text:
Mapping Pluto's 'broken heart': Incredible image reveals the dwarf planet's varied geology in stunning detail
- Map covers a portion of Pluto's surface, known as it's 'heart', that measures 1,290 miles (2,070km)
- Various blue and greenish units that fill the center represent different textures seen across Sputnik Planum
- Black lines represent trough, purple represents the chaotic, mountain ranges and pink, the scarred floating hills
- The possible cryovolcanic feature named Wright Mons is mapped in red in the southern corner of the map
Not long ago, our best image of Pluto was of a blurry, blob that orbited on the edge of our solar system.
But since New Horizon's flyby of the dwarf planet, astronomers have gained an unprecedented insight into its varied terrain, which includes vast plains, parallel blades known as 'snakeskin terrain,' and ice volcanoes.
Now, to help understand the diversity of its features and to piece together how Pluto's surface has evolved, scientists have put together a stunning geological map of its surface.
Scroll down for video
This map covers a portion of Pluto's surface that measures 1,290 miles (2,070km) from top to bottom, and includes the vast nitrogen-ice plain informally named Sputnik Planum and surrounding terrain. The map is overlaid with colors that represent different geological terrains. Each terrain, or unit, is defined by its texture and morphology – smooth, pitted, craggy, hummocky or ridged, for example
This map covers a portion of Pluto's surface that measures 1,290 miles (2,070km) from top to bottom, and includes the vast nitrogen-ice plain informally named Sputnik Planum and surrounding terrain.
It is part of a heart-shaped feature, informally named 'Tombaugh Regio' (Tombaugh Region) after Clyde Tombaugh, who discovered Pluto in 1930.
As the key in the figure indicates, the map is overlaid with colours that represent different geological terrains.
Each terrain, or unit, is defined by its texture and morphology – smooth, pitted, craggy, hummocky or ridged, for example.
How well a unit can be defined depends on the resolution of the images that cover it.
All of the terrain in this map has been imaged at a resolution of approximately 1,050ft (320 meters) per pixel or better, meaning scientists can map units with relative confidence.
The various blue and greenish units that fill the center of the map represent different textures seen across Sputnik Planum, from the cellular terrain in the center and north, to the smooth and pitted plains in the south.
The blue and greenish units represent different textures seen across Sputnik Planum, from the cellular terrain in the center and north, to the smooth and pitted plains in the south. The black lines represent troughs that mark the boundaries of cellular regions in the nitrogen ice. Purple represents the chaotic mountain ranges that line Sputnik's western border, and the pink, floating hills at its eastern edge
Alien life may be lurking beneath Pluto's crust, according to physicist Brian Cox.
His comments come after the historic flyby of the dwarf planet by New Horizons, which uncovered huge glaciers and mountains made of water ice.
These features hint at the possibility of subterranean seas on the dwarf planet warm enough for organic chemistry to thrive, said Cox.
The probe 'showed you that there may well be a subsurface ocean on Pluto,' Cox told The Times. '[This] means - if our understanding of life on Earth is even slightly correct - that you could have living things there.'
The black lines represent troughs that mark the boundaries of cellular regions in the nitrogen ice.
The purple unit represents the chaotic, blocky mountain ranges that line Sputnik's western border, and the pink unit represents the scattered, floating hills at its eastern edge.
The possible cryovolcanic feature informally named Wright Mons is mapped in red in the southern corner of the map.
The rugged highlands of the informally named Cthulhu Regio are mapped in dark brown along the western edge, pockmarked by many large impact craters, shown in yellow.
By studying how the boundaries between units crosscut one another, mission scientists can determine which units overlie others, and assemble a relative chronology for the different units.
For example, the yellow craters (at left, on the western edge of the map) must have formed after their surrounding terrain.
Producing such maps is important for gauging what processes have operated where on Pluto, and when they occurred relative to other processes at work.
The base map for this geologic map is a mosaic of 12 images obtained by the Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) at a resolution of 1,280 feet (about 390 meters) per pixel.
The mosaic was obtained at a range of approximately 48,000 miles (77,300km) from Pluto, about an hour and 40 minutes before New Horizons' closest approach on July 14, 2015.
Pluto's terrain may be even more complex than thought. Earlier this month, scientists said that hills of water ice could be 'floating' in a sea of frozen nitrogen on Pluto, moving over time like icebergs in Earth's Arctic Ocean
Hills of water ice on Pluto 'float' in a sea of frozen nitrogen and move over time like icebergs in Earth's Arctic Ocean. This shows the inset in context next to a larger view. The resolution is about 1050ft (320 meters) per pixel and 300 miles (almost 500km) long and 210 miles (340km) wide. It was taken 9,950 miles (16,000km) from Pluto, 12 minutes before New Horizons' closest approach to Pluto on July 14
The spacecraft that gave us the first close-up views of Pluto now has a much smaller object in its sights.
New Horizons is now track to fly past a recently discovered, less than 30-mile-wide object out on the solar system frontier.
The close encounter with what's known as 2014 MU69 would occur in 2019. It orbits nearly 1 billion miles (1.6 billion kilometers) beyond Pluto.
Nasa and the New Horizons team chose 2014 MU69 in August as New Horizons' next potential target, thus the nickname PT-1. Like Pluto, MU69 orbits the sun in the frozen, twilight zone known as the Kuiper Belt.
MU69 is thought to be 10 times larger and 1,000 times more massive than average comets, including the one being orbited right now by Europe's Rosetta spacecraft.
On the other end, MU69 is barely 1 percent the size of Pluto and perhaps one-ten-thousandth the mass of the dwarf planet. So the new target is a good middle ground, according to scientists.
The team plans to formally ask Nasa next year to fund the mission extension for studying MU69.
Scientists promise a better name before showtime on January 1, 2019.
These hills, which can be seen in the latest images studied by the New Horizons team, are believed to measure one to several miles across.
They are found in the vast ice plain informally named Sputnik Planum within Pluto's 'heart' and are likely miniature versions of the larger, jumbled mountains on the region's western border.
Their discovery follows news last week that Pluto may be covered in a lot more water ice than astronomers previously thought, which could boost the chances for finding a liquid sea and alien life.
Nasa describes the feature as 'yet another example of Pluto's fascinating and abundant geological activity.'
Because water ice is less dense than nitrogen-dominated ice, scientists believe these water ice hills are floating in a sea of frozen nitrogen and move over time like icebergs on Earth.
The hills may be fragments of the rugged uplands that have broken away and are being carried by the nitrogen glaciers into Sputnik Planum.
This image depicts an entire day on the dwarf planet. The space agency released a series of 10 close-ups of the frosty, faraway world today, representing one Pluto day, which is equivalent to 6.4 Earth days. The New Horizons spacecraft took the pictures as it zoomed past Pluto in an unprecedented flyby in July. Pluto was between 400,000 and 5 million miles from the camera for these photos
'Chains' of the drifting hills are formed along the flow paths of the glaciers.
When the hills enter the cellular terrain of central Sputnik Planum, they become subject to the motions of the nitrogen ice, and are pushed to the edges of the cells, where the hills cluster in groups reaching up to 12 miles (20km) across.
At the northern end of the image, the feature informally named Challenger Colles – honouring the crew of the lost space shuttle Challenger – appears to be an especially large accumulation of these hills, measuring 37 by 22 miles (60 by 35km).
This feature is located near the boundary with the uplands, away from the cellular terrain, and may represent a location where hills have been 'beached' due to the nitrogen ice being especially shallow.
The more detailed map reveals the spread of water ice across much of Pluto, much more than previously known.
Some regions on the map, including Sputnik Planum, the western region of Pluto's 'heart,' and Lowell Regio in the north, were observed to exhibit little evidence of water, if any at all.
This suggests that the bedrock in these areas is buried beneath an accumulation of other ices, such as methane, nitrogen, and carbon monoxide.
