RECENT NEWS

IHEEM would like to congratulate David LC Browning and Richard A Bateson for achieving registration as Chartered Engineers.

IHEEM can reflect that much has been achieved this year, writes Tammy Simmons, the Institute’s recruitment manager. Not only have membership numbers increased, as has been reported in HEJ, but also the membership retention rate is at an all time high.

IHEEM’s Membership Committee has extensive duties and responsibilities. The committee: · Reviews membership assessment criteria as necessary and advise the Institute’s Council on all matters regarding membership of IHEEM. · Receives and review all new applications and upgrades for membership. · Promotes Engineering Council registration to members. · Provides guidance to members on all aspects of membership and registration with the Engineering Council UK, as well as encouraging upgrades and transfers to appropriate grades of membership. · Develops and maintain professional review panels within each branch area and provide training for panel members. · Gives advice to members on Professional Development and undertake monitoring on a sample basis.

The latest status report on the working programme of CEN TC 204 (concerning the sterilisation of medical devices) can be found by IHEEM members in their section on the Institute’s website.

The Welsh Branch of IHEEM in association with Welsh Health Estates has announced advance details of a twoday conference and accompanying exhibition to be held at the Hilton Hotel, Cardiff, on 30 and 31 March 2006.

IHEEM’s next series of seminars will be on the New Medical Equipment Installation Guidance Notes (MEIGan). The MHRA (the former Medical Devices Agency) has updated its guidance for the pre-installation of imaging equipment and it includes related issues concerning associated circuits in the patient area. The MEIGan document, now launched, includes preinstallation electrical guidance for imaging equipment and associated lighting and power circuits.

The Process Steam Guide has been produced by Gary Sowerby Eur.Ing CEng MEI as a result of 38 years of process steam plant experience.

Happy New Year to you all – I hope you have had a wonderful time over the holiday and are now reinvigorated for 2005, writes Tammy Simmons, IHEEM’s recruitment manager.

Emerson Network Power has extended its Himod series of high performance air conditioners available under the Liebert Hiross brand with the introduction of Himod M. Designed for all environments requiring high dissipation of sensitive heat, the series will soon be completed with the introduction of Himod L. With cooling capacities between 25 and 80 kW, the Himod M is ideal for a range of applications including hospitals.

By delivering natural daylight to all areas of a building, Monodraught SunPipes make a major contribution to the reduction of energy consumption in new build and refurbishment healthcare facilities.

SGB has acquired full ownership of its Mastclimbers joint venture partnership. The company acquired a majority shareholding in Mastclimbers in 2001, growing it from a regional base in Scotland into a national supplier serving the broader UK market. Today, Mastclimbers operates the UK’s largest fleet of rental platforms, with services that extend from project feasibility and design to site erection and dismantling.

Catering staff at Hull Royal Infirmary have revamped the menus for the children’s wards in an effort to tackle the city’s increasing child obesity problem and encourage children to eat more fruit and vegetables. Staff believe they are perfectly placed to plug the healthy eating message while youngsters are in hospital, and are essentially a captive audience.

Redstone Communications has been awarded Systems Silver approval by the National Security Inspectorate (NSI) in recognition of its commitment to providing effective protection to health organisations against threats to voice, data, internet and building security.

The Knockonwood radiator from Jaga Heating Products is now available in ten stunning wood finishes. Adding to the original oak, beech and maple finishes, the company recently extended the wood range to include bleached oak, bleached beech, mahogany, wenge-coloured dark oak, walnut, greyed teak and the distinctive zebrano finishes.

Azko Nobel Industrial Coatings can now offer manufacturers of flexible flooring systems a specially formulated coating which has been shown to kill a wide range of germs and bacteria, including the highly resistant MRSA. The new formulation is an addition to the company’s Accolade range of coatings, which have been specially designed to enhance flooring appearance and cleanability by reducing dirt pick-up, staining and scuffing.

The NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (PASA) has recommended that all products supplied to the NHS should be identified using a bar code compliant with EAN.UCC standards.

The Ewx (External Works) 2005 Exhibition has confirmed that the event will be supported for the first time by the Institution of Lighting Engineers (ILE), the UK and Ireland’s largest and most influential professional lighting association, dedicated solely to excellence in lighting.

JS Air Curtains has launched a new air curtain that is ideal for hospitals and healthcare premises due to its attractive design and flexible control options. The Standesse air curtain enhances patient and staff comfort in the winter, whilst reducing heating bills by allowing a hospital to leave its doors invitingly open without letting valuable heat escape.

Advanced surface protection specialist, BioCote has entered a technology partnership to provide hygienic protection for specialist papers and boards manufactured by James Cropper Specialist Papers. These materials are suitable for the production of stationery, case notes, general literature and packaging, and will be of particular interest to companies supplying paper and board-based products for use in the medical and healthcare markets.

The 2005 Healthcare Estates Conference, organised by IHEEM, will develop the themes covered in the 2004 conference and will look ahead to what the future holds. Papers on proposed conference themes are now invited from all professionals working in the field of healthcare engineering, design and construction, and estates and facilities management.