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APRIL 09 - PASSIVELY HELPING ACHIEVE CARE HOME STANDARDS

New developments by Passivent can help care homes not only comply with national minimum standards but simultaneously improve the environment both within the establishment and beyond...

Key points in both the National Minimum Standards for Care Homes and the sector’s Social Care Institute for Excellence Practice Guide 09 both require that ‘premises are kept clean, hygienic and free from offensive odours throughout’, to help deliver Dignity in Care.

Passivent’s iMEV is a new concept in central mechanical extract ventilation, as it provides extract ventilation only where it is required, rather than increasing the extraction from rooms where it is not; this minimises the use of energy whilst maintaining a fresh, odour-free internal environment.

A single low energy fan strategically located in the roofspace or service cupboard is linked to discreet roof-mounted terminals and humidity responsive extracts in each bathroom, toilet and en-suite. The fan monitors the relative humidity of the air using a microprocessor, and ‘prompts’ the extracts in the ‘wet’ rooms to react to changes in air moisture, opening to boost ventilation in the appropriate room until the balance and air quality is restored. The ‘damp, used’ air is extracted via the roof terminals.

Passivent iMEV’ s configuration means user input is eliminated, thus taking the burden of responsibility off resident or carer to switch conventional, noisy mechanical ventilation extraction on and off to clear condensation, damp and odours. The system only uses electricity to power the single fan which ‘services’ numerous areas, and, as there is only one fan, maintenance is correspondingly reduced. Further, as the fan is located away from the living areas, there is no noise to disturb residents or carers.

Passivent ventilation is already proven in the care home environment, both refurbishment and new-build.

Wellburn Care upgraded the Grade II listed Grimston Court and included Passivent’s ventilation to ensure each resident’s room in the main house remains fresh and odour-free but without impairment to the historic, ornate décor. Explains David Robinson, Development Manager for Wellburn Care, “It was an extremely complicated specification because of the need to preserve the décor and reflect our wish to create the ambience of a 5star hotel. The design work from Passivent was fantastic, developing a scheme that would work properly yet blend in with the opulent internal finish.”

Helen McArdle Care has also used Passivent ventilation in its newbuild projects. Explained architect Brian Wood, of Mackellar Architecture, designer of new care homes for Helen McArdle Care, “Because the Passivent system uses few fans, there is significantly reduced maintenance and risk of fans breaking down. There is no need to install a fan in each room, and thus the problem of people switching the fan off, or being disturbed by the noise of it running. Every room is properly ventilated, without draught, and no odours. The residents don’t even know the ventilation is there, which is just what we want!”

Passivent is part of the Building Product Design Group and is the UK’s leading designer and supplier of natural ventilation systems for both domestic and commercial applications. Passivent iMEV is just part of the company’s range of ventilation solutions that use little or no energy to function. The company’s systems are proven in real life to be one of the strategies to help achieve Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.

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