Flowing ice and a extended haze are among the discoveries from Nasa's New Horizons mission, which reveal distant Pluto to be an icy world of wonders. This panorama was captured by the New Horizons spacecraft from 18,000 kilometers (11,00 miles) away, just 15 minutes after the probe's closest approach
The most detailed image yet of a giant mountain on Pluto, which is suspected to be an ice volcano, was released by Nasa last month.
It is one of two potential cryovolcanoes spotted on the surface of Pluto by the New Horizons spacecraft in July 2015.
At about 90 miles (150km) across and 2.5 miles (4km) high, this feature is enormous.
The feature, known as Wright Mons, was informally named by the New Horizons team in honor of the Wright brothers.
If it is in fact a volcano, as suspected, it would be the largest such feature discovered in the outer solar system.
'These are big mountains with a large hole in their summit, and on Earth that generally means one thing — a volcano,' said Oliver White, a New Horizons researcher.
The most detailed image yet of a giant mountain on Pluto, which is suspected to be an ice volcano, has been released by Nasa (left). It is one of two potential cryovolcanoes spotted on the surface of Pluto by the New Horizons spacecraft in July 2015. At about 90 miles (150km) across and 2.5 miles (4km) high, this feature is enormous
Mission scientists are baffled by the sparse distribution of red material in the image and wonder why it is not more widespread.
Also perplexing is that there is only one identified impact crater on Wright Mons itself, telling scientists that the surface - as well as some of the crust underneath - was created relatively recently.
This is turn may indicate that Wright Mons was volcanically active late in Pluto's history.
The other potential ice volcano on Pluto has been named Piccard Mons, is up to 3.5 miles (6 km) high. Both ice volcanoes are located near Pluto's South Pole.
'We're not yet ready to announce we have found volcanic constructs at Pluto, but these sure look suspicious and we're looking at them very closely,' said Jeff Moore, a planetary scientist at Nasa said in an earlier release.
Nasa says that if Pluto does have cryovolcanoes, it may be an indication that there is volatile ice that coats its surface.
Most watched News videos
- Footage appears to show 'Coronavirus patient fitting' in China
- Radar tracking shows entire ill-fated Kobe Bryant flight
- Nurse believed to be in Wuhan alleges that 90,000 have been infected
- Public transport suspended in China to control Coronavirus outbreak
- Thomas Markle doesn't believe Meghan has been victim of racism
- Thomas Markle hopes to avoid court case 'face-off' with Meghan
- Doctors treating Coronavirus break down crying after days without sleep
- Prince William pays tribute to Princess Alice at Auschwitz service
- Prince William and Kate Middleton attend Auschwitz 75-year service
- Thomas Markle says Harry an 'insecure man' that Meghan has to mother
- Nicholas Parsons attended 45th BPG Awards in March 2019
- Leo Varadkar uses analogy to warn Prime Minister over EU


text:
RETIS c/o Cré@tvt numérique - Bât A, Place Besagne 83000 Toulon
+33 (0)6 35 57 19 63
Discover the financial partners, networks, and sponsors who support RETIS.
Financial Partners
ADEME supported RETIS in 2012 for the realization of a benchmark-study on the analysis of accompaniment practices of eco-innovative enterprises in the heart of its network.
French Embassy in Italy
The Embassy of France in Italy leads the French networks in this country. The Embassy supports RETIS for the development of the Young Entrepreneurs Initiative program in Italy.
Consulate General of France in Boston
The Consulate General of France in Boston has been supporting RETIS for many years in the development of the NETVA program.
Ministry of Higher Education and Research
The Ministry of Higher Education and Research supported RETIS from 2012-2013 for the development of the program Innovons Ensemble and the qualifying training.
The DGCIS, General Directorate for Competitiveness, Industry, and Services, is a founding partner of the program Innovons Ensemble and has financially supported RETIS from 2007-2013.
Ministry of Foreign Affaires
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has supported RETIS for many years in the establishment of international programs.
The Agency for the Creation of Enterprises, created in 1996 as a public initiative, aids in the process of creation, transmission, and development of enterprises.
CapInTech supports and favors the creation and development if innovative technological enterprises. Founded in 2002 by research organisms, start-up funds, risk capital, and entrepreneurs, this association has broadened to include other actors, large enterprises, and experts.
Climate KIC
Climate KIC aims at accelerating value creation to mitigate climate change and help adapting to it. It is one of the operational branches of the European Institute of Innovation - IET.
Competitiveness and Business Cluster Organization
The Competitivness and Business Cluster Organization, created in January 2014 by the club of 18 global clusters, now has 55 members. This community initiative mutualises the actions of clusters along with those of the French and European governing powers and the services of their members.
EBN - European Business and Innovation Centre Network - is the European Networks for BICs (EU|BICs).
Entreprendre Network
National federation of 42 associations, the Entreprendre Network brings together more than 9,000 business leaders, who volunteered to accompany creators / buyers of SMEs.
France Clusters
The association France Clusters was created in 1997 and exists today with 180 members throughout the nation. Today, it is a network built upon the expertise, values, and experiences of the local productive systems, the competitiveness clusters, collaboration centers, and regional clusters.
Founded in 1984, the International Association of Science Parks groups together science parks on an international level to form a global network.
KIC InnoEnergy
KIC InnoEnergy is one of the three KICs created under the leadership of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). It is a company in the form of a European Company (SE ), with 29 shareholders, all major energy players (companies, universities and research centers) .
MoovJee, the Movement for Young and Student Entrepreneurs, aims to convince young people to consider the creation of enterprises during their training or after graduation as a veritable profession.
The National Business Incubation Association is a center of resources and consulting about the management and development of enterprises and entrepreneurship. This comprises different actions: the organization of conferences and specialized trainings for the publication of statistics about incubation programs, and has about 2000 members throughout the world.
Private Partners
Founded in 2008, Blue-Channel advises and supports innovative companies in the fields of marketing, trade and international business development. Its experience allows to build and transform the marketing plan of the company in commercial and operational action with precise methods and solutions. Blue Channel works mainly with IBM
Captain Contrat
Captain Contract is a service of writing legal documents by lawyers, for the creators of companies and SMEs. Through dynamic questionnaires developed specifically for each document and in collaboration with law firms, Captain Contract allows lawyers to save time in the performance of their services and thus offer attractive prices.
Coexel is a young, innovative enterprise which proposes solutions and services of technological surveillance in the sectors of innovative technologies.
DELSOL Avocats
DELSOL Lawyers is an enterprise of lawyers who are members of the Lyon and Paris Bar Associations. The company aims to satisfy all the legal needs in the life of a professional, in both international and national aspects.
Doodle Worldwide
Doodle Worldwide is a full-service agency with a strong in-house team of Arabic and English design, digital/web, new media and content professionals. Doodle Worldwide has built a reputation for great work and exceptional service with its clients. Plus they are passionate about good ideas and proactive in adding value to their clients' business.
Our mission statement is to accelerate cleantech startups' growth. Hence, the group 's double vocation : 1. Discover, accompany and finance growing innovating cleantech startups. 2. Accompany and guide institutions into the eco-innovations development. ECOSYS Group brings its support to cleantech companies, from their first sales to an IPO or transfer.
F. Iniciativas
The structure "F. Iniciativas" has acquired over fifteen years of experience in the field of innovation financing. Always focused mainly on the lasting consulting and accompaniment of our clients, we draw profit from this expertise to respond to the needs pertaining to the durability of R&D activities of enterprises in all sectors.
iNNOECO ® is a cabinet of professionals of economic development and innovation. The founders Sylvain Dorschner and Hubert Duault attract new partners having exercised at least 20 years in the two domains covered by the cabinet, in key executive posts of structures and projects.
Founded in 2012, Maddyness has become the reference magazine for French startups. A medium of analysis and investigation that deals with economics and innovation, to consume without moderation. Maddyness informs you about companies, trends, financial news, innovations, niches by publishing news articles, background analyzes, presentations and interviews to help you make better use of your ideas, your startups ... Maddyness is aimed at novices, experts, entrepreneurs, agencies, journalists, enthusiasts, just about everyone else.
