24/03/2010 by David Slade.

How do you get more mileage out of your data center space?

Some companies in the US are building up, rather than out. By using taller racks and cabinets, these users are able to pack more servers into each square foot of data center space. This practice is being reported in leased data center facilities designed to support higher power densities.

“Our customers are more and more sophisticated, and now they understand that power density is just a matter of how high the racks can go,” said Hossein Fateh, President and CEO of DuPont Fabros Technology. “You can build vertically as well as horizontally, and when you build your rack higher they don’t have to pay extra for it. To be more efficient, they will build a nine foot rack. We just went through the exercise with one customer who hadn’t done it before.”

A standard server rack is seven feet high and can accommodate 42 units (42U) of rackmount server equipment in a 19-inch wide slot. There are many options in rack size, with manufacturers offering enclosures that are up to 23 inches wide (a size often used for telecom equipment) and height options ranging from 44U and a nine-foot tall 58U rack.

Posted in racks, data centres | No Comments »

24/03/2010 by David Slade.

Echelon has dramatically improved its pioneering LonWorks platform. LonWorks® 2.0 is a complete platform that lets OEM product manufacturers and system integrators create and implement controls and smart energy management solutions.

• Faster, smaller and more cost-effective
• Add LonWorks networks to more devices
• No credit fee = lower solutions costsCreate more powerful and flexible devices

LonWorks 2.0 Replaces RS485 Technology
With the introduction of the new LonWorks 2.0 FT 5000 Smart Transceiver, manufacturers can get nearly a four-fold increase in processing power and through put at half the cost of previous designs – eliminating the cost advantages of RS485 base designs. The LonWorks technology extends its superior technological foundation over RS485 based designs while making the installation more robust, field safe and easy.

Posted in Lonworks | No Comments »

22/03/2010 by David Slade.

Definition

The administrative and communication centre of a clinical unit.

Posted in Staff communications base, Healthcare | No Comments »

22/03/2010 by David Slade.

Definition

The fixed medical gases pipework, the associated supply plant or pumping equipment, and the warning and alarm systems. This definition includes medical compressed air, medical vacuum installations and anaesthetic gas scavenging systems (AGSS).

Posted in anaesthetic gas scavenging systems (AGSS), Medical gas pipeline system (MGPS), Healthcare | No Comments »

22/03/2010 by David Slade.

Your boss is always asking about the number of “hits” your company’s website is getting.

This has not been a valuable success metric since the ’90s, and it is like nails on a chalkboard to any analytics professional. Potential consumers are not “hits” they are people who expect valuable content and a quality user experience when they visit a website.

You still design with HiPPO (highest paid person’s opinion) standards in mind.

Great design drives conversions, so it needs to be strategically crafted to contribute to design goals. What worked on a previous project or competitor’s building does not necessarily translate to your company. I am not advocating that you discount people’s opinions or blindly follow analytics it is important to take both into account. Data are a great unifier and can help keep people on the same page in board meetings. By combining objective and subjective points of discussion, it is easier to come to sound marketing decisions. Even if the topic on the table is outlandish, cutting edge, or uncharted territory, at least data can be a place to initiate the conversation.

In conclusion, combining marketing insight with data is an extremely powerful and successful strategy.

This can easoly apply to any engineering design project undertaken, and the design brief, or lack of one!

Posted in Dasboard, Web 2.0, Marketing | No Comments »

21/03/2010 by David Slade.

There have been two major approaches to the development of networked electronic patient record (EPR) architecture. One uses object-oriented methodologies for constructing the model. The second approach uses document-oriented methodologies. It is practically beneficial to take the advantages of both approaches and to add solution technologies for network security such as PKI. In recognition of the similarity with electronic commerce, a certificate authority as a trusted third party will be organised for establishing networked EPR system.

Medical images are currently created digitally and stored in the radiology department’s picture archiving and communication system. Reports are usually stored in the electronic patient record of other information systems, such as the radiology information system (RIS) and the hospital information system (HIS). But high-quality services can only be provided if electronic patient record data is integrated with digital images in picture archiving and communication systems. Clinicians should be able to access both systems’ data in an integrated and consistent way as part of their regular working environment, whether HIS or RIS. Also, this system should allow for teleconferencing with other users, eg, for consultation with a specialist in the radiology department. Technology is going over to a web-based solution that integrates the digital images of picture archiving and communication systems with electronic patient record/HIS/RIS data and has built-in teleconferencing functionality. This integration has been successfully tested using three different commercial RIS and HIS products.

Posted in hospital information system (HIS), radiology information system (RIS), electronic patient record (EPR), Healthcare | No Comments »

20/03/2010 by David Slade.

The Data Protection Act was introduced to promote high standards in the handling of personal information, and so to protect the individual’s right to privacy. This applies particularly to CCTV systems as they process personal data in the form of video images.

The 8 Data Protection Principles

Most businesses with CCTV installations will have to comply with the requirements of the Act by complying with the 8 data protection principles of good information handling.

Personal information must be:

• Fairly and lawfully processed
• Processed for specified purposes
• Adequate, relevant and not excessive
• Accurate, and where necessary, kept up to date
• Not kept for longer than is necessary
• Processed in line with the rights of the individual
• Kept secure
• Not transferred to countries outside the European Economic Area unless there is adequate protection of the information

What happens if I do not comply?

