Decent Homes Standard: Problems & solutions
Damp and Mould
Description
Prevalence of house dust mites and mould or fungal growths resulting from dampness and/or high humidities.
Vulnerable groups
The most vulnerable age group is all persons aged 14 years or under.
Problems
- Energy efficiency inadequate heating and insulation of the dwelling.
- Background ventilation lack of controllable background ventilation.
- Extract ventilation lack of safe and accessible means for the extraction of moisture laden air during cooking, bathing or showering.
- Clothes drying facilities lack of facilities ventilated to the external air.
- Damp proofing in disrepair or otherwise inadequate, resulting in rising or penetrating dampness.
- Disrepair floors, walls or roofs allowing water penetration.
- Exposed water tanks and pipework inadequate frost protection.
- Water using appliances inadequately installed and sealed facilities, such as baths, showers, wash hand basins and wc basins which may permit splashing.
- Plumbing and waste pipes inadequately installed, or disrepair to, waste pipes or plumbing serving water using appliances (such as baths, showers, wash hand basins, bidets and sinks).
- Rain water goods inadequate or defective.
- Roof and sub-floor spaces inadequate ventilation.
- Small rooms sizes may result in high occupant density.
Solutions
Carbon Monoxide and Fuel Combustion Products
Description
This category includes hazards resulting from the presence of excess levels in the atmosphere within the dwelling of Carbon monoxide, Nitrogen dioxide, Sulphur dioxide and smoke. Carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, sulphur dioxide and smoke, are products associated with the combustion, or incomplete combustion, of gas, oil, and solid fuels for heating and cooking.
The health effects of carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen,
and sulphur dioxide and smoke vary. However, the causes, preventive measures and dwelling characteristics affecting likelihood and harm outcome overlap, and so these are discussed together.
Vulnerable groups
The most vulnerable age group is all persons aged 65 years or over.
Problem
- Flueless appliances gas or oil burning appliances, including cookers.
- Disrepair to appliance to gas, oil or solid fuel burning appliances resulting in Incomplete combustion.
- Inadequate ventilation particularly of rooms with gas, oil or solid fuel burning appliances.
- Disrepair to ventilation disrepair to the means of ventilation.
- State of flues lack of proper and regular cleaning of flues serving gas, oil or solid fuel burning appliances.
- Disrepair to flues serving gas, oil or solid fuel burning appliances.
- Flue outlet siting sited adjacent to openable window.
- Extractor fans in rooms with open flued appliances.
- Ventilation lobby no lobby between a garage and living accommodation.
- Carbon monoxide detectors lack of, or defects to, detectors.
Solution
Excess Indoor Temperatures
Description
This category includes threats from excessively high indoor air temperatures.
Vulnerable groups
The most vulnerable age group is all persons aged 65 years or over.
Problem
- Heating controls faulty, inappropriately designed, or inadequate controls to the heating system.
- Ventilation provision inadequate or inappropriate provision for ventilation.
- Ventilation control inadequate means of controlling the ventilation.
- Disrepair to ventilation to the system or devices.
Solution
Excessive Cold Temperature
Description
This category covers the threats to health from sub-optimal indoor temperatures.
Vulnerable groups
The most vulnerable age group is all persons 65 years or over.
Hazards arising from consistently low indoor temperatures.
At least 20,000 excess winter deaths attributed to Cold Homes.
Problems
- Dampness in such a position, and sufficiently extensive and persistent as to reduce the effectiveness of the thermal insulating material and/or the structure.
- Type of heating provision inappropriate or inefficient systems and appliances.
- Size of heating system systems and appliances inadequate for the size of dwelling.
- Installation and maintenance of heating system inadequately installed or maintained systems.
- Controls to heating system inadequate or inappropriate controls to the system or appliance.
- Amount of ventilation inadequate, excessive, or inappropriate provision for thorough ventilation.
- Ventilation controls inadequate means of controlling the ventilation.
- Disrepair to ventilation to the system or controls.
- Draughts uncontrollable draughts and those situated to cause discomfort.
Solutions
Fire
Description
This category covers threats from exposure to uncontrolled fire and associated smoke at a dwelling.
Vulnerable groups
The most vulnerable age group is all persons aged 60 years or over.
Problem
- Space heating inadequate for the whole of the dwelling encouraging use of supplemental heaters.
- Defects to heating defects or disrepair to appliances or system outlets.
- Electrical installation defects to the supply, meters, fuses, wiring, sockets or switches.
Solutions
Excessive Hot Water Temperatures
Description
Scalds injuries caused by contact with hot liquids and vapours.
Vulnerable groups
The most vulnerable age group is all persons under 5 years of age.
Problem
- Hot water to bath water from bath and basin taps supplied above 46ΊC.
- Hot water to sink water from kitchen sink taps supplied above 60ΊC.
- Thermostatic taps no thermostatically controlled taps or incorrectly set thermostatically controlled mixer taps or anti scald devices.
- Surface/liquid temperature the temperature of the hot liquid or surface.
- Exposure the length of time exposure is expected.
Solution
Falls Associated with Baths
Description
This category includes any fall associated with a bath, shower or similar facility.
Vulnerable groups
The most vulnerable age group is all persons 60 or more years of age.
Problems
- Poor friction of the internal surface of a bath or shower.
- Siting of taps, wastes, light switches and other controls inappropriate sitings increasing the risk of falls.
- Handles and grab rails lack of, or insecurely fitted.
- Unstable appliance unstable fitting of bath, shower, wc basin, or wash hand basin.
- Glare from natural or artificial lighting.
- Space heating inadequate means of heating the bathroom.
Solution
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