Marie Landel & Associates
The office of the Marie Landel & Associates (ML&A), of which the headquarters are located in Boston, offers consulting services and expertise in the domain of administrative, legal, and financial management for foreign enterprises or structures, particularly French ones hoping to implant or develop themselves in the United States. ML&A has been a partner of RETIS for 5 years.
Triana Group
Triana, a partner of RETIS since 2011, is an American company established in New York which accompanies the development of European SMEs in the American market. Now, Triana has helped about 40 enterprises grow their business numbers, finance their development, and form partnerships in the United States.
Unilend proposes a new form of finance to enable businesses to borrow directly and simply to the general public, and to enable investors to lend money directly to companies while receiving interest revenues. Payment service provider mandated by the SFPMEI and declared to the French Prudential Control Authority, Unilend is certified by Finance Innovation and member of the professional association Financement Participatif France .
WiSEED is the leading platform of the equity crowdfunding market: created in 2008, it allows startups to find from € 100,000 up to € 1 million in equity thanks to the largest retail investor.community.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
|Library Closed - New Year's Day
Event Type: Library Closing
Age Group(s): Any
Date: 1/1/2020
Start Time: All Day
The library will be closed today for the holiday. Drop boxes remain open. Access our eLibrary at www.cooklib.org to check out materials now using your CMPLD card.Library: Cook Memorial Public Library District - All branches
Link: View Library closures


text: Day Trip: Northwest Trek Wildlife Park Nikki Klock 28 Jun, 2019 Category : Family Fun, In Print, Print Features, Recreation, Special Events & Programs, Travel, Video 0 Part zoo, part wildlife refuge, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park in Eatonville is a living homage to the fauna of the Pacific Northwest. A short 2.5-hour drive from Vancouver, and 40 miles east of Olympia, the park is home to over 40 species of animals, all of which are native to the Northwest. The land, which… Read More


text:
HaChayishowubiyem Shal Mey Howa Sham Shal Yeshuwi Mashayiche BaHoshematoh - The Calculations of Who is The Name of Yeshuwi The Messiah in The Release
Paperback, 62 Pages
Price: $7.10
Prints in 3-5 business days
Yahuweh counts in the scriptures to give evidence of her Mind by the letters of The Torah and to give wisdom and understanding to Israel. In this reading, I reveal by calculations who is the name of The Messiah in the release or The Day of Yahuweh.
Ratings & ReviewsLog in to review this item
There are no reviews for the current version of this product
There are no reviews for previous versions of this product
Product Details
- 9781387029273
- Copyright
- John P. Martin (Standard Copyright License)
- Publisher
- John P. Martin
- Published
- June 9, 2017
- Language
- Hebrew
- Pages
- 62
- Binding
- Perfect-bound Paperback
- Interior Ink
- Black & white
- Weight
- 0.56 lbs.
- Dimensions (inches)
- 8.5 wide x 11 tall
- Product ID
- 23216897
Your notification has been sent
Lulu Staff has been notified of a possible violation of the terms of our Membership Agreement. Our agents will determine if the content reported is inappropriate or not based on the guidelines provided and will then take action where needed.
Thank you for notifying us. We will email you with the results and/or actions taken as a result of the investigation if you chose to receive confirmation.
We were unable to complete your request.
We were unable to complete your request.
Listed In
More From
see more >
HaMocheshab El Yeday... Paperback:
HaDorek Shal HaMocheshab... Paperback:
HaMocheshab El Yeday... Paperback:
HaMocheshab El Yeday... Paperback:
The Engrafted Torah For... Paperback:
Age Verification
The page you are attempting to access contains content that is not intended for underage readers.
Please verify your birth date to continue.


text:
The rep attempted to clarify his position stating that the money for the wall should only be included with strings attached.
Minnesota Democrat Rep. Collin Peterson said in an interview this week that the Democrats should give President Donald Trump the money that he wants to build the border wall on the southern border.
Peterson, the Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, told KFGO's "News & Views" on Tuesday that "when I bring up what I have to say [to Democrats], they look at me cross-eyed."
"Give Trump the money," Peterson said, adding that he would "give him the whole thing ... and put strings on it so you make sure he puts the wall where it needs to be."
"Why are we fighting over this?" Peterson continued. "We're going to build that wall anyway, at some time."


text:
August 21st, 2014 at 6:44 pm
I love this… would be great as journal cards… get inspiration here and a beautiful drawing… There is such elegance in the simplicity of the message and drawing… Wonderful Mye. you are so very talented.
August 21st, 2014 at 9:13 pm
Thank you so much Anita 🙂
August 22nd, 2014 at 2:52 am
Beautiful, Mye! I just love your hand lettering!
August 22nd, 2014 at 12:38 am
Thank you Maribel!
August 23rd, 2014 at 10:46 am
this is beautiful and would look awesome colored!


text:
Phone: (856)-671-6413
Facsimile: (856)-869-5605
Erin S. Miller is a partner in the New Jersey office where she heads the New Jersey Workers' Compensation Group. She has more than twenty-five years experience in diverse practice areas including workers' compensation, PIP, automobile liability, premises liability, nursing home liability and toxic torts/asbestos, professional liability, general negligence, and general civil litigation. Currently, her practice focuses on the defense of workers' compensation claims throughout the State of New Jersey. She is a member of the South Jersey Claims Association, the Central Jersey Claims Association, New Jersey Self-Insurers' Association, and the New Jersey State Bar Association.
Pennsylvania State University — B.S. Psychology, 1988
Temple University School of Law — J.D., 1991; LL.M., 2006


text:
Please Note: Smartphone view
limited functions!
limited functions!
- The rapport is the vertical distance between two identical patterns.
- panel, label und some borders are only available in pieces.
- Our Shop allows decimal quantity so You can order any quantity you need.
- The coin on the product images helps you to find out the pattern size.
- If you have any questions - please contact us.
- 1 cm = 0,39 Inch
1 Inch = 2,54 cm
- If you have any questions - please send an email.
Fleece and notions / accessories for patchwork and quilting. We offer products from Freudenberg, Olfa, Clover, Prym, Omnigrid, Hobbs, YLI and more.
More sub catagories:


text:
SDI Practice Announcement – New 32 Storey Hotel in China
2013-04-02: Sustainable Design International Ltd. (SDI) is pleased to announce that its Managing Director, C.J. Walsh, has been invited to be 'Project Design Architect' / 'Design Professional in Responsible Charge' for a New 32 Storey Hotel in Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China (PRC).
He will have responsibility for the Project's Architectural Concept Design and General Schematic Design … including the overall architectural character and profile of primary exterior surfaces.
Project Approximate Value = € 65 Million (Euros) … excluding interior design, finishes and furnishing (which could end up doubling, or even tripling, the overall project value).
Sustainable Design International Ltd. maintains a strict practice policy of Client Confidentiality.
[ If this Type of Professional Design Service Appeals to You, or Your Organization – Contact Us Immediately ! ]
2012 'Understanding China' Policy Briefing – Friends of Europe & EuroChambres
An estimated One Billion People will be living in China's cities by 2030. This large-scale and very rapid urbanization demands that a sustainable transformation of their urban built, social, economic and institutional environments commences Today – not at some notional point in a far distant future.
Furthermore … replicating a European approach to sustainable design and construction in other regions of the world is doomed to failure. Urban Transformation in China must be adapted to Local Geography, Climate, Climate Change, Social Needs, Cultures, Economy, and Local Severe Events (e.g. earthquakes, flooding). With European support and collaboration … China must, and will, find its own way.
Greening China's Cities of Tomorrow (Spring 2012)
Click the Link Above to read and/or download a PDF File (4.42 Mb)
Report on a One-Day China Advisory Council Roundtable, co-organized by Friends of Europe and EuroChambres, which was held in Brussels on 8 March 2012. This event was part of an 'Understanding China' Programme (mid-2009 to mid-2012), co-funded by the European Commission.
2013 Asian Development Bank (ADB) Guidebook: 'Increasing Climate Change Resilience of Urban Water Infrastructure'
This Guide describes a practical approach to bridge the gap between theoretical analyses of climate change impacts and the planning decisions that need to be made by city authorities and utility managers to increase climate change resilience of the water sector in the city of Wuhan, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China (PRC). It focuses on answering the questions currently being asked by city planners and managers all over the world, as follows:
- What changes might be caused by climate change ?
- How will these changes affect services and utilities ?
- What can we do now to prepare for them ?
The long lead time required to plan, finance, build, and commission city infrastructure facilities means that decision makers cannot wait for more detailed data on the effects of future climate change, especially those relating to local circumstances, but must make investment decisions based on what is known now and what can be readily predicted. An important principle in this kind of 'robust' decision-making is provided by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) tenet that adaptation investments, which move a city's infrastructure toward sustainable development (such as providing safe drinking water and better sanitary conditions), are justifiable even without climate change.
This Guide is arranged in clear steps to provide direction and information for similar exercises in other areas. Having grown out of a specific locality and its needs, the principles and solutions developed in this guide are founded on real world situations and problems …
Increasing Climate Change Resilience of Urban Water Infrastructure (ADB, 2013)
Click the Link Above to read and/or download a PDF File (2.31 Mb)
Working within the professional constraints of 'client confidentiality' … it is possible to have a general discussion about current building design, construction and operation issues in an international sector which is operating, more and more, beyond national borders … without adequate, or very often any, national and local regulation. By 'regulation', I mean a flexible system of building-related legislation which is operated in conjunction with mandatory and effective technical control.
In order to cope with today's complex built environment and the enormous variation in the size and scale of construction projects … a 'flexible' mix of functional, performance and prescriptive legal requirements is the sharpest and most appropriate instrument.
And you can forget the hype about performance-based building codes coming out of the USA … hot air, and much ado about little !
Of course, the biggest issue of all is the competence of those individuals who work in Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ's), i.e. technical controllers. Even in the most developed economies of the world … there are many occasions when the level of individual incompetence in an AHJ is astounding … and institutional arrangements within the AHJ itself are a mess, i.e. the AHJ is not fit for purpose.
1. Sustainable Design – Design Process Efficiency & Proper Preparation for Construction
A tremendous amount of waste is associated with and generated by the processes of conventional building design, construction and operation. There is a more up-to-date and efficient way of doing things … an essential way for Sustainable Design … and it's called Building Information Modelling (BIM) !
Furthermore … consider, for a moment, just the initial list of Specialist Consultants who will be engaged directly by the Chinese Client when the project's conceptual design has reached a sufficiently developed stage. How can all of these individuals and organizations – listed in the revised and agreed Project Design Agreement – obtain accurate and reliable 'real time' information about the rapidly evolving project from a central design library / information database … then feed their new work back into the centre without unnecessary delay ? How, next, can everyone else who needs to know, be updated with the new design input … again, without delay ? And perhaps, these consultants may also be based in different countries … working in very different time zones …
- Building Information Modelling (BIM) Consultant
- Local Design Institute (LDI) … a local architectural practice which will produce the project's working drawings, handle local spatial planning and building code approvals, carry out site inspections, and deal directly with construction organization(s), etc., etc.
- Interior Design Consultant
- Traffic / Parking Analysis Consultant
- Curtain Wall Consultant (Curtain Wall, Skylights & Special Roof Structures)
- Retail Market Analysis Consultant
- Landscape Design Consultant
- Quantity Surveying & Cost Estimating Consultant
- Furniture Design Consultant
- Geotechnical, Civil Engineering & Structural Engineering Consultant (including structural performance under fire and earthquake conditions, resistance to fire-induced progressive damage and disproportionate damage … and also including climate resilience)
- Acoustic & Audio-Visual Design Consultant
- Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing (MEP) Engineering Consultant
- Integrated Building Automation & Management / Telecom / Security / Networking Consultant
- Fire & Life-Safety Engineering Consultant
- Water Feature Consultant
- Wind Tunnel Test Consultant
- Kitchen Equipment and Layout Design Consultant
- Art, Artefact and Accessories Consultant & Procurement Services for Art, Artefacts, and Accessories
- Tenant Storefront Design Consultant
- Helicopter Landing Pad Design Consultant
- Universal Design / Accessibility for All Consultant [including access to the building, electronic, information and communication technologies (EICT's), and services offered at the hotel … and including fire safety, protection and evacuation for all]
2. The 'Design Professional in Responsible Charge' !
The Project Design Agreement requests that the Client receive advice on who might be the different Specialist Consultants listed above. In addition, it will be necessary to demarcate the boundaries within which each Consultant will operate … and, where appropriate, to prescribe a design performance target (see below) for each speciality … which must be 'realized' in the completed and occupied building !
Recalling the many previous posts, here on this Technical Blog, concerning NIST's 2005 & 2008 Recommendations on the 9-11 World Trade Centre Building Collapses in New York City … 'somebody' must ensure that the many individuals and organizations listed above – members of the Larger (2nd Stage) Design Team – use consistent design data and assumptions … must co-ordinate design documents and specifications to identify overlaps and eliminate gaps … must serve as ultimate liaison between the Client, the Local Design Institute, AHJ officials, and the Construction Organization(s) … and must ensure that everybody is on the same communication wavelength, and working towards the same objective in a trans-disciplinary manner.
That 'Somebody' … the Design Professional in Responsible Charge … must be the Project Design Architect !
3. Some Sustainable Design Performance Targets
Actual construction and building user performance shall be carefully (i.e. reliably and precisely) monitored … and independently verified …
A. Basic Functional Requirements … the Building shall comply with the Basic Requirements for Construction Works – elaborated in Annex I of European Union (EU) Regulation No.305/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 9 March 2011, laying down Harmonized Conditions for the Marketing of Construction Products and Repealing Council Directive 89/106/EEC.
See my Post, dated 2011-09-13 … https://cjwalsh.ie/2011/09/new-eu-construction-product-regulation-3052011-halleluiah/
B. Good Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) … Two high-level performance indicators have been developed with the aim of protecting Human Health, and are both now referenced in International Standard ISO 21542: 'Building Construction – Accessibility & Usability of the Built Environment' …
– Radon Activity (incl. Rn-222, Rn-220, RnD) in a building should, on average, fall within the range of 10 Bq/m3 to 40 Bq/m3, but shall at no time exceed 60 Bq/m3 ;
– Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Concentrations in a building should not significantly exceed average external levels – typically within the range of 300 parts per million (ppm) to 500 ppm – and shall at no time exceed 800 ppm.
C. Energy Conservation & Efficiency + A 'Positive Energy' Return + Assured Building User Thermal Comfort
See my Post, dated 2013-09-10 … https://cjwalsh.ie/2013/09/passivhaus-standard-is-not-enough-in-new-building-projects/
D. Project-Specific Sustainable Fire Engineering Design Objectives
See my Post, dated 2014-04-20 … https://cjwalsh.ie/2014/04/sustainable-fire-engineering-design-targeting-mrv/
'Sustainability' – New Part 11 in India's National Building Code !
2013-03-17: Happy Saint Patrick's Day !!
Submissions on India's Draft Amendment No.1 to the 2005 National Building Code (SP 7:2005) concerning the Proposed Incorporation of a New Part 11: 'Approach to Sustainability' had to arrive at the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), in Dilli … by e-mail … no later than Friday last, 15 March 2013 …
Indian NBC, Proposed Part 11 on 'Sustainability' – December 2012 Consultation
Extract From Foreword (Page 7):
' Developed nations' approach to sustainability generally concentrates on energy conservation through high technology innovations, and use of products, materials and designs with lower embodied energy. Their green ratings are based on intent, which implies expert inputs and simulation. The Indian construction industry will do better using our traditional wisdom and practices, building in harmony with nature through regional common knowledge, consuming as little as necessary, applying low cost technology innovations, using recycled materials, and recognizing performance (not intent) through easily measurable parameters wherever feasible.'
