Pub Date : 2006-08-01DOI: 10.1191/0143624406bse156tn
A. Geens, D. Snelson, J. Littlewood, J. Ryan
This paper reviews previous studies and reports on the first stage of a series of field studies developed with the aim of assessing the performance of ventilation systems currently in use in public houses where smoking is permitted. Established ventilation theory is used to hypothesize the behaviour of these systems predicting that exposure to environmental tobacco smoke will be substantially reduced. The problems associated with conducting field studies in buildings of this nature are discussed, and the results of some representative studies are presented. The effectiveness of the ventilation systems is clearly demonstrated. Limitations of the study are identified and further work is proposed. Practical application : This paper informs the current debate on the value of ventilation systems in spaces where smoking is permitted. Despite the proposed ban on smoking in public places in England and the ban in Scotland there will be a variety of exemptions where the building is also someone's place of residence. Internationally, alternatives to a ban including the better use of ventilation systems are under consideration. In addition to making the case for the use of ventilation, the paper provides some interesting pointers on innovative supply strategies for this application.
{"title":"Ventilation performance for spaces where smoking is permitted: a review of previous work and field study results","authors":"A. Geens, D. Snelson, J. Littlewood, J. Ryan","doi":"10.1191/0143624406bse156tn","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1191/0143624406bse156tn","url":null,"abstract":"This paper reviews previous studies and reports on the first stage of a series of field studies developed with the aim of assessing the performance of ventilation systems currently in use in public houses where smoking is permitted. Established ventilation theory is used to hypothesize the behaviour of these systems predicting that exposure to environmental tobacco smoke will be substantially reduced. The problems associated with conducting field studies in buildings of this nature are discussed, and the results of some representative studies are presented. The effectiveness of the ventilation systems is clearly demonstrated. Limitations of the study are identified and further work is proposed. Practical application : This paper informs the current debate on the value of ventilation systems in spaces where smoking is permitted. Despite the proposed ban on smoking in public places in England and the ban in Scotland there will be a variety of exemptions where the building is also someone's place of residence. Internationally, alternatives to a ban including the better use of ventilation systems are under consideration. In addition to making the case for the use of ventilation, the paper provides some interesting pointers on innovative supply strategies for this application.","PeriodicalId":272488,"journal":{"name":"Building Services Engineering Research and Technology","volume":"34 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134031270","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2006-08-01DOI: 10.1191/0143624406bse162oa
C. Cheng, M. Liao, M. C. Lee
Rainwater use as a supplement to the potable water supply has been demonstrated as a practical and promising alternative solution for water shortage. This paper aims to develop a practical evaluation program for water conservation, in particular, a rainwater use system for architectural planning. The proposed system involves a quantitative methodology to evaluate and improve the decision making for rainwater use systems in building design. Furthermore, a simplified scheme is proposed using daily rainfall probability to provide a new guideline for water conservation evaluation procedures and link to the National Building Code in Taiwan. The practical evaluation method could also be of benefit to the comprehensive applications in other countries. Practical application : This article relates to the practice of professionals in building water supply, sanitation and water conservation areas. The paper introduces a practical evaluation program for rainwater harvesting systems for domestic water-use, which can link to the national building code as a new guideline. The importance of utility performance will be stressed and a method that allows reliable verification for general building categories has been presented. The proposed method has been adopted within the evaluation manual for the Taiwan Green Buildings Level System.
