The importance of the construction village and the large number of these constructions that already are being used throughout the United Kingdom and also throughout the world have ensured that the regulations necessary to regulate their use have developed along compulsory guidelines. In this way, specific legislation to ensure minimum levels of Health, Safety and Welfare on those sites has developed over the last few years.

Furthermore, many companies have realized the significant importance of these forms of accommodation and they have gone further searching for ways to improve the welfare conditions and whilst at the same time reducing the energy losses and so  improving the general efficiency of the energy use in the construction village.

 Back to Top

The objective of this study is to summarize the main issues related to the energy use under the guidelines of the compulsory legislation of Health, Safety and Welfare at the construction sites.

Thus, the aim of this report is to determine the minimal conditions that the construction village must satisfy focusing on the Energy usage aspects. As a result, this analysis will identify the minimal requirements that must be reached on simulations of other parts of the project.

Consequently, the construction site of our case study will be analyzed taking account of the health and safety guidelines and the different requirements that the company have to satisfy will be shown.

             Back to Top

Construction sites are covered by the 'Construction Health, Safety and Welfare (HSW) regulations 1996', which contain specific requirements.

 Back to Top

Ventilation

Regulation establish: 'effective and suitable provision' must be made to ensure sufficient quantity of fresh or purified air. Thus, some standards must be followed:

Fresh air should be supplied at the rate of at least 5-8 litres/sec per room occupant

Air speeds of between 0.1-0.15m/sec. In summer 0.25m/sec is acceptable (a 'cool breeze') Comfort is in between 0.15-0.3 m/s.

Around a third of the re-circulating volume should be fresh air.

Hot or humid air must be replaced at a reasonable rate. For example, in canteens and dining halls around 10 air changes per hour will be sufficient, whereas in offices 4-6 air changes per hour are required.

Temperature

Temperature in indoor workplaces by the end of the first working hour will be a minimal of 16°C, or 13°C (where the work involves severe physical effort). However there is no specific maximum temperature set in law. Thus, comfortable temperature depends on humidity and air movement ('freshness'), as well as temperature. For most people, an acceptable temperature zone lies between 18°C and 23°C. Note that it is a requirement to have a temperature differential between head and feet of no more than 1.5°C

Although is not compulsory electrical equipment for heating is preferred in order to reduce the risk due to bad ventilation when gas is used.

Lighting

Artificial lighting must be selected to avoid stroboscopic effects (flicker), glare or dazzle, and colour rendition hazards (identification or recognition of colours). Some standars are preferred:

Outdoor lighting 20 lux, constantly maintained

Loading bays and outdoor work - 50 lux

Work requiring limited perception of detail - 100 lux

Local lighting at individual workstations - 200-500 lux with no sources of glare (ie, direct sunlight, unshaded light-bulbs etc)

Staircases and escalators - 300 lux, lit to provide good contrast between the treads and risers of the steps

Cellars and store rooms - 300 lux

Emergency lighting

Escape lighting should come on within five seconds of the failure of normal lighting, and provide at least 1 lux illuminance at floor level. The area immediately outside the final exit should be illuminated.

Statutory minimum

The minimum working volume per person in any room is 11m³ or in terms of floor area, 3.7m²

This minimum space requirement does not apply to: rooms being used for lectures, meetings and similar purposes.

While not legal requirements, here are some 'rules of thumb':secretarial work area: 7m² per person, open plan office floor area: 9m² per person, executive work area: 17m² per person.

Window cleaning

The frequency of cleaning is governed by factors other than health-and-safety legislation.

 Back to Top

The company also established some requirements to be followed that are of our interest:

•      Heavy-duty hydraulic door closer are required to keep the heat within the accommodation.

•      Width of doors should be 750mm, with corridor and stair widths a minimum of 1100mm. 

•      Changing Facilities (Including Storage and Drying): 1m² per operative should be allowed. 

• Kitchens and Canteens: minimum lighting levels should be:
• Food Inspection areas – 600 lux,
• Food Preparation areas – 400 lux,
• Canteen areas – 200 lux.

 Back to Top

The main requirements in terms of energy from the point of view of Health, Safety and Welfare have been underlined in this summary. Thus, following the 'Construction Health, Safety and Welfare (HSW) regulations 1996' the main requirements have been listed. Also, the way the company cover those requirements is shown in this summary.

The information obtained in this report will be the suggest the base requirements of this project. Hence, all simulations, solutions and propositions  in this study will be addressing these requirements.

 Back to Top

• Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regs 1996  Reg22 and Sch 6
• A guide to the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996 Leaflet INDG220 HSE Books 1996, ISBN 0 7176 1161 2
• Provision of welfare facilities at transient construction sites Construction Information Sheet IS46 HSE Books 1997
• Laing O’Rourke Safety Management Manual Chapter 16.

  Back to Top

• Fire safety in construction work HSG168 HSE Books 1997 ISBN 0 7176 1332 1
• Health and safety in construction HSG150 (Second edition) 2001 ISBN 0 7176 2106 5
• HSE Publication HS(G) 141 “Electrical Safety on Construction Sites”
• Information sheet CIS 18 “Fixed Construction Sites”
• Information sheet CIS 46 “Transient Construction Sites”
• Construction Health and Safety Manual
• Workplace (For permanent establishment offices) (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regs 1992 ACOP and Guidance
• Food Safety Act 1990
• Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations 1995
• Food Safety (Temperature Control) Regulations 1995
• www.hse.gov.uk
• http://www.fmexpert.co.uk/guides/15.asp

Back to Top