How Right They Are About Prioritizing 'Real' Performance !!
And Just Before That Extract Above:
' The authentic (my insert !) Indian way of life is aparigraha (minimum possessions), conservation (minimum consumption), and recycling (minimum waste). These three attributes are the guiding principles for sustainable buildings as well. With these attributes and its rich heritage, India can make a substantial contribution in this field and eventually lead the world on the path of sustainability.'
An Overly Ambitious Target ? Perhaps Not.
SDI Supporting India's National Sustainable Buildings Strategy …
We very much welcome this opportunity to make a Submission on India's Draft Amendment No.1 to the 2005 National Building Code (SP 7:2005) concerning the Proposed Inclusion of a New Part 11 'Approach to Sustainability'.
This IS an important development for India … and it DOES mark a substantial contribution to this field, at international level. We wish that other countries would follow your example … particularly China, the other mushrooming economies in South-East Asia, and the Arab Gulf States.
You may not be aware that Sustainable Design International (SDI) has been specializing in the theory and implementation of a Sustainable Human Environment (social, built, virtual, and economic) since the mid-1990's.
And, for example … in September 2007, we were invited to make a series of Keynote Presentations to 20 Senior National Decision-Makers, from both the public and private sectors, at a 2-Day Workshop which was organized for us in Lisboa, Portugal. If invited, we would be delighted to repeat this valuable exercise in Dilli, Bengaluru, and other suitable venues in India.
IF India is to lead the world on this particular track, i.e. Sustainable Buildings, a coherent philosophy must be outlined in the Proposed New Part 11 of the National Building Code, and a clear direction must also be given there to decision-makers, e.g. clients/client organizations, and designers.
Certain essential content must be included in Part 11. With regard to an improved layout of Part 11, please review the attached SDI Document: 'SEED Building Life Cycle' (PDF File, 55 Kb) .
Because you have prioritized 'real' building performance over pre-construction design 'intent', it is appropriate to begin our comments here …
1. Sustainability Performance Indicators
In order to prioritize 'real' performance, the monitoring of actual sustainability performance in completed and occupied buildings must be comprehensive, accurate and reliable. Indicators of sustainability performance must, therefore, be included in all sections of the Proposed New Part 11.
Sustainability Performance Indicators provide important signposts for decision-making and design in many ways. They can translate physical and social science knowledge into manageable units of information which facilitate the decision-making and design processes. They can help to measure and calibrate progress towards sustainable development goals, and sectoral sustainability targets. They can provide an early warning to prevent economic, social and environmental damage and harm. They are also important tools to communicate ideas, thoughts and values because, as statisticians say: "We measure what we value, and value what we measure".
Performance Indicators may be both quantitative and qualitative … but must cover all stages of the building process, i.e. project feasibility and performance specification, spatial planning, design, construction, management, operation, maintenance and servicing, de-construction, disposal, final site clean-up and sustainable repair.
While many, though not all, types of building performance can be successfully monitored using lightweight portable equipment … a certain number of monitoring devices must also be permanently installed in the building during construction. A facility to reliably feed the output from these devices back to data collection points, on site and remote, must also be incorporated in the Building's Intelligent Management System.
Management and collation of sustainability performance data must be reliable. Uncertainty is always present. Therefore, Statements of Uncertainty should always be attached to 'reliable' data.
Safety Factors should always be included when targeting critical 'health and safety' related types of performance.
Sustainability Performance Indicators must be directly comparable across different Global Regions … within Asia, across different countries … and within India, across different States. A Balanced, Harmonized Core Set of Indian Performance Indicators should be quickly developed. A Balanced 'Local' Set of Performance Indicators will always be necessary.
People tasked with monitoring sustainable building performance must be competent … and independent, i.e. be unconnected to client, design and construction organizations.
Specifically in relation to Energy Performance, the targets to be achieved in new buildings must be far more ambitious. Please review the attached SDI Document: 'SEED Positive Energy Buildings' (PDF File, 29 Kb) .
2. Properly Defining 'Sustainable Development'
As currently drafted … Definition 2.26 Sustainable Development, on Page 13 of the Proposed New Part 11, is not only ambiguous, it is inadequate for India's needs … and it is barely the first half of the full, correct definition …
Sustainable Development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It contains within it two key concepts:
- the concept of 'needs', in particular the essential needs of the world's poor, to which overriding priority should be given ; and
- the idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the environment's ability to meet present and future needs.
[ Please refer to the 1987 Report of the World Commission on Environment & Development (WCED): 'Our Common Future' – Chapter 2, Paragraph 1.]
This original definition in the 1987 WCED Report IS appropriate for India … and it must become the core definition at the heart of India's National Sustainable Buildings Strategy !
A careful reading of the full definition makes it clear that there are Many Aspects to this intricate, open, dynamic and still evolving concept … the most important of which are: Social, Economic, Environmental, Institutional, Political, and Legal.
It is a Fundamental Principle of Sustainability, and one of its Primary Values … that Implementation must be Synchronous, Balanced and Equitable across All Aspects of Sustainability.
The 'Green Agenda' merely considers Environmental Aspects of Sustainability … in isolation from all of the other Aspects ! This is a fatal flaw which must be avoided in the Proposed New Part 11 !!
[ I made many references to this issue during the FSAI Conferences in India ! ]
3. Sustainability Impact Assessment (SIA) for India !
Rather than Environmental Impact Assessment … surely the Proposed New Part 11: 'Approach to Sustainability' must now use, explain and discuss Sustainability Impact Assessment instead !?!
Sustainability Impact Assessment (SIA)
A continual evaluation and optimization assessment – informing initial decision-making, or design, and shaping activity/product/service realization, useful life and termination, or final disposal – of the interrelated positive and negative social, economic, environmental, institutional, political and legal impacts on the synchronous, balanced and equitable implementation of Sustainable Human & Social Development.
4. A Robust Legal Foundation for 'Sustainable Human & Social Development'
Paragraph 4 (Chapter 2, 1987 WCED Report) states …
' The satisfaction of human needs and aspirations is the major objective of development. The essential needs of vast numbers of people in developing countries – for food, clothing, shelter, jobs – are not being met, and beyond their basic needs these people have legitimate aspirations for an improved quality of life. A world in which poverty and inequity are endemic will always be prone to ecological and other crises. Sustainable development requires meeting the basic needs of all and extending to all the opportunity to satisfy their aspirations for a better life.'
Trying to list the essential needs of people / the basic needs of all is a very difficult task … but it is work which has been on-going, at international level, since just after the Second World War.
The essential needs of people / the basic needs of all … are specified as being Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and are already fully described within the extensive framework of International Legal Rights Instruments.
Which is why, many years ago, SDI developed this definition for Sustainable Human & Social Development … in order:
- to give this concept a robust legal foundation ; and
- (because of widespread confusion in media, political and academic circles) … to clearly establish that we are talking about sustainable human and social development, and not sustainable economic development, or any other type of development !
Sustainable Human & Social Development
Development which meets the responsible needs, i.e. the Human & Social Rights*, of this generation – without stealing the life and living resources from future generations … especially our children, and their children … and the next five generations of children.
*As defined in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
5. Climate Change Adaptation & Resilient Buildings in India ?
Atmospheric Ozone Depletion and Climate Change are mentioned, here and there, in the Proposed New Part 11. The important implications of these phenomena for Sustainable Building Design in India are not explained … at all. Why not ?
To properly respond to these phenomena, both must be integrated into India's National Sustainability Strategies & Policies.
At the very least … we strongly recommend that Design Guidance on Climate Resilient Buildings be immediately drafted. This guidance must be appropriate for implementation in each of the different climatic regions of India.
6. A Sustainable Indian Built Environment which is Accessible for All !
Barrier Free is mentioned, here and there, in the Proposed New Part 11. This is to be warmly welcomed and congratulated. Under Social Aspects of Sustainable Human & Social Development … this is an essential attribute of a Sustainable Built Environment ! However, no guidance on this subject is given to decision-makers or designers. Why not ?