• Your business’s reputation and finances could be affected
• The Information Commissioner could also take enforceable action against you to bring your processing into compliance with the 8 principles
• A failure to notify or renew a notification that your business has a CCTV system in operation is a criminal offense punishable by a fine, unless you are exempt from notifying
• An individual may seek compensation through the courts for any damage suffered

What is a Subject Access Request?

Individuals have limited rights under the Act to request a copy of the information held about them. This is known as the right of subject access.

Such requests must be documented and reasonable, and you can charge an administration fee of up to £10 to produce the information. You must deal with such requests promptly and in any case within 40 days.

How do I become compliant?

Firstly, you should ensure that your system complies with the 8 Data Protection Principles.

If you have not done so already, you should register your CCTV system (commercial or public) with the Information Commissioner. This can be done at www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk, or by telephone on 01625 545740. The notification period is one year and the fee is £35. If you have already registered your CCTV system the Information Commissioner will write to you before the expiry date of your register entry, and the renewal cost is £35.

You should display warning signs to show that CCTV cameras are recording, and stating the purpose of the system and details of who manages the system and how to contact them.

Is it easy to comply if I have an analogue (VCR) CCTV system?

CCTV Systems incorporating an analogue Video Cassette Recorder (VCR)

The main issues with analogue CCTV systems, in terms of complying with the Data Protection Act, is with subject access requests and releasing personal information to an individual if requested, and ensuring that personal information (video images) is kept as long as necessary.

• All your recordings must be logged and tracked to show who changes tapes and when, and when a tape has been released to a third party or removed from use
• All your recorded tapes and video cassette recorders must be kept secure

Is it easy to comply if I have a digital (DVR) CCTV system?

CCTV Systems incorporating a Digital Video Recorder (DVR)

The main issue with a digital CCTV system, in terms of complying with the Data Protection Act, is with securing the recordings and digital recording devices.

• All your recordings must be logged and tracked to show how long images are stored and when images have been released to a third party
• All your recorded images and digital recording devices must be kept secure

Posted in Data Protection Act, Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) | No Comments »

19/03/2010 by David Slade.

Installing CCTV can be difficult as legal guidelines for the installer are surprisingly vague.

Across the country, there are different expectations for CCTV installation. UK councils and constabularies often set their own CCTV installation guidelines, making it hard to know how to tackle each project.

CCTV installation regulations

Estimates suggest there are over four million CCTV cameras in the UK, with this number expected to rise as technology becomes cheaper and public security concerns increase. Indeed, recent reports suggest the UK’s CCTV market will be worth an unprecedented $1.92m by 2012.

While the Home Office and the Information Commissioner produce the overarching guidelines and codes, there appears to be different expectations for the installation and operation of cameras throughout the nation’s councils and constabularies.

Your local council sets guidelines for all CCTV in the area. These are usually general guidelines to ensure that your system is not in breach of a series of legal Acts, including the Human Rights Act and the Data Protection Act.

The guidelines are also set to ensure that CCTV systems operate for the right reasons (e.g. crime prevention) and that systems are in keeping with the wider aims of the council.

There are exceptions. Many cities, shopping centres and even car parks have their own Codes of Practice, but these are usually issued to assure the public of honest intentions and proper practice, rather than as guidelines.

Your local constabulary sets guidelines for CCTV in licensed premises. As they are in charge of licensing across the region, they may well refuse an establishment the right to operate if their CCTV does not meet the standards.

Each police force throughout the country is at liberty to set its own requirements, although some simply refer people to the Information Commissioners website.

PLEASE NOTE:
When installing CCTV, there are national and legal requirements, and the following links can offer you advice:

If you intend to use your CCTV evidence in a prosecution at any time, your system MUST adhere to the Information Commissioners generic Code of Practice

If you intend to use CCTV in a licensed premises, you can find independent legal advice (to be used alongside your local constabulary’s guidelines).

The Home Office also offer advice guidelines for digital CCTV systems that could be used as evidence. Click here

The Information Commissioner is already conducting an extensive review of the existing CCTV Code of Practice to make sure it has kept up-to-date with technological and other developments. This review will also take into account the changes to the interpretation of the Data Protection Act. The revised code should be published later in the year.

For the UK - If you require anymore information, we recommend that you contact the Information Commissioner’s Data Protection Helpline on +44 (0) 1625 545745.

This list is by no means exhaustive but offers the installer and user general advice. More detailed advice and guidelines can be found through Info4securitys list of council and police guidelines.

Posted in Home Office, Information Commissioner, Data Protection Act, Human Rights Act, licensed premises, Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) | No Comments »

19/03/2010 by David Slade.

The use of data cable and infrastructures within healthcare premises to carry information to and from the bedhead opens up the possibility of using the data cable for other facilities.Where data cables (for example Cat 5e, fibre-optic) are used to carry communication and control information to and from the bedhead, or other nursing position, in support of IP (Internet protocol)-based nurse call, patient/nurse speech, telephony, Internet and entertainment services etc, these should be capable of fully supporting the required computer network technologies as directed by the healthcare facility’s IT manager. Examples of computer network technologies include 10Base-T, 100Base-T, 1000Base-T (Gigabit) Ethernet, and Token Ring.

