SPONSOR CPD PROGRAMME Setting the standards for central ventilation equipment in healthcare premises Continuing professional development (CPD) is the regular maintenance, improvement and broadening of your knowledge and skills, to maintain professional competence. It is a requirement of CIBSE and other professional bodies. This Journal CPD programme can be used to meet your CPD requirements. Study the module and answer the questions on the final page. Each successfully completed module is equivalent to 1.5 hours of CPD. Modules are also available at www.cibsejournal.com/cpd This module provides an introduction to Health Technical Memoranda and explores one of the most recent updates For those who work in the design of technical services and installations for UK healthcare premises, the primary set of references are the Health Technical Memoranda (HTMs) (which exist in a parallel form for each of the four health systems of the UK nations). The freely downloadable HTMs provide an incredibly useful resource well beyond the confines of healthcare premises, and make a useful adjunct to any building services engineering library. This article will provide an introduction to the HTMs and concentrate on information from one of the most recent updates, part A of HTM 03-01 Specialised ventilation for healthcare premises. Emissions resulting from building energy use in the NHS dropped by almost 50% in the period 2013 to 2019, most significantly as a result of the decarbonisation of the UK electricity grid.1 However, robust design and operation present continuing opportunities to reduce systems energy use towards the goal of net zero by 2040.2 The potential for significant environmental and cost benefits of good quality, holistic design and operation of engineering systems is immense. The various HTMs are connected by HTM 00,3 which considers the policies and principles of healthcare engineering, providing the underpinning management and operational policies that have been drawn and developed from earlier documents, and also explores issues of risk management. The series of HTMs has evolved and transformed since the establishment of the NHS in 1948, and is now focussed on eight specialist areas. HTM 03-01 Specialised ventilation in healthcare premises has two parts. Part A: The concept, design, specification, installation and acceptance testing of healthcare ventilation systems sets the standard for new installations and major refurbishments of existing installations. Part B: The management, operation, maintenance and routine testing of existing healthcare ventilation systems sets the standard irrespective of the age of the installation. This article will focus on the recently updated HTM 03-01-A that provides extensive guidance amounting to more than 200 pages, which is complemented by the 60 pages of HTM 03-01-B. In many areas, the challenges for ventilation include appropriately reducing the bioburden and other contaminants in the air to protect the patient, other patients and personnel, both locally and beyond, as well as addressing the control of increased fire risks where there are more flammable materials and chemicals, or less able patients. Practically all areas will require reasonable comfort conditions, even where widely diverse clothing is worn by occupants patients and personnel in the same space. The updated HTM includes revised design information for specific healthcare applications, together with rationale given for any significant changes. A substantial section of the HTM provides the requirements that relate to particular healthcare zones, such as operating departments and interventional imaging suites, as well as explaining the needs for more generic zonal functions such as ultra-clean ventilation systems, extract systems and plantroom ventilation. A brief commentary on legislation for UK healthcare premises covers the Building Regulations, COSH, Health and Safety at Work Act, and Workplace Regulations, as well as those specific to healthcare such as the www.cibsejournal.com June 2022 35 CIBSE June 22 pp35-38 CPD 197.indd 35 27/05/2022 15:49