HEATING AND VENTILATING
(examples include high-end apartment developments or modern offices with an industrial design scheme, where brickwork and structural supports are also left on show), this is unlikely to be the case in a hospital. In most environments, ventilation ducting, boiler flues, and soil and waste pipes, will be viewed as unsightly, and will always need to be concealed.
Water distribution systems In hospitals, the risk of waterborne pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Legionella needs to be controlled, meaning that hot and cold water distribution systems can be complex, and therefore even more unsightly. While pipework runs should be kept as short and direct as possible to minimise Legionella growth,4
they can
nonetheless become complicated. For example, according to HTM 04-01, which seeks to set out the quality of, and standards for, water safety in the healthcare estate, pipework in buildings should be designed and routed so that minimal heat transfer will occur between hot and cold or the surrounding environment, and in a manner that will promote good turnover of water, particularly in cold water service systems.5 In addition to safety and aesthetic issues, exposed pipes can also be difficult to clean, with their cylindrical shape creating a trap for dust and debris, and therefore potentially harbouring harmful bacteria. Boxing in the pipework creates a flat surface, which is far easier to keep hygienically clean in accordance with a hospital’s cleaning / infection control protocols.
HVAC pipework can be boxed in by using pre-formed solutions, or via on-site fabrication. It’s important that the method chosen provides an aesthetically pleasing, consistent result that is cost- effective and minimises disruption to patients and staff.
Drawbacks of on-site fabrication On-site fabrication generally involves contractors cutting MDF or wood to size, gluing it around the pipework, and priming and painting it, which takes time, and is therefore costly, and inconveniences building occupants. The results are not always satisfactory either, especially if the pipework layout is complicated, and there are multiple bends to accommodate.
Made-to-measure, pre-formed pipe boxing is an alternative option that combines practicality, aesthetics, flexibility, and function. Solutions can be fitted at low or high level, vertically or horizontally, and in corners, meaning that lengths of pipework running along skirting boards, walls, or ceilings, can be easily and neatly concealed.
114 Health Estate Journal October 2019
At Whipps Cross University Hospital in Leytontstone, 250 Pendock Ultima and Ultima Plus radiator guards were specified, along with around 300 metres of pipe boxing to cover exposed pipework.
Pre-formed pipe boxing is easy to work with, and, with minimal cutting involved, there is no requirement for training or carpentry skills. We estimate that it takes half the time to fit compared with on-site fabrication, making it a cost-effective and efficient solution.
Of course, in a hospital, pipework maintenance must be allowed for. According to HTM 04-01, all pipework should be accessible for inspection, maintenance, and repair, as far as is practicable. With pre-formed pipe boxing, access panels can be included, or it can be easily removed and refitted. In comparison, solutions fabricated on site from MDF or wood can be difficult and time-consuming to remove without causing damage, and resulting in refurbishment costs.
Radiators and LST guards According to the HSE,6
serious injuries
and fatalities have been caused by contact with hot pipes, and also with radiators. Many of the radiators fitted in UK hospitals will be operating at temperatures that can pose a burn risk, and patients can come into prolonged contact with them – for example if they fall and are unable to move or call for help. In addition, some people can’t recognise or react to hot surfaces, either because their sensitivity to temperature is impaired, or their mental state prevents them from doing so. Again, the HSE guidance is for the equipment to be designed or covered so that the maximum accessible surface temperature does not exceed 43˚C.
As well as surface temperatures, it’s
At Croydon University Hospital, Pendock provided a solution that complemented the grey, white, and red interior design scheme, producing three circular casings in white, with black inner collars at the top and bottom, and a grey trim along the length.
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