Utilising a common data highway may, however, impact upon business and clinical risk. Therefore, careful consideration should be given to the extent to which provisions are incorporated into the system to ensure adequate reliability and resilience of the various services so as to minimise such risks.

Data cables used for bedhead services will normally be independent of the main healthcare facility’s primary IT network (unless otherwise directed by the healthcare facility’s IT manager), but they will interface with the network at appropriate strategic points.

Relevant protocols and test procedures to achieve the required functional transparency and resilience should be agreed between the bedhead services’ equipment supplier(s) and healthcare facility’s IT manager before the interface(s) is/are installed.

Entertainment (radio and TV) and communication (telephony and Internet access) services may be provided through a low-energy digital device at each bedhead. Such devices should not be used as the primary control for any patient and staff calls, but should be capable of being used for patient health education and for menu-ordering in addition to other services as described in the list at the bottom of this page. When required, the device should also be capable of being interfaced with the hospital information systems and IT network for use by hospital staff and to reduce installation and maintenance costs.

Prior to installation, all facilities that utilise common data infrastructure systems should be adequately assessed with regard to their potential effect on other hospital systems, particularly in respect of any capacity, security and safety implications. Suitable provisions should be incorporated to ensure that such systems operate safely and reliably, with no unwanted interference being incurred sufficient to cause operational difficulties between systems.

Appropriate input and output interfaces should be provided as necessary to ensure a fully operational system in compliance with manufacturers’ requirements and with functionality as specified elsewhere in the project specification.

Once installed, the capacity of a data cable is potentially considerable, so expansion of facilities in the ward or nursing area becomes possible with the appropriate input and output interfaces.

Some features that may be developed are:

• Bed status: to indicate whether the bed is occupied, vacant, in the course of preparation or out of commission.
• Patient monitoring: to allow the output signals from medical apparatus to be multiplexed onto the data line. This may take the form of a simple on/off medical alarm or a constant reporting of varying analogue signals to indicate a changing medical condition.
• Menu selection: to enable the patient to view and select their choice of meal.
• Patient details: to enable the entry of a patient’s name, address and all relevant personal information at the bedside.
• Medication requirements: to display all medical details to the nurse or doctor at the bedhead.
• Patient entertainment: Internet etc.
• Communication: Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony.
• Patient administration systems: to provide full clinical access to the healthcare facility’s clinical data IT network at the bedside.
• Door access and security: to allow the nurse-call system to be integrated with CCTV and door-access systems.
• Clinical report displays: to enable laboratory results, X-rays and computed tomography (CT) scans to be displayed to clinical staff at the bedside.
• Administration of drugs: to facilitate the accurate discharging and recording of drugs administered at the bedside.

Posted in Patient details, Medication requirements, Meal selection, Patient monitoring, electronic patient record (EPR), Bed status, Patient entertainment, door-access systems, 10BASE-T, 1000 BASE-T, nurse-call, bedhead services, Administration of drugs, Clinical report displays, VoIP | 1 Comment »

19/03/2010 by David Slade.

Building services engineering can give ‘guidance’ incorporating comprehensive advice on the design, installation and operation of specialised building and engineering technology used in the delivery of health care.With focus on health care-specific elements of standards, policies and up-to-date established best practice. Best practice guidance is applicable to new and existing sites, and is for use at various stages during the whole building lifecycle:

Healthcare providers have a duty of care to ensure that appropriate engineering governance arrangements are in place and are managed effectively. This guidance provides best practice engineering standards and policy to enable management of this duty of care.

It is not the intention to unnecessarily repeat international or European standards, industry standards or UK Government legislation. Where appropriate, these will be referenced elswhere in this blog over time.

Healthcare-specific technical engineering guidance is a vital tool in the safe and efficient operation of healthcare facilities. Special guidance is given the main source of specific healthcare-related disciplines for estates and facilities professionals.

It:

• encapsulates the latest standards and best practice in healthcare engineering;
• provides a structured reference for healthcare engineering.

Posted in duty of care, lifecycle, Best practice, Building services, Healthcare | No Comments »

19/03/2010 by David Slade.

Installer Security Systems Techology (SST) has fitted supplied London Heathrow airport with a biometric time and attendance product to monitor the movement of its staff.

The system, which operates through mains power, uses a data transfer process that relies solely on SIM cards via a GSM over TCP/IP solution.

The product is based on topographical scanning of an employee’s hand in order that shifts can be logged.

After scanning it can then raise an alert by text or email if the airport’s employees clock in later than scheduled.

SST said: “The system is an alternative to non-contact proximity cards or fobs which are commonly abused, and the technology has reduced client payroll costs by up to 5 per cent as only precise hours worked are claimed.”

The equipment has been installed in the airport’s Terminals 3 and 5.

SST added: “The units can form part of a wide area network, with individual members of multiple-site organisations reporting to a central server, so allowing management to see real-time overall data.”

Posted in Hand scanners | No Comments »

18/03/2010 by David Slade.

In certain clinical areas such as Accident and Emergency departments and mental health wards, staff can become subject to attack; therefore, it may be appropriate to install a personal-attack alarm system.

A personal-attack alarm system should be designed to alert security and other personnel to render immediate assistance to staff located within an area who have become subjected to an attack.

Note

Consideration should be given to connecting the attack alarm to the closed-circuit television (CCTV) system.

