Humidity Solutions

A Message from Lord Pickles and Lord Blunkett, followed by Humidity Solutions's best practice article

The ability to listen and learn from one another has always been vital in parliament, in business and in most aspects of daily life. But at this particular moment in time, as national and global events continue to reiterate, it is uncommonly crucial that we forge new channels of communication and reinforce existing ones. The following article from Humidity Solutions is an attempt to do just that. We would welcome your thoughts on this or any other Parliamentary Review article.

Rt Hon The Lord David Blunkett, MP

Rt Hon The Lord Eric Pickles, MP

www.humiditysolutions.co.uk

1HUMIDITY SOLUTIONS |

BEST PRACTICE REPRESENTATIVE

Managing Director John Barker

The Humidity Solutions team

Founded in 2008, Humidity Solutions is a specialist in the

control of humidity in a wide range of buildings, providing

solutions for both humidification and dehumidification.

Unlike most other companies in this field, it is independent of

specific manufacturers and is therefore better able to select the

best solutions without bias. Managing Director John Barker tells

The Parliamentary Review

about the organisation’s impressive

growth over the past ten years.

We were lucky enough to celebrate our tenth anniversary last year with an event

at Westminster Abbey, where we have also provided humidity control in the

museum area. This is just one example of the many applications whereby we can

assist with providing stable humidity to serve a number of purposes. These include

maintaining a healthy indoor environment, optimising manufacturing processes,

ensuring smooth operation of printing and creating ideal storage conditions for

humidity-sensitive objects. The latter include fragile artefacts and documents,

pharmaceuticals and many other materials. Consistent day-to-day humidity is

essential in all of these cases.

Streamlined process to protect your greatest assets

We have two strong teams. One recommends, selects and designs the most

appropriate humidification or dehumidification system to meet specific project

requirements. The other is our service team, which can install and commission new

equipment and provide planned maintenance and servicing to systems throughout

their life.

FACTS ABOUT

HUMIDITY SOLUTIONS

»Managing Director: John Barker

»Founded in 2008

»Located in Leatherhead, Surrey

»Services: Humidity Solutions

designs, installs and maintains

solutions for controlling

humidity in commercial and

industrial buildings

»No. of employees: 14

»www.humiditysolutions.co.uk

Humidity Solutions

THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW

Highlighting best practice

2| HUMIDITY SOLUTIONS

We have many long-serving staff as a

result of an excellent retention rate,

most of whom have an engineering

background with strong application

knowledge, ensuring we are able to

provide first-rate advice. During our

first ten years we have consistently

achieved double-digit growth and we

are keeping our foot on the pedal

with a number of exciting expansion

projects in the pipeline to drive the

business forward.

Independence from

manufacturers

Our independence from manufacturers

is a rarity in the humidity control

sector, and it gives us tremendous

scope to cherry-pick the most exciting

and technically innovative equipment

from around the globe. This, married

to our expertise, makes us a leading

player in the market with the most

comprehensive range of solutions.

Historically our key markets have been

within the industrial and commercial

sectors and these continue to represent

a major proportion of our work.

However, we are seeing increasing

demand in residential, school and care

home areas, where the importance

of humidity control in maintaining

good indoor air quality is becoming

better understood in relation to health

andwellbeing.

One challenge we frequently face is

the need to educate purchasers that

the modest expenditure required to

provide humidity control can deliver

long-term benefits to the health of

building occupiers and the building

fabric itself. Humidity control can also

help to reduce energy usage because

humidity has a direct impact on

people’s perception of temperature.

For example, increasing relative

humidity from 40 per cent to 50 per

cent can make surrounding air feel two

degrees warmer, so heating can be

turned down without compromising

comfort. This relationship between

humidity and temperature is known

as relative humidity and is expressed

as a percentage that relates to the

amount of moisture the air can hold at

different temperatures.

On-site showroom and

test facility

The importance

of humidity

control in

maintaining

good indoor air

quality is

becoming

better

understood in

relation to

health and

wellbeing

“

3HUMIDITY SOLUTIONS |

BEST PRACTICE REPRESENTATIVE

Indoor air quality

Indoor air quality is something of a

contentious issue, creating almost as

much debate as Brexit and, similarly,

not reaching a commonly agreed

conclusion. In the manufacturing,

processing and printing sectors,

acceptable humidity levels are clearly

defined because deviating from these

levels can have an adverse effect on

productivity, product quality and

profitability. However, when it comes

to standards for maintaining a healthy

environment for people, we are

fallingshort.