{"title":"A quantitative evaluation method for rainwater use guideline","authors":"C. Cheng, M. Liao, M. C. Lee","doi":"10.1191/0143624406bse162oa","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1191/0143624406bse162oa","url":null,"abstract":"Rainwater use as a supplement to the potable water supply has been demonstrated as a practical and promising alternative solution for water shortage. This paper aims to develop a practical evaluation program for water conservation, in particular, a rainwater use system for architectural planning. The proposed system involves a quantitative methodology to evaluate and improve the decision making for rainwater use systems in building design. Furthermore, a simplified scheme is proposed using daily rainfall probability to provide a new guideline for water conservation evaluation procedures and link to the National Building Code in Taiwan. The practical evaluation method could also be of benefit to the comprehensive applications in other countries. Practical application : This article relates to the practice of professionals in building water supply, sanitation and water conservation areas. The paper introduces a practical evaluation program for rainwater harvesting systems for domestic water-use, which can link to the national building code as a new guideline. The importance of utility performance will be stressed and a method that allows reliable verification for general building categories has been presented. The proposed method has been adopted within the evaluation manual for the Taiwan Green Buildings Level System.","PeriodicalId":272488,"journal":{"name":"Building Services Engineering Research and Technology","volume":"14 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130568394","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2006-05-01DOI: 10.1191/0143624406bt147oa
Charles Watson
Provision of safe drinking water and the effective removal of bodily waste are vital for human health and well-being. The United Nations Covenant on Economic, Cultural and Social Rights, signed by over 140 countries, now includes a special reference (General Comment 11, November 2002), which declares that ‘Water is a limited natural resource and a public good fundamental to life and health. The human right to water is indispensable for leading a healthy life in human dignity. It is a prerequisite to the realization of other human rights.’ Unfortunately, political realities are often opposed to the aims of this fine declaration: political expediency often pushes the claims of water supply to the bottom of the priority list; wars and local conflicts may destroy significant infrastructure for the supply of safe drinking water and the removal of waste. Since 2000, the increasingly independent (and even isolationist) stance of the USA has weakened the ability of international agencies such as the United Nations and the World Health Organization to respond to the needs of developing countries. Despite a wealth of rhetoric on the importance of globalization, many western countries maintain agricultural subsidies and tariffs which feed a climate of mistrust, and which lead to an unwillingness to contribute to others. About 3.4 million people die each year from illnesses associated with contaminated water supplies and inadequate waste removal. The diseases associated with water contamination are malaria, cholera, dysentery, hepatitis A, and schistosomiasis. Lack of safe drinking water is the major factor underlying the deaths of over 1.5 million infants and children from diarrhoea each year. While contaminated water is a major cause of infectious disease, it also has an impact on health through the spread of organic and inorganic chemicals that are harmful to health. These include chlorinated solvents (which cause cancer), trihalomethanes (which cause liver and kidney damage), heavy metals such as lead (which causes nerve and brain damage, and birth defects), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (which cause liver damage, and may also cause cancer). Given the risk of infectious disease and chemical poisons from contaminated water, it is obvious that access to safe drinking water is a fundamental requirement for human existence. However, the availability of water also has wider implications through its contribution to other aspects of human life. Lack of availability of clean water correlates strongly with poverty. In many societies, women and girls are solely responsible for collecting water, and the task is enormous when the water source is many kilometres away. Many hours each day are spent carrying water containers Address for correspondence: Professor Charles Watson AM, Division of Health Sciences, Curtin University of Technology, GPO Box U1987, Perth WA 6845, Australia. E-mail: c.watson@curtin.edu.au Building Serv. Eng. Res. Technol. 27,2 (2006) pp.
{"title":"The importance of safe drinking water and sanitary systems for human health and well-being: a personal view","authors":"Charles Watson","doi":"10.1191/0143624406bt147oa","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1191/0143624406bt147oa","url":null,"abstract":"Provision of safe drinking water and the effective removal of bodily waste are vital for human health and well-being. The United Nations Covenant on Economic, Cultural and Social Rights, signed by over 140 countries, now includes a special reference (General Comment 11, November 2002), which declares that ‘Water is a limited natural resource and a public good fundamental to life and health. The human right to water is indispensable for leading a healthy life in human dignity. It is a prerequisite to the realization of other human rights.’ Unfortunately, political realities are often opposed to the aims of this fine declaration: political expediency often pushes the claims of water supply to the bottom of the priority list; wars and local conflicts may destroy significant infrastructure for the supply of safe drinking water and the removal of waste. Since 2000, the increasingly independent (and even isolationist) stance of the USA has weakened the ability of international agencies such as the United Nations and the World Health Organization to respond to the needs of developing countries. Despite a wealth of rhetoric on the importance of globalization, many western countries maintain agricultural subsidies and tariffs which feed a climate of mistrust, and which lead to an unwillingness to contribute to others. About 3.4 million people die each year from illnesses associated with contaminated water supplies and inadequate waste removal. The diseases associated with water contamination are malaria, cholera, dysentery, hepatitis A, and schistosomiasis. Lack of safe drinking water is the