The personal-attack alarm system should be designed to be as reliable and resilient as possible and, where necessary, should contain an integral power supply to sustain operation during periods of loss of normal electricity services. Where radio signals are used, these should be strictly managed and controlled to ensure that the limiting parameters such as frequency, signal strength and range as laid down by the manufacturer and statutory authorising bodies are not exceeded. Where infrared-only signals are used, account should be taken of the “line of sight” and blocking of signals through obstacles, clothing, body etc.

Operation
Attack alarm systems generally consist of a portable transmitting device worn by staff plus a receiver at which the transmitter signal is received and transferred to a central indicator unit situated at a permanently staffed position. When attacked, the member of staff will activate the transmitting device which – via the receiver – will register the location of the attack at the permanently staffed position. Staff at this position will immediately alert security staff/the staff response team to go to the location of the attack.

Once an attack call has been initiated, a visual and audible sounder should operate in the immediate area or remotely (subject to local policy) in order to alert other staff to give assistance to the member of staff being attacked, and to help deter the attacker. The level of sound/visual alarm should be sufficient to be heard but not so loud as to prevent verbal conversation/instructions between staff. The system should be reset remotely and not via the transmitting device.

The period between activation of the transmitting device and alerting of security staff/the staff response team should be as short as possible.

Activation of the signal-transmitting device by staff being attacked should cause the immediate provision of visual, audible and staff location details to be displayed at the permanently staffed position. The system should be capable of recording the staff reference, time and location of the attack and should handle up to three multiple calls simultaneously.

Visual and audible signals associated with an attack alarm should be distinguishable from all other call systems and be of sufficient luminance and loudness to ensure high priority attention from staff at the signal-receiving positions).

A multiple mode system should be used to report the attack location and to raise a general alarm. A failure of one of these signals should not prevent a response to the alarm.

Transmitter
This should comprise a suitable transmitting device worn by staff, or located at specified strategic points, that will activate the attack alarm system when triggered.

Body-worn alarm-raising transmitter units should be supplemented by wall-mounted push-buttons where additional protection is required.

Transmitting devices should be reliable and capable of being worn by staff such that they can be activated quickly whilst under attack. The transmitting device should be of robust construction and produce a suitable visual/audible warning signal to staff whenever its power source is reaching a point at which it cannot be relied upon to operate satisfactorily. Once activated, the warning signal should allow the device to satisfactorily operate for at least 12 hours before the power source is replenished.

Receiver
The system should be able to identify, as accurately as possible, the location at which the attack alarm was triggered, and not be confused with calls emanating from other areas. This should be achieved by suitably-placed receiver units, or other communication devices, alarmed back to the central indicator unit that is situated at a permanently staffed position.

Pocket pagers

Where required, pocket pagers should be provided to sound and display alarm calls in circumstances where staff need to respond to a call but are beyond earshot of the various alarm call tones generated within a specific clinical area.

The staff base unit within the clinical area should be linked to a transmitter to initiate the relevant call signal to be received by the pocket pager(s). The time between activation of a call and display on the pocket pagers should be minimal.

The information displayed by the pocket pager should be sufficient for the recipient to clearly identify the type and origin of the call and quickly progress directly to the call location.

Where more than one clinical area operates a pocket pager system, the pocket pager system should be designed to ensure that it operates reliably, with calls emanating from a clinical area being retained exclusive to that area and not wrongly received by another clinical area.

Priority of calls
Pager signals should differentiate between other types of call. The types of call in order of high to lower priority are: cardiac alarm, attack alarm, staff emergency call, bathroom/WC call, and patient call.

Posted in Healthcare | 1 Comment »

18/03/2010 by David Slade.

Emergency switch

It is necessary to give nursing staff the ability to call for assistance should the need arise while attending a patient. A switch for this purpose should be incorporated on the bedhead services and in any other area where assistance may be required. Areas that have no other form of communication may require this facility (for example treatment rooms).

Visual signals

Operation of the staff emergency switch at any bed or other location, where fitted, should cause the sequence of lamps as described in the “Patient-to-nurse” section to illuminate in a flashing mode (whether a normal call is in force or not) until the emergency switch is returned to normal.

Where a group lamp is positioned to indicate calls from more than one source, the raising of an emergency call from one section should not be masked by a steady illumination from another section that has a normal call in operation.

Operation of the emergency switch should cause the system to operate in one of the following ways:

• it should override any patient calls and bathroom/WC calls on the system when the emergency call is made, storing these until the emergency call is cancelled, when they are reinstated automatically;
• it should not affect any patient or emergency calls from any other point that are in force or need to be made during the emergency.

Audible signals

Use of an emergency switch should cause all the tone sounders of the system to operate in phase with the flashing lamps.

If the quiet (or mute) setting of the control switch at the staff communications base has been selected, this will be overridden.

Posted in Staff-to-staff (emergency), Healthcare | No Comments »

18/03/2010 by David Slade.

Patient’s calling devices

Patient-to-nurse calling devices should have a tactile feel. The push-button or pull-ring should be easily recognised by its colour (normally amber) and by a nurse symbol indelibly engraved/printed on or alongside the device. Examples of typical nurse symbols are shown in the diagram below.

Typical layout of patient handset with example of symbols

The device should be easy to operate by the patient irrespective of whether he/she is ambulant, disabled or confined to bed.