Unquestionably, we all need a healthy

environment in which to work, rest

and play – and humidity control

is a vital component of this. What

is required, therefore, is a defined

standard for humidity to ensure the

spaces we occupy are comfortable

andhealthy.

Humidity affects health and comfort

in a number of ways. High RH is

uncomfortable, encourages mould

growth and can create condensation

on cold surfaces, resulting in a slip

hazard. Low RH will dry out mucous

membranes in the respiratory system

and make eyes feel dry and itchy.

There are also links between humidity

levels and spread of infection. Dry air

enables bacteria and viruses to remain

suspended in the air for long periods,

so they can travel further and spread

infection across a wider area. Viruses

such as influenza and norovirus (the

vomiting bug) survive longer at low RH

(20 to 30 per cent), while a mid-range

RH between 40 per cent and 70 per

cent will minimise their survival rate.

Also, tests indicate that the infectivity

of the influenza virus is increased

by both low and very high RH, with

minimum infectivity at 50 per cent.

Relative humidity has been shown

to have a similar effect on airborne

bacteria, with intermediate levels

increasing the mortality rate of

airborne pneumococci, streptococci

and staphylococci.

For all of these reasons, the

Humidity Group of the Federation of

Environmental Trade Associations, the

World Health Organization and the

National Association of Optometrists all

recommend that the RH in workplaces

is maintained at 40 to 60 per cent. This

is also the range recommended by BS

EN 29241 as the optimum for visual

display terminals.

In many buildings, these humidity

levels cannot be maintained without a

humidity control system.

Looking ahead, there are exciting

opportunities for our company,

alongside the challenges of better

education about the role of humidity,

the uncertainty of future relations with

European trading partners and our

drive to see the introduction of indoor

air quality standards that reflect the

importance of humidity control.

In manufacturing, acceptable humidity

levels are clearly defined because

deviating from these levels can have

an adverse effect on productivity,

product quality and profitability

“

HomEvap Direct

itione

HomEvap low energy

humidity for residential

or commercial

applications

www.humiditysolutions.co.uk

The Parliamentary Review Publication, in which this article originally appeared, contained the following foreword from Rt Hon Michael Gove.

Rt Hon Michael Gove's Foreword For The Parliamentary Review

By Rt Hon Michael Gove

This year's Parliamentary Review comes at a momentous time for parliament, as we collectively determine the destiny of the United Kingdom.

On October 31, the UK will leave the European Union. The successful implementation of this process is this government's number-one priority.

Three years after a historic referendum vote, we will deliver on the decisive mandate from the British people. Trust in our democracy depends on it. Until that final hour, we will work determinedly and diligently to negotiate a deal, one that abolishes the backstop and upholds the warm and close relationship we share with our friends, allies and neighbours in the EU. But in the event that the EU refuses to meet us at the table, we must be prepared to leave without a deal.

As the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, it is my job to lead on this government's approach, should that scenario happen. Preparing for Brexit is my department's driving mission. But while I am leading this turbocharged effort, the whole of government is committed to this endeavour.

Ministers across Whitehall are working together to ensure that every possibility is considered, every plan is scrutinised and every provision is made. A daily drumbeat of meetings means that we are holding departments accountable, so that preparations are completed on time.

The chancellor has confirmed that all necessary funding will be made available. And we have mobilised thecivil service, assigning 15,000 of our most talented civil servants to manage our exit from the EU.

We will make sure that on November 1, there is as little disruption to national life as possible. Our trade relationships will continue to thrive, thanks to agreements with countries around the world worth £70 billion. Our country will remain secure, thanks to nearly 1,000 new officers posted at our borders. And the 3.2 million EU nationals now living and working among us can remain confident, with absolute certainty, of their right to remain in the UK.

Above all, our goal is to be transparent. Soon, we will launch a public information campaign so that citizens, communities and businesses are ready and reassured about what will happen in the event of “no deal”.

In my first few weeks in this role, I have travelled to ports and tarmacs, borders and bridges, all across the UK –from the seaside of Dover to the rolling green hills of County Armagh. I have heard from business owners and border officials, farmers and hauliers. They are ready to put an end to uncertainty. And they are ready to embrace the opportunities ahead.

Our departure from the EU will be a once in a lifetime chance to chart a new course for the United Kingdom. Preparing for that new course will be a herculean effort. But this country has made astounding efforts before. We can do it again.

Rt Hon Michael Gove
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster