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Building Fabric9 Jul 2026

Summer overheating risk: HSE refreshes guidance for older care home buildings

Updated HSE guidance focuses on passive cooling strategies in pre-1980s buildings where mechanical cooling is impractical. Includes trigger thresholds for resident welfare monitoring.

Why this matters

Overheating is now a CQC environmental risk factor. Documenting your monitoring approach even simple temperature logs significantly reduces your exposure.

What to do
  • 1Implement daily temperature logging in key areas (lounges, bedrooms, dining rooms) during hot weather.
  • 2Identify and document your passive cooling measures shading, ventilation, portable fans.
  • 3Set a trigger threshold (e.g. 26C) at which welfare monitoring is escalated and record any actions taken.
Primary source
HSE Managing Temperature in the Workplace
View source
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