Patient-to-nurse calling devices are normally of the push-button type; however, different designs and configurations should be available to suit individual patient condition requirements. These should be capable of utilising a common basesocket connector unit to allow flexibility in use at each call point.

For ease of location at night, the hand unit should be permanently back-lit, but not so brightly that it could be confused with the reassurance lamp.

A reassurance lamp in the form of a light-emitting diode (LED) should be positioned adjacent to, or should be integrated within, the call device.

The voltage potential difference between any two points, including earth, likely to be experienced by patients or persons associated with the call unit or its cable should not exceed that which applies to medical equipment described in the MEIGaN regulations either under normal or fault conditions. The nurse-call circuit should be automatically monitored so that a break in the cable or withdrawal of the plug will initiate a call.

Further information:

MEIGaN

Wall- or trunking-mounted push-button

The push-button should be large enough and easily recognisable and suitable for all areas of a healthcare facility frequented by ambulant patients or where it may be intended to be used. Associated with the push-button – either integrally or alongside – a reassurance lamp should be fitted.

Hand-held nurse-call-only unit

A hand-held unit used solely for patient–nurse call purposes should consist of a push-button attached to a fixed unit by means of a suitable cable plug/ socket connector. The push-button should be large and easily recognisable, with a reassurance lamp in the form of an LED fitted either integrally or alongside.

The push-button should be permanently illuminated to a level sufficient to allow easy location in the dark, but should not be so bright as to be confused with the nurse-call reassurance lamp.

The unit should be ergonomically designed, with a flexible lightweight cable of sufficient length to enable patients to activate a call from the bed or whilst sitting in a bedside chair or nursing area etc. The means of attachment at both ends of the cable should be in the form of an effective strain-relief device in order to minimise risk of cable failure. The plug attachment to the base unit should be of a pattern that will disengage from the wall socket when strain is applied to the cable from any angle without damage to plug, socket or cable. Where the same plug and socket is used for a patient handset as an alternative to a call-only unit, the circuitry of the call-only unit should be compatible with that of the handset so that the socket can be used for either.

The control of infection should also be considered in the design and manufacture of the patient handset unit. It should be designed with an appropriate IP rating (see BS EN 60529) so that the unit can withstand submersion in various liquids.

It should also be designed to allow patients with a range of disabilities not only to operate the unit but also to understand the functions of the unit.

Some means of attaching the call-only unit securely to the bedclothes or the patient’s clothes should be available, but it should be so designed that any undue force will allow the clip to disengage without tearing the materials.

A parking clip or bracket should be provided to allow the unit to be stored on the wall or locker when not in use.

Pull-cord unit

In showers, bathrooms and toilets, the patientcalling device is normally a ceiling-mounted pullcord unit with pull rings as described in Part M of the Building Regulations – namely, coloured red, located as close to the wall as possible, and having two red 50 mm diameter bangles (or similar) set at different heights. It is important that the pull-cord is easily recognised as the calling device and cannot be confused with a light switch. The pull-cord unit should provide reassurance that the system has operated. The switch should have a momentary action to activate a call. Use of pull-cords within mental illness units needs careful consideration to avoid potential ligature points, and in any case, the cord should have a low breaking strain.

Other call units

Pneumatically-operated call units can be used for patients who are unable to use their hands. The unit comprises an air bulb and connecting tube, terminating in an air-velocity-operated switch that is integral with the wall unit.

Other forms of call unit that facilitate operation by disabled patients should be considered if these provide enhanced and more efficient use. The design and manufacture of such units should be sufficiently robust to provide a safe and reliable service, and their method of operation should be compatible with the remainder of the patient call system.

Posted in nurse-call, Patient's calling devices, MEIGaN - Medical Electrical Installation, Healthcare | No Comments »

18/03/2010 by David Slade.

MEIGaN - Medical Electrical Installation Guidance is intended to be used by healthcare organisations and medical devices suppliers responsible for permanent electrical installation of medical devices and associated equipment in diagnostic imaging (including dental X-ray units) and radiotherapy rooms/suites. Its requirements are intended for application by staff with electrical knowledge.

Where complied with a complete set of paper commissioning records, sufficient to show compliance with the EIGaN guidance shall be made available to the owner at handover.

This document may also be of use to persons installing permanently installed medical evices in other clinical areas, but has not yet been agreed by interested parties oncerned with installations other than for imaging and radiotherapy.

Covering the electrical wiring and installation up to the terminals of ermanently installed medical devices and to the supply outlets for other medical sevices, and is intended to improve the reliability and resilience of the power supplies sed in diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy rooms/suites as well as their electrical safety.

Healthcare organisations should include as a condition of contract that ‘the electrical installation shall meet the requirements of BS 7671 IEE Wiring Regulations, MEIGaN, HTM 2007 and BS EN 60601-1-1:2001.’

The guidance document supplements the following, all relevant requirements of which apply:

• BS 7671:2001 Requirements for electrical installations. IEE Wiring Regulations. Sixteenth edition, including amendment No. 1 2002 and No. 2 2004
• NHS Estates HTM 06-01 Electrical services, supply and distribution
• BS EN60601-1-1:2006 Medical electrical equipment. General requirements for safety. Collateral standard. Safety requirements for medical electrical systems.
Annex 1 of the document is based on IEC 60364-7-710 [4] and IEE Guidance Note 7 and will be incorporated in a subsequent revision of HTM 06-01.