However, you should be aware that India ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) on 1 October 2007. For your convenience, I have attached copies of the Convention in English, Hindi and Tamil.
You should also be aware that, in December 2011, the International Standards Organization (ISO) published ISO 21542: 'Building Construction – Accessibility & Usability of the Built Environment'. In its Introduction, ISO 21542 is directly linked to the U.N. Convention … almost like an umbilical cord. The scope of this Standard currently covers public buildings. As the Accessibility Agenda in the U.N. Convention is very broad … much standardization work remains to be finished at international level.
The correct term … Accessibility for All … has been defined in ISO 21542 as including … 'access to buildings, circulation within buildings and their use, egress from buildings in the normal course of events, and evacuation in the event of an emergency'.
A note at the beginning of the standard also clarifies that Accessibility is an independent activity, i.e. assistance from another person should not be necessary … and that there should be an assurance of individual health, safety and welfare during the course of those (accessibility-related) activities.
In order to fulfil India's legal obligations as a State Party to the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities … adequate Design Guidance on Accessibility must be included in the Proposed New Part 11, supported by ISO 21542.
In addition, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) should immediately adopt ISO 21542 as the Indian National Standard on Accessibility for All … IS / ISO 21542.
[ I made many references to this issue during the FSAI Conferences in India ! ]
7. Fire Safety & Protection for All in Sustainable Indian Buildings ?
Yes … there is 1 mention of 'fire safety' and 40 other references to 'fire' in the Proposed New Part 11 … but no design guidance. Why not ?
You should be aware that there is a fundamental conflict between Sustainable Building Design Strategies and the current state-of-the-art in Fire Engineering Design. As a good example … for cooling, heating and/or ventilation purposes in a sustainable building, it is necessary to take advantage of natural patterns of air movement in that building. On the other hand, fire engineers in private practice, and fire prevention officers in Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ's), will demand that building spaces be strictly compartmented in order to limit the spread of fire and smoke … thereby dramatically interfering with those natural patterns of air movement.
In everyday practice, there is a vast chasm in understanding and communication between these two very different design disciplines. As a result, serious compromises are being enforced on Sustainability Building Performance. If, on the other hand, adequate independent technical control is absent on the site of a Sustainable Building … it is the fire safety and protection which is being seriously compromised.
A range of critical fire safety issues (fatal, in the case of firefighters) are also arising with the Innovative Building Products and Systems being installed in Sustainable Buildings.
Because the emphasis is on pre-construction design 'intent' rather than the 'real' performance of the completed and occupied building … all of these problems are being conveniently ignored, and they remain hidden from everybody's view.
This must be addressed in the Proposed New Part 11.
[ I made many references to this issue during the FSAI Conferences in India ! ]
C. J. Walsh – Consultant Architect, Fire Engineer & Technical Controller – Managing Director, Sustainable Design International Ltd. – Ireland, Italy & Turkey.
Mainstream Good Design & Accessibility for All Signage ?
2013-03-06: Further to an earlier Post, dated 30 November 2012 … on Sustainable Accessibility for All …
Accessibility IS a Fundamental Human Right !
' For many Weak and Vulnerable People, today's Complex Human Environment is inaccessible and unsafe … a hostile 'reality' which prevents independent functioning and participation in a local community; it is a blatant denial of their human rights.'
Relevant Human Environment (social – built – virtual – institutional) Factors … factors which are external, or extrinsic, to the context of a person's life and living situation … include policies and standards, negative attitudes and stigma, lack of services, problems with service delivery, inadequate funding, lack of accessibility in the built environment and to electronic, information and communication technologies, lack of consultation and involvement, and an absence of reliable data and evidence.
Accessibility for All …
Take a really close look at the photograph below … and see a staircase which, in spite of all the legislation in the EU Member States, contravenes almost every accessibility-related design guideline. It is far from being an unusual scene in our European Built Environment …
Now, imagine the consequences of one, tiny slip …
Which is why our concern must be with Accessibility for All … which includes consciously thinking about children under the age of 5 years, women in the later stages of pregnancy, and frail older people (not all older people !) … and how they use and interact with their surroundings.
In addition, however … our attention must also turn to the large numbers of people, in all of our societies, with health conditions which result in serious impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions. As a prime example, consider the Big-4 Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD's): Cardiovascular Diseases (e.g. heart attacks and stroke), Cancers, Diabetes, and Chronic Lung Diseases.
These 4 NCD's – targeted in a World Health Organization (WHO) Global NCD Campaign – share health risk factors (tobacco use, unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, harmful alcohol use) … cause more than 36 million deaths annually (almost 80 % of deaths, from such diseases, occur in low and middle-income countries) … and result in a high proportion of disability (66.5 % of all years lived with disability in low and middle income countries).
NCD's can limit one or more of a person's major life and living activities … such as walking, eating, communicating, and caring-for-oneself. Examples of common NCD-related impairments include paralysis due to stroke, and amputation as a result of diabetic neuropathy.
When Easily Assimilated Signage IS Essential in Buildings …
Good Architectural Design IS 'intuitive and obvious' for building users … design characteristics which are critical in the case of Fire Engineering Design. However, what is intuitive and obvious in Ireland may not be so intuitive and obvious in Turkey … and what is intuitive and obvious in Europe will certainly not be intuitive and obvious in Africa, India, or China.
Architectural & Fire Engineering Design must, therefore, be adapted to Local conditions … culture, social need, etc., etc.
When a building is NOT 'intuitive and obvious' for the broad range of potential building users … easily assimilated signage IS essential …
International Standard ISO 21542: 'Building Construction – Accessibility & Usability of the Built Environment' was published in December 2011, as a full standard. In its Introduction, ISO 21542 is linked to the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) … almost like an umbilical cord.
The scope of ISO 21542 covers public buildings. The Accessibility Agenda in the U.N. Convention is very broad … so much standardization work remains to be completed at international level.
Concerning Accessibility Symbols and Signs … reference should be made to ISO 21542: Clause 41 – Graphical Symbols … and on Pages 106, 107, 108, and 109 … the following will be found:
- Figure 66 – Accessible Facility or Entrance ;
- Figure 67 – Sloped or Ramped Access ;
- Figure 68 – Accessible Toilets (male & female) ;
- Figure 69 – Accessible Toilets (female) ;
- Figure 70 – Accessible Toilets (male) ;
- Figure 71 – Accessible Lift / Elevator ;
- Figure 72 – Accessible Emergency Exit Route.
I use the word 'accessibility', and not 'access' … because Accessibility has been defined in ISO 21542 as including … 'access to buildings, circulation within buildings and their use, egress from buildings in the normal course of events, and evacuation in the event of an emergency'.
A note at the beginning of the standard also clarifies that Accessibility is an independent activity, i.e. assistance should not be necessary … and that there should be an assurance of individual health, safety and welfare during the course of those (accessibility-related) activities.
During the very long gestation of ISO 21542, an overwhelming consensus emerged in favour of using the term Accessibility for All … thereby sidestepping the thorny issue of different design philosophies which are described as being accessibility-related but, in practice, are limited and/or no longer fit-for-purpose.
The Accessibility Symbol used throughout ISO 21542 is shown above. I know that a small group of people from different countries worked very hard on this particular part of the standard. My only contribution was in relation to the inclusion of Figure 72, concerning Fire Evacuation.
This 'accessibility' symbol is an attractive, modern and, of course, abstract representation of a concept … a person with an activity limitation using a wheelchair. The symbol succeeds very well in communicating that concept.
However … as an Accessibility for All Symbol … encompassing people with other than functional impairments, e.g. hearing and visual impairments … and children under the age of 5 years, women in the later stages of pregnancy, frail older people … and people with the four main types of non-communicable disease discussed above … is this symbol, also, limited and no longer fit-for-purpose ??
