Specification writing for health specific building specifications
Ian Elmer, Technical Services Manager, AMTECH Group presented a paper at the IHEEM Conference in 2009 entitled: Health-Specific Building Services Specifications Utilising New Technology – The Way Forward.
The Department of Health Estates and Facilities division produces guidance for NHS organisations and individuals with an interest in land, property, equipment and facilities. This information can be used to support the effective management and utilisation of healthcare facilities and equipment and procurement of new buildings.
Historically The Model Engineering Specification (MES) was used to define standards for building services for NHS projects. The basic concept of the Model Engineering Specification was the provision of a set of documents which could be used to specify particular engineering applications found in NHS properties. The documents were intended to be quoted in contract documents in the same way that British and European standards are quoted. However, the MES document has not been revised periodically over the years and is not currently archived as a working document:
Although it is clear that the specific healthcare-based engineering elements covered in the old MES documents need reviewing and updating, it is not the intention to reproduce the Model Engineering Specification in its previous hard-copy format. The Department of Health favour an ‘electronic’ approach to providing the new healthcare specific building services data. Once completed, the new data will be available in two formats, either:
Provide the healthcare specific clauses as an ‘add-on’ facility to an existing specification writing software application to ensure that healthcare projects produced are healthcare compatible and compliant, or
Provide an electronic ‘reference only’ version of the healthcare information, which NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts in England could view as a separate entity.
Ians paper takes this proposal and discusses an electronic solution using ‘off the shelf’ software packages.
The slides of his presentation can be viewed here (click below)
What drives a green specification
Ian Elmer, Technical Services Manager of AMTECH Group chaired the CIBSE Green Specification Event in London in 2010.
Ian also gave a very interesting talk on – “What drives a green specification”. If you did not manage to attend the event you can download Ian’s presentation here.
Amtech Group Blog 