The document document has been produced by the MHRA and representatives from the Department of Health’s Estates and Facilities Division, the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland administrations, NHS electrical experts, medical device suppliers and pre-installation companies.

It is intended for new buildings, refurbished rooms and transportable diagnostic or treatment rooms and is not retrospective.

References
1 BS 7671:2001 Requirements for electrical installations. IEE Wiring Regulations.

2 Department of Health: Estates and Facilities Division. HTM 06-01 Electrical ervices supply and distribution.

3 BS EN 60601-1:2006 Medical electrical equipment. General requirements for basic safety and essential performance. BSI, 2006.

4 IEC 60364-7-710:2002 Electrical installations of buildings - Part 7-710: requirements for special installations or locations - medical locations.
Note: the MHRA and DH Estates and Facilities Division recommend that MEIGaN is used.

5 The Institution of Engineering and Technology IEE Guidance Note 7: Special locations, 2nd Edition. IEE Publications, 2004.

6 Statutory Instrument 1999 No. 3232 The Ionising Radiation Regulations 1999. MSO 1999.

7 BS 6231:2006 Electric cables. Single core PVC insulated flexible cables of rated voltage 600/1000 V for switchgear and controlgear wiring. BSI, 2006.

8 Canadian Standards Association. C22.2.127-99 Equipment and lead wires. CSA, 1999.

9 Underwriters Laboratories Inc. UL 758 Appliance wiring material, 2nd edition.

10 BS EN 60309-2:1999, IEC 60309-2:1999 Plugs, socket-outlets and couplers for industrial purposes. Dimensional interchangeability requirements for pin and contact-tube accessories. BSI, 1999.

11 Medical Devices Directives. Council of the European Communities. Council Directive 93/42/EEC of 14 June 1993 concerning medical devices. OJ L169: 1-43. 1993.
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/medical_devices/legislation_en.htm

12 BS EN 60601-1-4:1997, BS 5724-1.4:1997, IEC 60601-1-4:1996 Medical electrical equipment. General requirements for safety. Collateral standard. General requirements for programmable electrical medical systems. BSI, 1997.

13 IEC 61557-8 Electrical safety in low voltage distribution systems up to 1000 V a.c. and 1 500 V d.c. – Equipment for testing, measuring or monitoring of protective measures – Part 8: Insulation monitoring devices for IT systems.

Posted in Department of Health, MHRA, DH Estates and Facilities, Canadian Standards Association, MEIGaN - Medical Electrical Installation, Medical Devices Directives, Healthcare | No Comments »

17/03/2010 by David Slade.

Introduction
Imagine being able to control electronics products at home and in the office, not with a direct touch but with the sweep of your hand. Advanced “touchless” human interface technology is now within the realm of practical implementation, even for products as commonplace as the alarm clock beside your bed. We all have experienced the frustration of locating the snooze and silence buttons on an incessantly beeping alarm clock at 6:00 a.m. What if you could extend your sleep just a bit longer by simply waving your hand or tapping a virtual button to shut off the alarm without fumbling to find the clock in the dark?

Touchless Slider
The simple wave of a hand or tap of a virtual button is an intriguing product innovation not only for alarm clocks but also for an array of consumer and industrial applications, from cell phones and other hand-held devices to large appliances to factory control panels. One way to achieve this is a touchless slider, and the concept can be adapted to a great number of products that we encounter every day. The touchless slider solution comprises two or more infrared LEDs, an infrared detector and a low-power 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) based on the 8051 core.

See it in Action
If you would like to try this for yourself, Silicon Labs, the pioneer of the touchless slider solution, has a demonstration board (P/N: IrSliderEK available at www.silabs.com/quicksense). The demo board shownperforms reliably to a range of about 12 cm. The firmware tracks the motion of a hand with visible blue LEDs and recognizes the pause set-point gesture with a single blinking blue LED. The hardware implementation is capable of flick left/right gestures.
A brief video of the IrSliderEK demonstration board is available at www.silabs.com/slider.

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17/03/2010 by David Slade.

The ISA100 standards committee on automation wireless systems has finally approved the 100.11a, Wireless Systems for Industrial Automation: Process Control and Related Applications. This latest draft of the long awaited standard was approved by 81% of the voting committee and 23 out of the 24 end user member companies.

“Once the remaining steps in the process are complete, end users around the world will have an accredited ANSI/ISA wireless standard which has been developed in an open forum that is the hallmark of ISA standard development,” commented ISA100 co-chair Pat Schweitzer of ExxonMobil.

Schweitzer and co-chair Wayne Manges of Oak Ridge National Laboratory will review comments from the latest voting. The next step in the process is approval by the ISA Standards and Practices Board and ratification by the American National Standards Institute. Co-chairs expect ISA publication in August.

The ISA-100.11a standard is intended to provide reliable and secure wireless operation for non-critical monitoring, alerting, supervisory control, open loop control, and closed loop control applications. The applications will focus on the performance needs such as monitoring and process control where latencies on the order of 100 ms can be tolerated, with optional behaviour for shorter latency. The standard will also provide robustness in the presence of interference found in harsh industrial environments and with legacy non-ISA100 compliant wireless systems.