Shown next, above, is the proposal for a new Area of Rescue Assistance Sign … which is contained in ISO 7010:2011 / FDAM 115 (2013). While it is nice to finally see this Safety Sign appear in the mainstream of safety signage … the title being proposed for the sign and the explanatory texts which accompany it are very problematic …
- The technical term being proposed – Evacuation Temporary Refuge – is too long and too difficult to understand ;
- The explanatory texts which accompany this Sign are very confusing and misleading.
This problem has arisen because the people who drafted ISO 7010:2011 / FDAM 115 (2013) hadn't a bull's notion that ISO 21542 even existed !
In ISO 21542, we use the term Area of Rescue Assistance … which is easy for everybody to understand, including building users, building managers and firefighters, etc., etc.
We also explained, in ISO 21542, that a Place of Safety is a remote distance from the building … not anywhere inside the building !
Mainstreaming Disability …
U.N. CRPD – Preamble
(g) Emphasizing the importance of mainstreaming disability issues as an integral part of relevant strategies of sustainable development,
As 'disability' moves closer towards … and is integrated and fully included in the 'mainstream' of sustainable community life and living … it is absolutely imperative that individuals and organizations who make up the Disability Sector become much more cohesive (far less fractious within) … that they begin to fully understand the practices and procedures of the mainstream … and actively and robustly engage with that mainstream.
It is ridiculous, for example, that a large amount of the Sector's energy is still being diverted into meaningless meditations and endless tracts on whether it is 'universal design', or 'design-for-all', or 'inclusive design', or 'facilitation design', etc … when an entirely new design paradigm is being demanded by a world (our small planet when seen from the moon !), which is experiencing enormous levels of human poverty, natural resource shortages, human rights violations, and severe weather events. The overriding priority must be 'real' implementation … Effective Accessibility for All !
NASA's Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth
And … Effective Accessibility for All is but one component of …
'Social Wellbeing for All in a Sustainable Built Environment'
Refer also to …
2004 Rio de Janeiro Declaration on Sustainable Social Development, Disability & Ageing
Update: 2013-05-31 …
While the wider international design community is working hard on developing an array of Accessibility Symbols to facilitate different health condition and impairment categories, and to suit different environmental situations, e.g. a fire emergency in a building … I recently encountered another interesting contribution …
Any comments ??
Ireland's Draft National Radon Control Strategy – A Fraud !!
2013-02-28: Submissions on Ireland's Draft National Radon Control Strategy must arrive at the Department of the Environment, Community & Local Government, our national authority having jurisdiction … by e-mail or hand delivery to either the Custom House in Dublin or the DECLG Offices in Wexford … no later than 17:30 hrs tomorrow, Friday 1 March 2013 …
Ireland's Draft National Radon Control Strategy – January 2013 Consultation
Click the Link above to read/download PDF File (425 Kb)
The Aim of this Draft Strategy, as stated on the DECLG WebSite, is to ensure that exposure to Radon Gas, which presents a significant public health problem, is addressed in an effective and co-ordinated way across all relevant public authorities through appropriate interventions. The Draft Strategy was developed by an Inter-Agency Group comprising representatives from relevant public authorities.
After all of the progress made on radon protection in buildings at the end of the 1990's and beginning of the 2000's, it is extremely disappointing to read this miserable excuse for a strategy document. If the general public in Ireland is under any impression that the 'powers-that-be' are deeply concerned about protecting our health … they are making a fatal mistake !
The complete absence of any reference to a Recommended Health-Related Radon Target Level – Safety-Related National Reference Levels which are not clearly explained will result in some injury and harm – Lack of Meaningful Consultation with, and Informed Consent of, the National Population – Horrendously Inadequate Technical Control Procedures on Irish Building Sites – RPII Recommended Indoor Radon Activity Measuring Devices having Very High Measurement Uncertainty (±30% under typical conditions of use) – A Purposeful Lack of Detailed Guidance on Exactly When and How to Measure Indoor Radon – Inadequate RPII Radon Measurement Test Reporting … are just some of the tell-tale signs for a seasoned observer.
In this regard, therefore … and let me be very clear and simple in my use of language … this Draft National Radon Control Strategy is a blatant fraud !!
Fraud: Deliberate deception, trickery, or cheating intended to gain an advantage – An act or instance of such deception (from Latin Fraus (f): deceit, deception).
Furthermore … the Inter-Agency Group which produced this Draft National Radon Control Strategy for the DECLG Minister, Mr. Phil Hogan T.D., and Senior Civil Servants within the Department … whoever the Group's participants are, wherever they are … should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves for being associated with this negligent act !
Negligent: Lacking attention, care or concern.
Negligence: A wrong whereby a person(s) is in breach of a legal duty of care, resulting in harm or injury to another person(s) … in this case, the Irish Public.
To see a complete overview on this Serious Building-Related Human Health Issue, and for information about a Far Better and More Coherent Approach to Radon Protection in Buildings which takes proper account of European Union (E.U.) legislation, e.g. the Precautionary Principle … please refer to SDI's Corporate WebSite …
NORM, Radon Gas, Radon Activity & Protection from Radon in Buildings
(It is not my intention to reproduce, here, all of the content on this WebPage as part of the Submission.)
I am also the Technical Consultant who drafted these 2 Benchmark Irish Agrément Board (IAB) Certificates for Radon Protection Measures in Buildings …
Monarflex Radon Resisting Membranes – IAB Certificate No. 98/0075
Radon Control Systems: Easi-Sump & Easi-Sump Cap-Link – IAB Certificate No. 01/0130
SDI's Comments on Ireland's Draft National Radon Control Strategy (NRCS)
1. Protecting Human Health versus Reducing Risk to Safety
The following two short extracts from 1. Introduction and Background in the Draft NRCS reveal the true intent of the Inter-Agency Group …
' Radon gas is the greatest source of exposure to ionising radiation for the general public and is the second greatest cause of lung cancer in Ireland. Recognising the serious health risk presented by radon, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in November 2011 established an inter-agency group to develop a National Radon Control Strategy (NRCS).'
and …
' During 2012 the inter-agency group developed a draft NRCS based on wide stakeholder consultation and a health economics evaluation of different radon intervention strategies. The stakeholder consultation involved a range of individuals and bodies involved in: health care, construction, radon services, Government and academia. The health economics evaluation was undertaken by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) and Health Service Executive (HSE) with the assistance of the Health Economics Unit at the University of Oxford. This draft strategy sets out a range of measures to reduce the risk from radon to people living in Ireland.'
Radon is a serious human health issue, and it is explained in a later section of the document 1.2 The Radon Problem in Ireland that 'indoor radon is linked to between 150 to 200 lung cancer deaths each year in Ireland, which equates to approximately 13% of all lung cancer deaths.'
However … after the references above to 'health economics evaluation' (!) … to the 'prevailing economic situation' (!!) in section 1.1 Public Consultation … and to 'health economics tools' (!!!) in section 2. Draft National Radon Control Strategy … etc … you should then sensitize yourself to the subtle change in language very early in the document … from a consideration of health protection, to reducing the risk from radon (or similar variations on that theme).
The concept of Protecting Human Health is altogether different from the concept of Assessing and Mitigating / Reducing Risk to Safety ! Please refer to SDI's Corporate WebSite.
As far back as the end of the 1990's … the Irish Agrément Board, which at the time included a representative from the Department of the Environment, accepted the following …
Radon Activity in Buildings – Recommended Target Health Level
Radon Activity (incl. Rn-222, Rn-220, RnD) should, on average, fall within the range of 10-40 Bq/m3, but should at no time exceed 60 Bq/m3.
This Recommended Target Health Level for Radon now also appears in International Standard ISO 21542: 'Building Construction – Accessibility & Usability of the Built Environment', which was published in December 2011. Please refer to Annex B.8 – Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in the ISO Standard.
The Draft NRCS must refer to such a Recommended Target Health Level … and it must be stated that it is National Policy to progressively reach that target by 2025 (bearing in mind the 'prevailing economic situation' in the country !).
