BRANCH EVENTS
control systems and gastight dampers, and some of the key criteria when specifying HEPA filters for healthcare use. Paul Fenton said of he and Alison Ryan’s
visit to Hong Kong as UK representatives of IHEEM: “The entire programme was really well organised, and the standard of presentations high. Alison and I were also extremely well looked after.” The day before the symposium, the
current and Past-President had attended a meeting at the offices of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers. Paul Fenton said: “This was primarily to strengthen the relationship between the HKIE and IHEEM, and for contact-making. It was useful to meet with some of the senior HKIE personnel – including Vice-President, Alice Chow, a director at Arup in Hong Kong. At the end of the visit she kindly presented Alison with a plaque. We were also joined at the HKIE by Thomas Chan, Dr William Fung, and Ricson Tsang of the IHEEM Hong Kong Branch. Interestingly, alongside hearing about some of the ventilation challenges hospital engineers in Hong Kong have faced, and associated research, and the HKIE’s input into local healthcare engineering guidance, we learned that Modular Integrated Construction has already been used in the city on hospitals up to 20 storeys high, and in residential buildings of up to 40 storeys. It was also interesting to hear that the HKIE has Chapters in Canada, Australia, and the UK.”
The new Kwong Wah Hospital, which will be 19 storeys high. Pictured above, left to right, during the visit to the hospital, are: Professor Thomas Chan, Alison Ryan, Dr Nick Wong, Head of the KWH Commission Unit, and Dr PL Yuen.
environments on generally small patient rooms, a high number of occupants per m2
, high levels of staff activity and short
staff-to-patient distances, and it frequently being difficult to refurbish existing HVAC systems.
Among the areas discussed were air change rates in different spaces – and the correlation with infection risk, plus the ‘conflicting goals’ of saving energy and reducing a building’s operating costs while reducing pathogen concentration – for example using water-air systems and displacement ventilation in cooling mode. Also examined were tracer gas measurement, and the need for exhaust air treatment in hospitals – to prevent the growth and spread of bacteria, viruses, and spores, in the environment, and their accumulation in recirculation mode. He also highlighted some specific hospital
50 Health Estate Journal January 2024
areas – such as isolation wards, laboratory areas, and patient rooms, that merited special attention.
Critical component characteristics Marco Sauder explained that for effective exhaust air treatment, critical components needed both to be easy to disinfect, and resistant to disinfectant. Equally important was the ability to fumigate with formalin or hydrogen peroxide, and carry out leakage testing and inspection of HEPA filters and shut-off dampers. HEPA filters should not only be able to be inspected ‘as installed’, but also exchangeable with ‘low contamination’. Similarly, room pressures, air flow, and direction, needed to be controlled, while any measurement and test equipment must be suitable for the application. He also discussed the critical components of air duct, pressure / volume
Kwong Wah Hospital visit On the day after the conference Alison Ryan and Paul Fenton visited the new, ‘redeveloped’, Kwong Wah Hospital, currently being constructed in two phases on the site of the former hospital there. Phase 1 has already been completed. The 1790-bedded hospital will be 19 storeys high, preparatory works having cost HK$ 552.7 m, the demolition and structural works for Phase 1, HK$ 654.8 m, and the superstructure and associated work for Phase 1, HK$ 10,083.3 m. Paul Fenton said: “During a really interesting visit, we were able to see some of the clinical facilities completed under Phase 1 – such as the Emergency Department, diagnostic imaging suites, and isolation wards. We were also amazed to see bamboo scaffolding used on a number of building projects in Hong Kong, showing how some age-old traditions also encompass true sustainability aspects in using this very strong, natural material. “All in all, the visit to Hong Kong to mark
the Branch’s 25th anniversary – including at a dinner where we enjoyed a 10-course dinner – proved productive and extremely valuable in strengthening IHEEM’s links in the region, and educational and highly enjoyable, for us both. Our appreciation, thanks, and congratulations, to all involved for a great event, and for making us feel so welcome.”
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