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Alison Withers
Copyright (c) 2010 Alison Withers Climate change is predicted to cause changes in the weather pattern in the UK as in other places and this could have implications for the health and wellbeing of people working and living in all kinds of buildings. According to the UK Climate Change Impact Programme (UKCIP) the UK's annual average temperature may rise by between 2C (on the low emmissions scenario) and 3.5°C (high emissions scenario). High summer temperature will become more frequent.Globally, the 2000s was the warmest decade in central England since records began in 1850. Other predictions include a possible increase in heart-related deaths to 2,800 cases per year, food poisoning cases could increase by an estimated 10,000 extra cases of salmonella infection per year and air pollution could also worsen.All this has implications for the occupants of any building inmultiple use, whether it is schools, hospitals, residential care homes or offices. Infrastructure and buildings may not be resilient to climate change. There is, however, an Extreme Weather Plan, which includes primary care trusts and local authorities issuing advice to occupants and staff of residential and nursing homes. In addition they will support community and primary care workers in identifying people most at risk from extreme hear and ensure simple protective measures (like fans, fridges etc.) are in place. The changes, according to UKCIP, will have significant impacts on business and result in unexpected costs as well as changes in their operating environment. It is working with businesses to develop ways of dealing with the impacts and there is some information on its website.The most obvious is the effect on productivity and costs as organisations take steps to control their buildings' climate and air quality even if they cannot afford costly modiciations to the buildings themselves in the short term. At the moment, the UK's HSE (Health and Safety executive) has no guidelines on the maximum temperature beyond which employees cannot be expected to work, although there is a minimum temperature below which people are allowed to leave work.However, it makes no sense to expect people to operate to peak efficiency in stifling temperatures. Many buildings are fitted with ducted air systems, including air conditioning, that control the inside air quality and temperature.These systems will need to work harder in predicted high summer temperatures and it makes snse, therefore, to ensure they can work at maximum efficiency to ensure running costs are as low as possible while ensuring a comfortable, clean air environment for the building's occupants. A regular programme of maintenance, filter management and duct cleaning carried out by a specialist cleaning company is a sensible precaution to ensure the system is in top condition before the worst of the heat arrives.It will ensure that any increase in air-borne irritants, like pollen that can trigger allergies, are dealt with by the system. It will protect the most vulnerable occupants from the worst consequences of high temperatures and ensure that workers can continue to perform efficiently irrespective of outside temperatures.
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