With over 600 members from around the world, ISA100 addresses wireless manufacturing and control systems. The committee’s focus is to improve the confidence in, integrity of, and availability of components and systems used for manufacturing or control, and to provide criteria for procuring and implementing wireless technology in the control system environment.

Posted in ISA-100.11a, ANSI/ISA wireless standard, automation wireless systems | No Comments »

17/03/2010 by David Slade.

Explosive atmospheres in the workplace can be caused by flammable gases, mists or vapours or by combustible dusts. Explosions can cause loss of life and serious injuries as well as significant damage. Explosive atmospheres can be caused by flammable gases, mists or vapours or by combustible dusts. If there is enough of the substance, mixed with air, then all it needs is a source of ignition to cause an explosion.

Explosions can cause loss of life and serious injuries as well as significant damage. Preventing releases of dangerous substances, which can create explosive atmospheres, and preventing sources of ignition are two widely used ways of reducing the risk. Using the correct equipment can help greatly in this.

The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) place duties on employers to eliminate or control the risks from explosive atmospheres in the workplace.

What is an explosive atmosphere?

In DSEAR, an explosive atmosphere is defined as a mixture of dangerous substances with air, under atmospheric conditions, in the form of gases, vapours, mist or dust in which, after ignition has occurred, combustion spreads to the entire unburned mixture.

Atmospheric conditions are commonly referred to as ambient temperatures and pressures. That is to say temperatures of –20°C to 40°C and pressures of 0.8 to 1.1 bar.

Many workplaces may contain, or have activities that produce, explosive or potentially explosive atmospheres. Examples include places where work activities create or release flammable gases or vapours, such as vehicle paint spraying, or in workplaces handling fine organic dusts such as grain flour or wood.

What is ATEX?

ATEX is the name commonly given to the framework for controlling explosive atmospheres and the standards of equipment and protective systems used in them. It is based on the requirements of two European Directives.

It is based on the requirements of two European Directives.

1) Directive 99/92/EC (also known as ‘ATEX 137’ or the ‘ATEX Workplace Directive’) on minimum requirements for improving the health and safety protection of workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres. The text of the Directive and the supporting EU produced guidelines are available on the EU-website. For more information on how the requirements of the Directive have been put into effect in Great Britain see the information in the section on Equipment and protective systems intended for use in explosive atmospheres.

2) Directive 94/9/EC (also known as ‘ATEX 95’ or ‘the ATEX Equipment Directive’) on the approximation of the laws of Members States concerning equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. The text of the Directive and EU produced supporting guidelines are available on the EU website. For more information on how the requirements of the Directive have been put into effect in Great Britain see the section on
In Great Britain the requirements of Directive 99/92/EC were put into effect through regulations 7 and 11 of the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR).

The requirements in DSEAR apply to most workplaces where a potentially explosive atmosphere may occur. Some industry sectors and work activities are exempted because there is other legislation that fulfils the requirements. These exemptions are listed in regulation 3 of DSEAR.

DSEAR requires employers to eliminate or control the risks from dangerous substances – further information on these requirements can be found on the DSEAR web page. In addition to the general requirements, the Regulations place the following specific duties on employers with workplaces where explosive atmospheres may occur.

Classification of areas where explosive atmospheres may occur

Employers must classify areas where hazardous explosive atmospheres may occur into zones. The classification given to a particular zone, and its size and location, depends on the likelihood of an explosive atmosphere occurring and its persistence if it does. Schedule 2 of DSEAR contains descriptions of the various classifications of zones for gases and vapours.
Areas classified into zones must be protected from sources of ignition. Equipment and protective systems intended to be used in zoned areas should be selected to meet the requirements of the Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 1996. Equipment already in use before July 2003 can continue to be used indefinitely provided a risk assessment shows it is safe to do so.

Employers must provide workers who work in zoned areas with appropriate clothing that does not create the risk of an electrostatic discharge igniting the explosive atmosphere, eg anti-static footwear. The clothing provided depends on the level of risk identified in the risk assessment.

Confirming overall explosion safety

Before a workplace containing zoned areas comes into operation for the first time, the employer must ensure that the overall explosion safety measures are confirmed (verified) as being safe. This must be done by a person or organisation competent to consider the particular risks in the workplace, and the adequacy of the explosion control and other measures put in place.

Equipment and protective systems intended for use in explosive atmospheres

The aim of Directive 94/9/EC is to allow the free trade of ‘ATEX’ equipment and protective systems within the EU by removing the need for separate testing and documentation for each Member State.

In Great Britain, the requirements of the Directive were put into effect through the DTI’s Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 1996 (SI 1996/192).

The Regulations apply to all equipment intended for use in explosive atmospheres, whether electrical or mechanical, and also to protective systems.

Manufacturers/suppliers (or importers, if the manufacturers are outside the EU) must ensure that their products meet essential health and safety requirements and undergo appropriate conformity procedures. This usually involves testing and certification by a ‘third-party’ certification body (known as a Notified Body) but manufacturers/suppliers can ‘self-certify’ equipment intended to be used in less hazardous explosive atmospheres. Once certified, the equipment is marked by the ‘EX’ symbol to identify it as such.