major factor underlying the deaths of over 1.5 million infants and children from diarrhoea each year. While contaminated water is a major cause of infectious disease, it also has an impact on health through the spread of organic and inorganic chemicals that are harmful to health. These include chlorinated solvents (which cause cancer), trihalomethanes (which cause liver and kidney damage), heavy metals such as lead (which causes nerve and brain damage, and birth defects), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (which cause liver damage, and may also cause cancer). Given the risk of infectious disease and chemical poisons from contaminated water, it is obvious that access to safe drinking water is a fundamental requirement for human existence. However, the availability of water also has wider implications through its contribution to other aspects of human life. Lack of availability of clean water correlates strongly with poverty. In many societies, women and girls are solely responsible for collecting water, and the task is enormous when the water source is many kilometres away. Many hours each day are spent carrying water containers Address for correspondence: Professor Charles Watson AM, Division of Health Sciences, Curtin University of Technology, GPO Box U1987, Perth WA 6845, Australia. E-mail: c.watson@curtin.edu.au Building Serv. Eng. Res. Technol. 27,2 (2006) pp. ","PeriodicalId":272488,"journal":{"name":"Building Services Engineering Research and Technology","volume":"8 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"132856989","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2006-05-01DOI: 10.1191/0143624406bt145oa
H.E. Hung, Dwt Chan
The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003 triggered concerns regarding the ability of buildings to resist disease transmission. In particular, the outbreak that occurred in the high-rise residential blocks in the Amoy Gardens housing estate, sounded an alarm to the local practice of design, installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance of building services systems. Virus transmission through the vertical drainage stack is believed to have been one of the causes of disease transmission in Amoy Gardens. In this paper, the authors share their experiences and research findings on the building drainage system. The paper includes a review of the outbreak incident in Amoy Gardens; and of the observations and site measurements of foul air and water back flow in the drainage system of another vacant high-rise residential housing estate. In addition, tracer gas measurements were studied in order to verify the upwards flow of air in the vertical stack. These field studies allow comparisons between the gas flow from the drainage system to the living accommodation, and confirm the hypothesized infection route. Finally, the authors make recommendations on the proper design and operation of high-rise building drainage systems. Practical application: Sanitary drainage systems form a critical engineering component in maintaining hygienic conditions in buildings. In fact the issue has been addressed over several hundreds of years, for example during the Black Death outbreak worldwide. Despite this, the SARS outbreak demonstrates that there is still room for improvement on the safety of soil waste disposal in buildings. The findings in this paper shed light on the understanding of the outbreak in Hong Kong, and on the critical aspects to avoid performance failure in soil waste disposal.
{"title":"Industrial experience and research into the causes of SARS virus transmission in a high-rise residential housing estate in Hong Kong","authors":"H.E. Hung, Dwt Chan","doi":"10.1191/0143624406bt145oa","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1191/0143624406bt145oa","url":null,"abstract":"The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003 triggered concerns regarding the ability of buildings to resist disease transmission. In particular, the outbreak that occurred in the high-rise residential blocks in the Amoy Gardens housing estate, sounded an alarm to the local practice of design, installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance of building services systems. Virus transmission through the vertical drainage stack is believed to have been one of the causes of disease transmission in Amoy Gardens. In this paper, the authors share their experiences and research findings on the building drainage system. The paper includes a review of the outbreak incident in Amoy Gardens; and of the observations and site measurements of foul air and water back flow in the drainage system of another vacant high-rise residential housing estate. In addition, tracer gas measurements were studied in order to verify the upwards flow of air in the vertical stack. These field studies allow comparisons between the gas flow from the drainage system to the living accommodation, and confirm the hypothesized infection route. Finally, the authors make recommendations on the proper design and operation of high-rise building drainage systems. Practical application: Sanitary drainage systems form a critical engineering component in maintaining hygienic conditions in buildings. In fact the issue has been addressed over several hundreds of years, for example during the Black Death outbreak worldwide. Despite this, the SARS outbreak demonstrates that there is still room for improvement on the safety of soil waste disposal in buildings. The findings in this paper shed light on the understanding of the outbreak in Hong Kong, and on the critical aspects to avoid performance failure in soil waste disposal.","PeriodicalId":272488,"journal":{"name":"Building Services Engineering Research and Technology","volume":"27 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131380047","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2006-05-01DOI: 10.1191/0143624406bt148oa
D. Mara
Inadequate water supplies and inadequate sanitation are responsible for a large proportion of disease transmission in rural and periurban areas in developing countries. Engineering interventions for water supply and sanitation improvements in rural areas are well understood, but not to the same extent in periurban areas. Greater innovation is required to provide poor and very poor periurban households with adequate and affordable water supplies and sanitation. Periurban water supplies can be developed on the large scale required through standpipe co-operatives and yard-tap supplies in conjunction with a sensible tariff structure. Periurban sanitation is only likely to be feasible with the large-scale adoption of simplified (condominial) sewerage in conjunction with innovative sanitation service delivery mechanisms.
