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HEALTH SECTOR NEWS BESA: Don’t ‘sit back’ on Building Safety Act
Many contractors are still ignoring safety regulations despite repeated warnings that measures introduced by the Building Safety Act are already in place and affect every project, the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has said. BESA is concerned that ‘firms do not
realise that the Act has already altered the regulations that apply to all construction work, and not just higher risk/high rise residential buildings’ (HRBs – classified as being over 18 metres in height or consisting of seven storeys, containing at least two residential units, and/or is a hospital or care home), and thus face potential prosecution. BESA said: “While the Act is primarily
focused on HRBs, it has already changed many elements of the existing fire safety and building regulations, including the supporting approved documents that apply to all projects. It is also introducing secondary legislation that affects all building work. Nick Mead, chair of BESA’s Building Safety Act Advisory Group (BSAAG), said: “Anyone sitting back and waiting to see what happens is going to be in a lot of trouble. The Regulator is
registered profession in April. The Association’s members are already
reporting considerable delays, with an estimated 60% of ‘in scope’ projects held up at planning Gateway One, and ‘just a handful’ even reaching Gateway Two. “Many inspectors are taking a no risk approach because of confusion over the new rules – and the least risky approach is not to proceed,” added Nick Mead, who is Technical director of MEICA Systems at Laing O’Rourke. BESA’s director of Specialist
looking for proof that you are complying with regulations now, and that the people working on a project were competent to carry out the specific tasks assigned to them.” Nick Mead said ‘the simplest thing’ was to treat every building as ‘high-risk’. BESA’s Advisory Group says MEP firms
face particular scrutiny because of ‘the relative complexity’ of their work, and ‘the eagerness of many specifiers to spread risks around their supply chains’. It also warned contractors to be ready for a period of uncertainty as Building Control Officers (BCOs) prepare to become a
Borg & Overström dispensers are designed to keep drinking water safe
Drinking water is an essential part of patient, staff, and visitor care, but recent years have seen many water coolers removed from healthcare facilities due to risks around hygiene and infection control within healthcare water systems, says Borg & Overström. The water dispenser
manufacturer points out that Legionella, viruses, and waterborne pathogens can be present in the water, posing a significant risk of waterborne illnesses and infections, especially for the immunocompromised. Touch transmission of germs on drinking water systems in high footfall areas provides additional infection control risks. Borg & Overström has developed the E6 Chilled only drinking water dispenser to address these concerns, enabling facilities to provide clean water even in communal areas. It said: “From eco- LED UV-C sterilisation and carbonless
filtration, to completely touchless dispense and additional T-Safe point-of-dispense filtration, the E6 Chilled only with shortened water pathway and no stored water addresses infection control at every instance.” The E6 Chilled only dispenser has recently been installed by London’s King’s College Hospital and Hammersmith Hospital.
The company said: “Independent testing by water hygiene consultancy, Envirocloud, demonstrates the effectiveness of the infection control measures within the E6 Chilled only dispenser, with results showing no Legionella detected in poured drinking water, despite being present in 50% of incoming water supply samples.” Borg & Overström says its ‘hygienic
water solutions’ are developed to reduce carbon and plastic footprint, and energy costs, using ‘the latest energy- saving technology’.
Knowledge, Rachel Davidson (pictured), added that it was hardly surprising there was confusion as the industry tried to adapt to the new regulations. She said: “We are trying to get away from the previously accepted approach of ‘build and design’, i.e. rushing into projects and then trying to sort out the details later. However, we do know what needs to be done, but many contractors are sitting back and waiting to see what happens. That is the riskiest approach.” For more information about the Building Safety Act, visit
www.thebesa. com/building-safety-act
Tower Hamlets health centre’s BREEAM ‘Excellent’
Wood Wharf Health Centre in Wood Wharf, Tower Hamlets, London, has been awarded a BREEAM Fit Out 2014 ‘Excellent’ rating, making it just the UK’s second healthcare fit-out project to achieve this prestigious certification. BREEAM is a globally recognised method for certifying the sustainability of buildings, and BREEAM UK Refurbishment and Fit-out 2014 is a specific version designed to assess and certify the environmental performance of refurbishment and fit-out projects. The BREEAM 2014 scheme assesses various aspects of a building’s environmental performance, including energy efficiency, water usage, waste management, materials, pollution, and ecology.
The Wood Wharf Health Centre is the result of a collaboration between NHS Property Services (NHSPS), the NHS North East London Integrated
Care Board, the Borough of Tower Hamlets, and the Canary Wharf Group.
March 2024 Health Estate Journal 17
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