Certification ensures that the equipment or protective system is fit for its intended purpose and that adequate information is supplied with it to ensure that it can be used safely.

Posted in hazardous explosive atmospheres, ATEX, Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulati | No Comments »

17/03/2010 by David Slade.

Intelligent heating controls (which can also control cooling, such as air conditioning) can be seen as a step beyond smart meters. Smart meters make people aware of their energy use, while intelligent heating controls allow residents to refine their energy use to heat and cool their home in the most efficient way possible.

Intelligent heating controls have two key areas of environmental benefit:

1. improved control:

• set time and area preferences, e.g. keeping bedrooms cooler than the rest of the house
• control heating remotely and automatically turn it off when a house is empty

2. improved efficiency:

• adjust when the heating switches on throughout the year and respond to outside temperature changes on a daily basis
• detect occupancy levels to turn heat off in unoccupied areas
• monitor temperature with a sensor in every room, not just one for the whole house
• enable more efficient boiler operation

Enabling households to interact more closely with their heating controls, particularly when combined with information from smart meters, will help to raise awareness of energy use and prompt reductions, although this will rely on residents being motivated to engage with the system. But intelligent controls can also deliver energy savings independently of resident involvement by improving the efficiency of theway that heating systems operate. Further benefits will be the ability to integrate and optimise the efficiencies of low carbon systems like solar hot water heating.

Firm evidence on the expected energy savings is hard to obtain. Much of the industry does not have any evidence, as energy efficiency is not yet a selling point for their customers. Control systems in commercial buildings have delivered up to 30 per cent savings, but this is not expected in a domestic setting where systems are smaller and individuals have far greater control over the settings. Research is currently underway to clarify what the expected savings are likely to be. Once this is clearer, controls have the potential to become a serious option for improving a home’s energy efficiency, especially in existing homes where easier energy efficiency options may not be feasible or in homes where the easier options have already been implemented. They can be retrofitted with minimal disruption and will also become more attractive as people become familiar with other intelligent applications, like smart meters.

Posted in smart meters, Smart homes, Intelligent building, Housing | No Comments »

17/03/2010 by David Slade.

When it comes to obsolete plant and control systems that can’t be supported, Clients, must be aware of their exposure to risk, warns David Slade of Davmark Ltd

Many manufacturers and producers will have obsolete lighting components and control systems on site often 20 years old or more which mechanically, may still be in good working order, but presents a number of significant risks to their business. Its at it end of its design life cycle.
Firstly, the luminaries and control systems will most probably lack sophisticated diagnostics. This means they may not be as efficient as newer lighting arrangements on site which can provide regular updates on the level of maintenance required. Without this the overall availability of the plant, finished product quality and output cannot be accurately assessed or guaranteed.Secondly, the age of the machinery and control systems means there may not be the technical back up or spare parts from either the original manufacturer or service support companies to maintain acceptable productivity levels.

Clients need to fully understand the level of risk related to their old and obsolete machinery and clearly identify any ‘weak’ points on the site. An in-depth site audit is one method of finding out this information.

Designed to assess the reliability/maintainability, efficiency and productivity of all machinery on site, the audit will also investigate any potential risks associated with the availability of critical spares and the ongoing effectiveness, quality and safety of both the internal, and if employed, outsourced maintenance operations.

Such audits highlight which areas need enhancing, strengthening or re-engineering so as to become more reliable, efficient and productive or even to become future proof. The overall impact is improved product quality, improved safety and a significant reduction in expensive downtime. All factors which contribute directly to greater business success.

Effective audits must also be able to identify external risk factors. For example, it is vital that the strength and reliability of the supplier network is analysed. If a piece of machinery or control system can only be maintained by an external company, then it is vital for a manufacturer to know they can rely on them. In the current climate, a clear understanding of any solvency issues amongst support partners for the machinery or process is essential. As an outcome, it may be necessary to build an internal support network for a machine or process to counteract any potential problems caused by this.

Following the audit, any machinery, control systems or processes which are deemed to be unsupportable or at risk would be identified and an action plan implemented. Such a plan might include the training of operators and internal maintenance staff so they would be better able to respond effectively in the event of downtime and also maintain machinery more effectively. The availability, locations and status of key critical spares would also be a key outcome of such an audit.

The plan would require a level of investment, so it is important for manufacturers and producers to take a long term view, even in the current economic climate. This is easier said than done when staff are busy maintaining machinery and responding to downtime incidents. However, it is crucial that time is taken to consider the real costs to the business or indeed the future viability of the business of not making improvements and enhancements to obsolete machinery.

Another output from the audit which could add further value to business performance is for example, standardisation.

Standardisation of a plant can bring about substantial efficiency savings through reduced spares holding, staff/operator training budgets, use of diagnostic maintenance data and by removing the complexities faced by staff working from various systems and interfaces.

By utilising the latest automation technological advances in line with a plant standardisation strategy, manufacturers will not only boost efficiency and productivity but will also reduce the whole lifecycle cost of a site providing cost savings in the longer term.

In these current challenging economic times, it is more important than ever for manufacturers and producers to work with their Machine and Control System suppliers to address and minimise any unnecessary potential risks from their site and business. This will not only ensure they are best-placed to survive the recession, but to emerge the other side with a reliable external network and a more efficient and productive plant that is fully supportable by skilled staff, ready for growth.

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