{"title":"Modern engineering interventions to reduce the transmission of diseases caused by inadequate domestic water supplies and sanitation in developing countries","authors":"D. Mara","doi":"10.1191/0143624406bt148oa","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1191/0143624406bt148oa","url":null,"abstract":"Inadequate water supplies and inadequate sanitation are responsible for a large proportion of disease transmission in rural and periurban areas in developing countries. Engineering interventions for water supply and sanitation improvements in rural areas are well understood, but not to the same extent in periurban areas. Greater innovation is required to provide poor and very poor periurban households with adequate and affordable water supplies and sanitation. Periurban water supplies can be developed on the large scale required through standpipe co-operatives and yard-tap supplies in conjunction with a sensible tariff structure. Periurban sanitation is only likely to be feasible with the large-scale adoption of simplified (condominial) sewerage in conjunction with innovative sanitation service delivery mechanisms.","PeriodicalId":272488,"journal":{"name":"Building Services Engineering Research and Technology","volume":"91 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"127648974","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2006-05-01DOI: 10.1191/0143624406bt153oa
M. Pitt, S. Goyal, M. Sapri
This paper highlights the function and the implications of a strategic maintenance management system in relation to building maintenance performance. The paper examines the technical and management functions in building maintenance and highlights the issues of quality management, contract management, resourcing strategy and the innovation processes required in the organizational drive towards effective and efficient maintenance management systems. The paper concludes that innovative solutions to maintenance issues are essential for continued efficiency and are brought about through the creation of an environment in which creativity is able to thrive.
{"title":"Innovation in facilities maintenance management","authors":"M. Pitt, S. Goyal, M. Sapri","doi":"10.1191/0143624406bt153oa","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1191/0143624406bt153oa","url":null,"abstract":"This paper highlights the function and the implications of a strategic maintenance management system in relation to building maintenance performance. The paper examines the technical and management functions in building maintenance and highlights the issues of quality management, contract management, resourcing strategy and the innovation processes required in the organizational drive towards effective and efficient maintenance management systems. The paper concludes that innovative solutions to maintenance issues are essential for continued efficiency and are brought about through the creation of an environment in which creativity is able to thrive.","PeriodicalId":272488,"journal":{"name":"Building Services Engineering Research and Technology","volume":"15 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130263170","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2006-05-01DOI: 10.1191/0143624406bt150oa
V. Fernandes, O. M. Gonçalves
Considering the water conservation programmes that promote a reduction in WC flush volume, and given the concern with the safe use of new concepts and techniques to avoid the transmission of serious disease via the drainage system as in the case of SARS, this paper discusses the influences of said reduction on the behaviour of water-based trap seals in drainage systems utilizing different types of ventilation, as allowed by Brazilian standards. The paper shows that the venting system capacity to limit the internal pressure in the drainage system, in order to maintain the integrity of the water seals, reduces the risk of infection spread in buildings.
{"title":"Limits for use of vent elements in building drainage systems considering the risks of infection spread by means of water-seal behaviour and integrity: the case of Brazilian systems","authors":"V. Fernandes, O. M. Gonçalves","doi":"10.1191/0143624406bt150oa","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1191/0143624406bt150oa","url":null,"abstract":"Considering the water conservation programmes that promote a reduction in WC flush volume, and given the concern with the safe use of new concepts and techniques to avoid the transmission of serious disease via the drainage system as in the case of SARS, this paper discusses the influences of said reduction on the behaviour of water-based trap seals in drainage systems utilizing different types of ventilation, as allowed by Brazilian standards. The paper shows that the venting system capacity to limit the internal pressure in the drainage system, in order to maintain the integrity of the water seals, reduces the risk of infection spread in buildings.","PeriodicalId":272488,"journal":{"name":"Building Services Engineering Research and Technology","volume":"20 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"123802506","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2006-05-01DOI: 10.1191/0143624406bt152oa
L. Jack, C. Cheng, W. H. Lu
Identification of the under-performance of the building drainage and ventilation system as a significant contributor to the transmission of the SARS virus in the ‘Amoy Gardens’ outbreak has prompted a re-examination of the methods adopted to ensure appropriate network design, implementation and maintenance. The physical separation between the miasma present within drainage pipe work and the habitable space occupied by the building user is achieved primarily through the use of the (commonly water-based) appliance trap seal. Systems must therefore be designed such that the integrity of this seal is sustained throughout all user or system-imposed operating conditions. This paper focuses on the work of the authors in defining key simulation model components that facilitate the prediction of the pressure response of building drainage systems and that thus allow an assessment of trap seal integrity to reduce the risk of infection spread. The paper draws upon the empirically defined network characteristics and extensive site data that have, so far, been established independently by researchers in the UK, Japan and Taiwan. The paper identifies the congruency of resultant data, and highlights the potential benefits of pooling research resources such that the contribution of simulation techniques to forensic analysis of virus spread via building drainage systems is confirmed.
{"title":"Numerical simulation of pressure and airflow response of building drainage ventilation systems","authors":"L. Jack, C. Cheng, W. H. Lu","doi":"10.1191/0143624406bt152oa","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1191/0143624406bt152oa","url":null,"abstract":"Identification of the under-performance of the building drainage and ventilation system as a significant contributor to the transmission of the SARS virus in the ‘Amoy Gardens’ outbreak has prompted a re-examination of the methods adopted to ensure appropriate network design, implementation and maintenance. The physical separation between the miasma present within drainage pipe work and the habitable space occupied by the building user is achieved primarily through the use of the (commonly water-based) appliance trap seal. Systems must therefore be designed such that the integrity of this seal is sustained throughout all user or system-imposed operating conditions. This paper focuses on the work of the authors in defining key simulation model components that facilitate the prediction of the pressure response of building drainage systems and that thus allow an assessment of trap seal integrity to reduce the risk of infection spread. The paper draws upon the empirically defined network characteristics and extensive site data that have, so far, been established independently by researchers in the UK, Japan and Taiwan. The paper identifies the congruency of resultant data, and highlights the potential benefits of pooling research resources such that the contribution of simulation techniques to forensic analysis of virus spread via building drainage systems is confirmed.","PeriodicalId":272488,"journal":{"name":"Building Services Engineering Research and Technology","volume":"8 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116452611","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2006-05-01DOI: 10.1191/0143624406bt146oa
D. Kay, J. Watkins, L. Fewtrell
Some microorganisms can grow in water while others merely survive. The use of the water may result in the creation of aerosols which can disseminate the products of microbial growth or the microorganisms themselves. In the home, toilets, sinks and showers can provide a reservoir for microorganisms to survive and grow. Intermittent use of disinfectants alone may not be adequate to control these microorganisms unless regular cleaning and brushing is practiced. Similar problems occur in hospitals, offices and public buildings. Here control is much more important. In these environments infections can potentially spread readily to large numbers of people from the creation of aerosols both in sanitary equipment and the sewerage system associated with it. Control is helped by regular cleaning but much more attention needs to be placed on proper construction, servicing and maintenance of the infrastructure. This article reviews the types of microorganisms associated with growth in water and with faecal material and how these organisms are spread. The nature and impact of the spread is illustrated with a number of published examples.
