravate health problems including asthma, upper respiratory complications, eye irritation, cognitive impairment, nausea and nosebleeds; health problems that are likely to be more severe considering the vulnerability of care home occupants. In fact, the EPA has recognised poor indoor air quality as one of the top five health hazards in buildings.
It has been proven across many studies that inadequate indoor air quality causes discomfort among residents who spend most of their time indoors. A recent EU funded research project found that only 19 per cent of residents were living in care homes with adequate ventilation. Residents, staff and visitors should be made to feel as comfortable as possible within a care home environment. As well
20
Ventilation can be controlled through a heating system
as the health issues already mentioned, good indoor air quality can also help to enhance wellbeing in other ways. It has been proven in schools and other institutions that indoor air quality also affects concentration and overall cognitive function. Excessive CO2
should fall between
available. For example, in cold weather windows and vents might be shut and air will become stagnant, stale and unhealthy as a result.
levels
should therefore be addressed to enhance the performance of nurses and other staff in the workplace. Improving cognitive function in care home residents is also crucial to their overall health and wellbeing.
Choosing a system
The decision on whether to specify natural or mechanical ventilation may be influenced by the unique characteristics and requirements of a building. Natural ventilation is established in the design of the building and refers to air exchanged through doors, windows or other openings by natural forces. If the complexities of ventilation requirements in care homes are considered in the initial design, natural ventilation could be a viable option, but that is not to say it is the most suitable solution for safeguarding potentially vulnerable occupants.
One of the biggest issues with natural ventilation is the lack of both isolation and regulation. Air flow is difficult to manage in the absence of a mechanically supplied negative pressure, which increases the risk of contaminating adjacent rooms. It is also heavily dependent on there being natural forces
These forms of natural ventilation can also become blocked and may require maintenance, something else that care home providers should consider when choosing a system. When the air flow and room temperature need such careful monitoring, demand controlled mechanical ventilation (DCV) can be a sensible choice. There is the potential for staff to physically monitor temperature, air flow rates and CO2
levels and make
changes accordingly. This might be a manual adjustment, but there are systems that can operate automatically to ensure that indoor air quality does not fall below acceptable levels. This ability to regulate ventilation should also take into account the need to conserve energy and reduce heating costs by making sure that the fresh air is not being wasted where it is not needed. The more people there are in a space, the more ventilation is needed, and the system should be able to manage and respond automatically. Demand controlled mechanical systems can use displacement ventilation to achieve this; that is low velocity, draught free, fresh air introduced at a low level, which can then rise to head height where it is most required.
Technological advances mean that DCV systems can now be integrated and
Air flow is difficult to manage in the absence of a mechanically supplied negative pressure, which increases the risk of contaminating adjacent rooms
www.thecarehomeenvironment .com • May 2017
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