Health and Environmental Effects of Boiler Management Systems in Social Housing
Overview
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of a passive safety measure, namely a reduction in centrally controlled hot tap water temperatures in social housing using a boiler management system, as an effective public health intervention.
Full Title of Study: “Randomised Controlled Trial of Boiler Management Systems in Social Housing in Camden: An Assessment of Health, Environmental and Economic Outcomes”
Study Type
- Study Type: Interventional
- Study Design
- Allocation: Randomized
- Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
- Masking: None (Open Label)
- Study Primary Completion Date: July 2009
Detailed Description
The annual hospital admission rate in England for burns and scalds is 31 children per 100,000 population. While reducing the temperature in domestic hot water tanks is a recommended injury prevention strategy, the UK has been slow to adopt such 'passive' safety measures. However, Camden Council employs a Boiler Management System (BMS) in boiler houses to centrally set the hot water temperature for parts of its social housing stock, providing the opportunity to evaluate various impacts of a 'passive' safety measure, including quantifying the effects of the BMS on average hot water temperatures at delivery, annual energy costs, and annual greenhouse gas emissions; modelling the reduction in scald injuries; identifying the cost-effectiveness of the system as a public health intervention; as well as describing experiences/ perceptions of risk of scalding and identifying health and social benefits of the BMS. Boiler houses with BMS will be randomised to remain at their constant set temperature or to BMS reduced temperature and sterilisation programme. A process evaluation will also be undertaken to assess the acceptability of water temperatures to tenants.
Interventions
- Other: BMS and sterilisation programme
- BMS with reduced hot water temperature and sterilisation programme
Arms, Groups and Cohorts
- Experimental: BMS and sterilisation
- BMS and sterilisation programme will be delivered
- No Intervention: BMS standard water heating
Clinical Trial Outcome Measures
Primary Measures
- Thermal energy (degrees Celsius) at hot tap of bath
- Time Frame: after 1 minute
Secondary Measures
- Acceptability of hot water temperature delivered to tenant
- Time Frame: Up to 2-3 months post-intervention
Participating in This Clinical Trial
Inclusion Criteria
- Individuals living in social housing in the London Borough of Camden where the Boiler Management system has been installed. Exclusion Criteria:
- Aged under 18 years
Gender Eligibility: All
Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: N/A
Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Investigator Details
- Lead Sponsor
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
- Collaborator
- Camden Primary Care Trust, London
- Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
- Dr. Phil Edwards, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
- Overall Official(s)
- Phil Edwards, PhD, Principal Investigator, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
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