{"title":"An evaluation of public health issues associated with, or arising from, drainage-based infection spread","authors":"D. Kay, J. Watkins, L. Fewtrell","doi":"10.1191/0143624406bt146oa","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1191/0143624406bt146oa","url":null,"abstract":"Some microorganisms can grow in water while others merely survive. The use of the water may result in the creation of aerosols which can disseminate the products of microbial growth or the microorganisms themselves. In the home, toilets, sinks and showers can provide a reservoir for microorganisms to survive and grow. Intermittent use of disinfectants alone may not be adequate to control these microorganisms unless regular cleaning and brushing is practiced. Similar problems occur in hospitals, offices and public buildings. Here control is much more important. In these environments infections can potentially spread readily to large numbers of people from the creation of aerosols both in sanitary equipment and the sewerage system associated with it. Control is helped by regular cleaning but much more attention needs to be placed on proper construction, servicing and maintenance of the infrastructure. This article reviews the types of microorganisms associated with growth in water and with faecal material and how these organisms are spread. The nature and impact of the spread is illustrated with a number of published examples.","PeriodicalId":272488,"journal":{"name":"Building Services Engineering Research and Technology","volume":"19 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125000539","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2006-05-01DOI: 10.1191/0143624406bt151oa
C. Greed
This paper discusses the role of public toilets, as transmitters of disease, but also of their importance in contributing to the health and well-being of society. Research has shown that public toilets are vital components in creating sustainable, accessible, inclusive cities. But there is no mandatory legislation requiring local authorities to provide them. Over 40% have been closed in the UK in the last 10 years. The promotion of the 24 hour city, characterized by a male youth drinking culture, along with toilet closure, has resulted in increased street urination, creating the conditions for the spread of previously-eradicated, water borne diseases in city streets. Less visible, but as virulent, has been the effect of toilet closure for women. Women, in response to lack of toilet provision, are likely to ‘hold on’ resulting in urine (and pathogen) retention, and bladder distension increasing the propensity for continence problems. The elderly and people with disabilities may simply not go out for fear of there being no toilet when they need one. Those toilets that are available may be unusable. Lack of regulation or compulsory standards result in poor toilet design, inadequate maintenance and management, and unhygienic conditions, resulting in the spread of MRSA and other drug-resistant diseases. Recommendations are summarized for the provision of a spatial hierarchy of toilet provision that would both meet user needs and reduce the chances of the public toilets acting as epicentres of germ transmission. Unless compulsory legislation, increased funding, and improved management, maintenance and cleaning regimes are instigated, public toilet provision will continue to be a source of disease.
{"title":"The role of the public toilet: pathogen transmitter or health facilitator?","authors":"C. Greed","doi":"10.1191/0143624406bt151oa","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1191/0143624406bt151oa","url":null,"abstract":"This paper discusses the role of public toilets, as transmitters of disease, but also of their importance in contributing to the health and well-being of society. Research has shown that public toilets are vital components in creating sustainable, accessible, inclusive cities. But there is no mandatory legislation requiring local authorities to provide them. Over 40% have been closed in the UK in the last 10 years. The promotion of the 24 hour city, characterized by a male youth drinking culture, along with toilet closure, has resulted in increased street urination, creating the conditions for the spread of previously-eradicated, water borne diseases in city streets. Less visible, but as virulent, has been the effect of toilet closure for women. Women, in response to lack of toilet provision, are likely to ‘hold on’ resulting in urine (and pathogen) retention, and bladder distension increasing the propensity for continence problems. The elderly and people with disabilities may simply not go out for fear of there being no toilet when they need one. Those toilets that are available may be unusable. Lack of regulation or compulsory standards result in poor toilet design, inadequate maintenance and management, and unhygienic conditions, resulting in the spread of MRSA and other drug-resistant diseases. Recommendations are summarized for the provision of a spatial hierarchy of toilet provision that would both meet user needs and reduce the chances of the public toilets acting as epicentres of germ transmission. Unless compulsory legislation, increased funding, and improved management, maintenance and cleaning regimes are instigated, public toilet provision will continue to be a source of disease.","PeriodicalId":272488,"journal":{"name":"Building Services Engineering Research and Technology","volume":"3 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126905864","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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