NEWS EXTRA: COVID-19 In brief


NIBE is open for business when it comes to the importation of products fr om its factories and its UK logistics. Following advice from the Gov ernment, site visits and meetings are limited, however the company is prioritising ur gent matters. Training due to tak e place in Mar ch and April has now been postponed.


www.nibe.eu/en-gb


Law specialist W omble Bond Dickinson has ur ged construction industry businesses to consider in advance how they might deal with a COVID-19 worst- case scenario situation and to check whether e xisting contract arrangements offer any guidance as far as risk is concerned.


www .womblebonddickinson.com Swiftclean wil l be diverting


some of its teams to provide two new services in r esponse to the current cor onavirus situation – v entilation ductwork deep cleaning and environmental cleaning for hard surfaces. www .swiftclean.co.uk


In order to educate and create awareness about the role of air filtration in the containment of airborne infections, Camfil has created a series of education based info-graphics that provide insights into combatting viruses in the air


r..


www.camfil.com/en-gb The Electrical Contr actors


Association (ECA) is concerned that the Government’s Job Retention Scheme could lead to ‘worker r esentment’ and has called on ministers to consider a more flexible approach.


www.eca.co.uk/coronavirus. All-Energy and Dcarbonise 2020,


originally scheduled for May 13- 14, 2020, will now take place on September 14-15 at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC), following the escalation of COVID-19 in the UK and globally.


www.dcarbonise.com


The building engineering industry is providing a critical service by ensuring buildings can continue to operate as normal and support essential oper ations such as the NHS and food suppliers in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to BEIS.


www.thebesa.com/covid19 ! HHIC ISSUES ADVICE TO ENGINEERS T he heating o g industry has identified a number of


actions that frontline engineers “who cannot si mply cease to operate


ate” can take to help protect them


and their customers during the COVD-19 outbreak. The HHIC’s adv


recommendation •First,noworks is isolating orwh to remedy a direc


ct risk to the safety of the household, su ere an individual is being shielded, unle hould be carried out in any householdw sandincludesthefollowingconsidera vice is based on Government


emergency plumbing or repairs, and where the tradesp is willing to do so.In such cases,PublicHealth England c provide advice to tradespeople and households. •Noworkshould coronavirus sym


• Ask your customer if they or any occupants are self ying any symptoms of COVID-19, and/


isolating, display


have received a positive diagnosis; •Where the hous


mselves


can erson uch as ess it is which tions.


dbecarriedoutbyatradespersonwhyp ho has mptoms, however mild.


/or -


seholders are not self-isolating, displlaying


any symptoms and have not been diagnosed with COVID- 19, there is no reason not to undertake the planned work but follow the Government guidance https://www.gov. guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for -the-public; sare, thenconsiderthenatureofthe work nerability of the householders. Additio uld be taken if the work is to proceed


vuk/


•Ifhouseholders and also the vuln precautions shou


•Governmentgu such as the over


could include ad ditional Personal Protective Equipme uidance is continually evolving, but be


e


vigilant of those persons currentl y identified as most at risk, r-70s, and/orwith underlying health i ssues; o


•Aswellasprotecting yourself and householders, you should also consider the welfare of any colleagues, especially if they fall into one of the vulnerable categories. he work, call ahead to ask your customer


•Onthedayofth


ent; ,which onal


if they or any occupants h ave signs of thevirus, have been diagnosed, or are self-isolating and to check that they are comfortablewith your vis it to take place; •Explainwhatyouwillbe need to maintain a safe di away), includingwhenwa • Do not shake hands;


iting for the door to open; stance (two metres or six steps


•Askiftheoccupantscan work proceeds and, with p


nstayinanotherroomwhilstthe permission, ventilate the work


area where appropriate, e.g. by opening a window; •Wash your hands thorou the start of the job and aft yy


recommended to carry your own hand-towel; •Useanalcohol-basedha


ves;


60% alcohol if soap and water are not available; • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth; • Wear suitable work glov


• If you feel unsafe or at risk at any point, undertake apersonalriskassessme


ent and leave the premises if


necessary. You can re-plan for a future date if appropriate, after ensuring everything is made safe;


•Findoutifasignatureis required or can it be avoided until a later date. Don’t share pens or tablets.


•Wipe down any operational rubber gloves, tools and instruments used within the premises; •Removeandplaceintoa gloves and overalls used, contaminate onto existing • Do not touch your face;


clothes or persons; whilst trying not to cross-


• Ensure y ou then clean/wash your hands before moving to your next job;


•Attheendofeachdaydispose of any baggedwaste in line with any Government guidance.


COVID-19 CONCERNS & SHORTCOMINGS M


ost engineering services businesses (93 per cent) say they are ‘concerned or very concerned’ about the impact of coronavirus on their business over


the next six months, according to initial responses to a major new ECA/BESA/SELECT engineering services survey. Half of the engineering services respondents said that they have already encountered ‘delays and disruptions’ while a similar quota said theywere now‘preparing business contingency plans’ as a result of developments, a figure which rose to 71 per cent in larger businesses. Around 10 per cent of businesses said they had ‘shut down at certain premises or sites’ and over 10 per cent of respondents also said theywere ‘updating their contracts’ and ‘looking into alternative suppliers’.


BESA director of legal and commercial, Debbie Petford, said: “Though these are just preliminary findings, the sheer scale of the disruption to the sector is alarming.Wewill be working around the clock to provide asmuch guidance as possible to our members, and calling on the government to keep providing additional stimulus and support as the situation evolves, to ensure businesses make it to other side of this crisis in one piece.”


C


hief executive of Condair Group has expressed concern about the lack of of humidity control regulations for public places and the subsequent impact on possible coronavirus transmission and the nation’s health.


Oliver Zimmermann said: “UK building occupants are being exposed to increased risk fromviruses, such as the coronavirus, because regulations on indoor air quality (IAQ) are falling short of current scientific knowledge.


“Maintaining IAQ at above 40%RH has been scientifically shown to reduce viral cross infection, including coronavirus and influenza. Ye


Yet out-of-date regulations on the topic


result in buildings such as hospitals, offices and schools experiencing dangerously lowhumidity levels everywinter. While the government andNHSadvice onmitigating the ronavirus focuses on hand hygiene and avoiding al cross infection also occur


r. risk fromcoro unwell people, vir a nfection also occur rs via the air r..


Mr Zimmermann stressed that as the general public are helpless to manage this aspect of infection control, it was government’s duty to take a leading role.


aplasticbaganywipes, disposable


ughly for at least 20 seconds, at ter (also during the work). It is ;


and sanitiser that contains at least edoing, andwhy, andthatyouwill


April 2020


www.heatingandventilating.net


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56