Modern Building Services

MODERN BUILDING SERVICES APRIL 2023 27 FEATURE INDOOR AIR QUALITY Social housing crisis keeps ventilation in the spotlight An unprecedented combination of public outrage and government intervention is ramping up the pressure on landlords to tackle the health problems caused by poor ventilation in their buildings, according to BESA’s Graeme Fox Technical Director at the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA). T he role of building ventilation in reducing the risk of disease transmission and alleviating health problems linked to poor indoor air quality (IAQ) has been repeatedly highlighted in the wake of the pandemic and has become even higher profile since the death of Awaab Ishak last year. Rochdale Coroner’s Court ruled that the two-year-old’s tragic death was directly linked to his exposure to damp and mould in a poorly ventilated flat. One of the amendments to the newly revised Social Housing Bill currently being considered by Parliament has been dubbed ‘Awaab’s Law’. It requires social landlords to investigate and fix reported hazards within a specified time frame or rehouse tenants if their home cannot be made safe. This positions good ventilation right at the heart of the building safety agenda as it acknowledges that many poorly ventilated homes are not fit for human habitation. At the same time, MPs are debating ‘Ella’s Law’ – the Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill – which has already been approved by the House of Lords. It is named after Ella Kissi-Debrah who died from a severe asthma attack in 2013 and is the first person in the UK to have air pollution stated on her death certificate. Responsibilities The Bill sets out the responsibilities of all building operators to monitor and report on the quality of air in their buildings. It states that indoor targets must be in line with the latest guidance from the World Health Organisation (WHO) including those for ultrafine particles and nitrogen dioxide. The London Assembly has already voted unanimously to support Ella’s Law and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Minister, Lord Benyon, said the government already had the power to enforce its measures through the legal framework created by the renewed Environment Act 2021. Ella’s mother, the air quality campaigner andWHO child health advocate Rosamund Adoo Kissi- Debrah, said that people would continue to die unless governments and the ventilation industry worked together to improve IAQ. “TheNHSwill not be able to reduce itswaiting lists until we clean up our air,” she said.“It is alsomuch easier to control the indoor air than the outdoor, so tackling IAQ is a great way to give people back power over their own environment and save lives.” The WHO has established that 3.8 million premature deaths worldwide are linked to poor indoor air every year out of the total of 8.7 million from general air pollution. “We have to be clear about this, bad IAQ leads directly to deaths,” said Rosamund, who is Honorary President of BESA’s Health & Well-being in Buildings group. “Everyone should have the right to breathe clean air.” ➜ INFORMED THINKING MBS has teamed up with the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) to share the knowledge, policy and thinking of the Association. This month, BESA considers the need for action on air quality.