HTM 03-01

Health Technical Memoranda (HTM)

Health Technical Memoranda (HTMs) gives comprehensive advice and guidance on the design, installation and operation of specialised building and engineering technology used in the delivery of healthcare. 

The focus of Health Technical Memoranda guidance remains on healthcare-specific elements of standards, policies and up-to date established best practice. They are applicable to new and existing sites and are for use at various stages during the whole building lifecycle. 

Healthcare providers have a duty of care to ensure that appropriate governance arrangements are in place and are managed effectively.  The Health Technical Memorandum series provides best practice engineering standards and policy to enable management of this duty of care.

Healthcare-specific technical engineering guidance is a vital tool in the safe and efficient operation of healthcare facilities.  Health Technical Memorandum guidance is the main source of specific healthcare-related guidance for estates and facilities professionals.

The challenges of HTM 03-01 can be split into different subjects, such as costs, noise, maintenance, legionella, life expectancy, AHU downtime and building regulations, although this is not an exhaustive list.

Below we discuss the financial side of things in taking a brief look at capital and running costs, and routine maintenance.

Capital and running costs

Ventilation in a healthcare building is vital for the comfort of patients, but this can be expensive to procure and run, which HTM and other reports recognise: “Mechanical ventilation systems are expensive in terms of capital and running costs, and planning solutions should be sought which take advantage of natural ventilation, provided the above criteria are met.”

The Carbon Trust also states: “This overview for the primary healthcare sector introduces the main energy saving opportunities found in healthcare practices and demonstrates how simple actions save energy, cut costs and increase comfort for patients.”

Approximately, 70% of energy consumed in primary healthcare is used by space heating and in the year of 2013-2014 the NHS spent around £72bn to deliver healthcare to patients, where £45bn was spent on workforce and the remaining £27bn spent on non-workforce. 

As an example, one Trust spent £2.5bn on energy in one year and 70% of this figure is 1.75bn.  This trust decided to employ a dedicated energy manager and by implementing certain measures they saved around 30% by speaking to industry experts like us.

Routine maintenance

Energy consumption can increase by up to 60% if regular maintenance is not undertaken.  Dirty or faulty fans, air ducts and components directly affect system efficiency and will increase running costs and risk of breakdown.  The performance of the whole system should be reviewed annually, and replacement parts ordered as necessary to keep the system effective, clean and safe.
 
HTM states:

• 1.18 It is a management responsibility to ensure that inspection, service and maintenance activities are carried out safely without hazard to staff, patients or members of the public.
• 1.19 Those required to monitor and/or maintain ventilation equipment will need to show that they are competent to do so.
• 1.20 Maintenance procedures should be reviewed periodically to ensure that they remain appropriate.

If you would like to know more about the challenges of HTM, and how these can be met efficiently, economically and in a timely manner, please contact us today for a free and without-obligation discussion of your specific needs and opportunities.

To get a better and more detailed understanding of VES Healthcare premises ventilation, you can view the Healthcare premises brochure.