Volume 54 | Issue 3 | March 2016
Research highlights the issue of indoor air quality
Best foot forward Treat your feet to a new pair of safety footwear
A recent report has raised concerns about the health risks of potentially harmful pollutants in the home, including open fires and gas heaters, highlighting the need for improved ventilation. Exposure to indoor air pollution from household products is causing health problems and putting lives at risk, says a new report by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH). The report claims that poor indoor air quality (IAQ) could have caused or contributed to 99,000 deaths across Europe in just one year. Air pollution has been linked to cancer, asthma, stroke, heart disease, diabetes, obesity and dementia. The report also points out that unborn and young children are particularly susceptible to air pollution and suggests that the drive to reduce energy costs by creating homes with tighter ventilation could be making the situation worse. It points to emissions from faulty boilers, gas cookers and heaters as well as irritant chemicals from new furniture, air fresheners and household cleaning products as contributing to rising health problems inside well-sealed buildings. House dust
mites, mould and dander from pets can also damage health. Wood burning stoves are also claimed to release a significant number of polluting particles. Demand for such stoves is said to have tripled over the last five years, but research suggests that although they are viewed as being environmentally friendly, they may be worse than gas when it comes to air quality. It is estimated that in London nearly 10% of wintertime particle pollution
comes from wood burning, with the fumes also leaking into neighbouring properties. The report’s findings have been welcomed by BESA (the Building Engineering Services Association). The Association’s Head of Sustainability, David Frise, comments: “The building engineering services industry has been waiting a long time for the medical profession to acknowledge the seriousness of the air quality problem inside buildings. There is no shortage of research looking at outdoor pollution, but as the situation worsens outside, so does the impact on human health inside where we spend 90% of our time. “Building engineering services contractors have a range of techniques available for mitigating the impact of poor IAQ – what we need now is compelling evidence to encourage building owners and managers to face up to their responsibilities in this area. “This new report and follow-up research may be just what we have been waiting for.”
Several major bodies in the UK heating industry have joined forces to urge the Chancellor to roll out a countrywide boiler replacement scheme. The Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC), The Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC), the Federation of Petroleum Suppliers (FPS), and the UK LPG Association (UKLPG) have written to George Osborne calling for him to introduce such a scheme in this month’s Budget. The organisations have welcomed the introduction of the London Boiler Cashback Scheme (see page 4) and in a letter to the Chancellor they have outlined the case for a similar initiative to be introduced across England to encourage the replacement of
ageing, standard efficiency boilers. With close to 19 million homes in England heated by gas, over 800,000 heated by oil and a further 200,000 by LPG, and an estimated 60% of these boilers (11.9 million) in need of replacement, it is claimed that a new boiler incentive scheme would have huge potential for carbon savings and also help consumers to reduce their fuel bills. OFTEC’s Chairman Nick Hawkins comments: “Boiler replacement is an approach that OFTEC has championed for a long time and one which we know works following similar schemes previously run in the UK and still running in Northern Ireland. “We believe Boris Johnson’s London
initiative will be fully subscribed well before the April closing date, especially with manufacturers offering to support the scheme by offering similar price reductions, which demonstrates strong consumer demand for this simple, cost-effective idea.” HHIC Director Stewart Clements adds: “A universal boiler replacement scheme would make a significant contribution to tackling three difficult problems simultaneously: making domestic heating more climate friendly, cutting fuel bills, and reducing the number of cold related health issues which contribute to the unacceptable level of excess winter deaths occurring each year, especially amongst the elderly.”
See page 58
Cosier kids Industry unites behind new boiler scheme at the club
The Evolution of Heating
Members of the Double Six Youth Club in Sheffield have struck it lucky thanks to a new heating and hot water system donated by Potterton Commercial and sister company Andrews Water Heaters. After responding to an appeal to help reduce the club’s spiralling heating bills, the two Baxi Commercial companies arranged for the installation of a Sirus Two 60kW boiler and a FASTflo condensing 56kW water heater. Double Six celebrates its 50th anniversary this year and, according to club volunteer Richard Hay, the donations have helped to give it a new lease of life.
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