Research optimal indoor climate long-term care completed
June 5, 2023What requirements must healthcare facilities meet to provide the optimal indoor climate for clients and employees? TNO, together with TU Delft, TU/e and Hogeschool Utrecht, completed a literature review and issued a recommendation in order to arrive at a program of requirements for both healthcare institutions and suppliers. The project was carried out within the EVZ program and is supported substantively and financially by Woonzorg Nederland, Binnenklimaat Nederland and TVVL.
Currently, there are no specific guidelines for indoor climate in long-term care. This can be quite difficult for both care facilities and owners of care property. But contractors and installers when preserving, renovating or building new housing for long-term care would also benefit from clear guidelines. If it is not clear between the parties what quality is desired, this can cause discussion afterwards. Having guidelines contributes to better possibilities for controlling the quality of the indoor climate in combination with sustainability. Which leads to more satisfied clients and employees.
Indoor thermal and air quality guidelines.
The research focused on the indoor climate of long-term care rooms. The goal is to arrive at guidelines for temperature, humidity, amount of particulate matter and ventilation in these spaces. The guidelines can be used in agreements between client and contractor in specifications and inspections or in case of complaints.
'Evidence-based' approach
The literature was searched for the evidence base for indoor climate requirements in long-term care facilities. Based on this literature review, a recommendation was made for the next phase to develop a Program of Requirements for the indoor climate in long-term care facilities. Stakeholders were involved through a sounding board group. Through this approach, the proposed requirements are "evidence based.
Result: PoA
Based on the advice in the research report, the Binnenklimaattechniek Foundation will prepare a Program of Requirements (PoR) for long-term care in 2023. Parties can use the PoR free of charge to flesh out the quality of comfort.
The Report Researching Indoor Climate Requirements in Long-Term Care is published via EVZ's Knowledge Base.
Read the report via the EVZ knowledge base
About Woonzorg Nederland
Woonzorg Nederland is the largest social housing provider for seniors in the Netherlands. They build and manage future-proof care real estate and independent housing in some 170 municipalities. Tenants are offered affordable and safe housing with room to meet in the neighborhood, so they can live "independently together.
About Binnenklimaat Nederland
As an ambitious and active association, Binnenklimaat Nederland is committed to realizing a healthy indoor climate. Its affiliated members are manufacturers, suppliers and service organizations in the field of indoor climate technology, control and monitoring.
About TVVL
TVVL is the national association for companies and professionals in installation engineering. The association makes the connection between knowledge and people. This creates a platform, a 'think tank' where members develop, share and transfer knowledge.
About EVZ
The Care Sustainability Expertise Center (EVZ). is the knowledge center for reducing CO2-emissions in healthcare real estate. An important role of the EVZ is to facilitate the approach with portfolio roadmaps. The EVZ is carried out on behalf of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport by Stichting Stimular, Milieuplatform Zorgsector (MPZ) and TNO. The activities are coordinated with the branch organizations NFU, NVZ, ActiZ, VGN and the Dutch mental health care sector.
