At DJHC, we pride ourselves on the work we do and the people we serve. As MEP professionals, it’s not just about finishing a job. The impact we make on our customers is important, and meeting their needs is our priority.
Every July, we celebrate Good Care Month. Good Care Month celebrates the care workers and facilities who dedicate their services to improving the lives of those in need.
As with any specialised building, care homes are designed with specific needs in mind. For people living and working in care homes, comfort is particularly important.
In the past few years, DJHC has had the privilege of working on projects related to the care sector, and we know first-hand how important MEP design is to these facilities.
MEP design and care facilities
At DJHC, we understand that engineering is what makes a building come to life.
MEP design is fundamental to providing and maintaining base comfort levels inside a structure. From heating, cooling, ventilation, and lighting – buildings are only as comfortable as the way they’re designed. Without well-planned MEP elements, a building might as well just be a shell.
In celebrating Good Care Month and thinking about designing for comfort, we can reflect on some previous projects DJHC has completed for the care sector.
Haven House
We recently worked on the Haven House project. Haven House is a residential facility that provides end-of-life care for children and young people living with chronic conditions.
As with many older structures, overheating and deficient ventilation were major problems for staff and residents at Haven House. During the summer months, common areas and bedrooms would often reach extreme temperatures that made living there uncomfortable.
Knowing that overheating was causing discomfort to staff and residents, we developed a custom-made, energy-efficient cooling system that provided adequate air conditioning throughout the building at low noise levels.
In the end, this project was tailor-made to meet the needs of Haven House.
Viera Gray House
In another project, we refurbished the ventilation and kitchen systems of the Viera Gray House, a care home specialising in residents who suffer from dementia.
Our initial brief mentioned that kitchen temperatures reached “uncomfortably hot” temperatures for staff because the room lacked a functional ventilation system.
DJHC was tasked with a full refurbishment of the kitchen to comply with today’s standards and provide adequate comfort levels for care workers.
In the end, we were successful in creating a suitable working environment by implementing the right MEP elements.
Spreading awareness about care workers
Care workers devote themselves to meeting the needs of our most vulnerable populations. Care home residents deserve to live in safe and comfortable environments.
At DJHC, we want to spread awareness about Good Care Month. July is an opportunity to remind everyone that care workers are important to our communities. They deserve our appreciation not just this month, but every day of the year.
Good MEP design isn’t just installing an air conditioner and going home at the end of the day. Every building has its own needs that need to be carefully considered when upgrading or refurbishing MEP elements.