Note: In contrast to the above … 200 Bq/m3 for Residential Buildings, and 400 Bq/m3 for Workplaces … are NOT Health-Related Target Levels … they are Safety-Related National Radon Reference Levels which result in some measure of harm and injury to people … particularly children under the age of 10 years, and people with activity limitations who constantly remain indoors for prolonged periods of time.
2. National Policy Priority: 'Real' Protection from Radon in 'Real' Irish Buildings
Yes … in Ireland, we have enormous problems with regard to a lack of awareness among the general population about the serious health hazard posed by indoor radon … and the absence of proper education and training for everyone directly involved in the design, construction, management, operation, servicing or maintenance of our building stock (both new and existing).
BUT … if we are committed to providing 'real' radon protection in 'real' Irish buildings, then a practical construction-oriented approach is demanded.
This is a Key Paragraph in 2.1 Radon Prevention in New Buildings …
' The stakeholder engagement also points to some practical difficulties associated with the implementation of the current technical guidance on radon prevention. These difficulties relate to the correct installation of radon barriers under site conditions, protection of the integrity of radon barriers once installed and identification of radon preventive measures on site. The stakeholder engagement also indicated the system of building control in place prior to 2012 did not provide adequate assurance that radon preventive measures had been correctly installed '
… which we later discover is a masterstroke of understatement and evasion, because none of these important issues are tackled head on in the document.
On the critical issue of Building Control … there is no mention of mandatory inspections of construction projects by competent Local Authority personnel. Because … it remains the unwritten policy of Ministers and Senior Civil Servants in Ireland's Department of the Environment, Community & Local Government (DECLG) that Local Authority Building Control Sections will be entirely ineffective.
On the other hand … will Competent Private Independent Technical Controllers be facilitated in carrying out sufficient inspections of all radon protection related works before 'signing off' on proper completion ???
3. Regulatory Status of RPII's Radon Prediction Maps
This is NOT a problem unique to Ireland.
The presence of the RPII Radon Prediction Maps in Technical Guidance Document C (Building Regulations), and the status they are given there … are both entirely inappropriate.
While these Maps are a useful design aid, in the case of small construction projects, they offer NO assurance of certainty to either building designers or users. They are NOT reliable ! And the average values shown in any particular 'box' may actually conceal a considerable degree of variability in the radon concentrations found in completed buildings.
4. SDI's Acceptance of RPII Services
Please refer to SDI's Corporate WebSite.
Unfortunately, until the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) includes proper statements of Measurement Uncertainty in its Test Reports (this is a requirement of European Standard EN ISO/IEC 17025) … our Organization:
- cannot recommend any RPII Radon Testing Services to 3rd Parties ;
- will not accept any RPII Test Reports as proper evidence of Radon Test results.
C. J. Walsh – Consultant Architect, Fire Engineer & Technical Controller – Managing Director, Sustainable Design International Ltd. – Ireland, Italy & Turkey.
'Building External Lighting Design' – An SDI Professional Service
2013-01-30: The Energy Efficiency of Electrical Light Fittings continues to improve dramatically … and it's about time too. So much energy was needlessly wasted before !
Prior to the commencement of the External Lighting Design Project below … this prominent religious building in Dublin City was 'pitch' dark at night, almost a black hole in the local urban landscape, a depressing non-entity … people waiting at bus stops on each of the roads beside the building were nervous … muggings occasionally took place … litter was always being thrown into the grounds surrounding the building … evidence screaming out loud that nobody cared !
After Project Completion … the 'presence' of this building within the local community was enhanced to an extraordinary extent … it was at once seen to be at its centre … security issues at night were immediately resolved … the building looked as if people cared about it … and a special bonus … architectural features which usually went unnoticed by the public during the day were beautifully highlighted at night.
The Client Organization … in this case, a religious order … was so pleased with the finished work that they commissioned a professional photographer … and then used the image above on the Parish Christmas Cards to be distributed to parishioners.
The Moral of The Story for Clients/Client Organizations is … give serious consideration to how your building (whether it is a church, mosque, or synagogue) looks during daylight … and most importantly, during the long hours of darkness !
External Building Lighting is much more than mere decoration … it is an essential component in the sustainable design of any important / iconic building type !!
SDI Contact Information
E-Mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
International Phone: +353 1 8386078 / National Phone: (01) 8386078
'Sustainable Fire Engineering for All' – SDI's Professional Service
2012-12-14 & 2012-12-30: Further to this distressing incident … which exposed a profound lack of awareness, care and competence within the general fire safety industrial sector …
Recent Fatal Fire at a Disabled Workshop in SW Germany
… this is how we would like to help you … whether you are an individual, or an organization … whether you are located in Ireland, Italy or Turkey … some other part of Europe, the Arab Gulf Region, India, Japan, China … or wherever !
And … we can, if requested or necessary, work in collaboration with local partners in those different geographical regions.
– FireOx International is the Fire Engineering Division of Sustainable Design International Ltd. (SDI) –
Fundamentally, the 9-11 World Trade Center Incident in New York (2001) was an Extreme 'Real' Fire Event. It presented the International Fire Engineering Community with a catastrophic failure in conventional practices and procedures related to:
- Fire Engineering, Structural Engineering, and Architectural Design ;
- Human Building Management Systems ;
- Emergency Response by Firefighters, Rescue Teams, and Medical Personnel ;
- National and Local Organizations Having Authority or Jurisdiction (AHJ's) ;
… and with the serious problem of entirely inadequate Fire Safety Objectives in the building legislation, model codes and design standards of the most economically advanced countries in the world.
Those people who understand the building design process, and have experience as construction practitioners, have long realised that the lessons from 9-11 must be applied across the full spectrum of building types … not just to tall buildings. Right up to the present day, unfortunately, many people in the International Fire Engineering Community are either unwilling, or unable, to do this.
Furthermore … Fire Engineering, Architectural Design and Structural Engineering must, of urgent necessity, be seamlessly conjoined … with the aim of removing misunderstandings and the wide gaps in client service delivery between the different disciplines.
In 2002, a series of Long-Term 9-11 Survivor Health Studies commenced in the USA … and in 2005 and 2008, the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) issued a series of Post 9-11 Critical Recommendations concerning the design, construction, management and operation of buildings.
At FireOx International … we have fully integrated this essential design guidance into our frontline fire engineering and architectural practice … we have developed unique and practical solutions for worldwide application, some of which appear in International Standard ISO 21542: 'Building Construction – Accessibility & Usability of the Built Environment', published in December 2011.
FireOx International's Commitment to You
As a necessary response to the New 21st Century Paradigm of Real Extreme Event in a Built Environment which is becoming more and more complex … is subject to climate change and severe weather events … and is vulnerable to malign and malevolent disruption –
WE are committed to … the implementation of a Sustainable Human Environment which is Fire Safe and Secure for All, meaning that an 'appropriate project-specific fire safety level' is our fire engineering objective, with 'human health protection' targeted as a priority … through the use of innovative, reliability-based and person-centred sustainable design practices and procedures.
What is an 'Appropriate Fire Safety Level' in Your Building or Facility ?
It is rarely, if ever, explained to clients/client organizations that the Minimal Fire Safety Objectives in building legislation are focused solely on protecting the 'interests' of society, not those of the individual … are, quite often, inadequate and/or flawed … and are, always, revised only after the latest tragedy !
To properly protect Your Interests as a client/client organization … we strongly advise that the Appropriate Level of Fire Safety in Your Building or Facility should exceed the minimal level of safety required by building legislation. We would also caution that, in many jurisdictions (e.g. India), compliance with national building legislation is voluntary.
Which raises the issues of whether or not you will actually get what you pay for, and whether or not the Fire Protection Measures in Your Building or Facility are reliable (in other words, will they perform as intended at the time of a 'real' fire, which may occur at any time in a building's long life cycle) !?! Competent Technical Control of Design and Construction, independent of the design and construction organization(s), is essential.
You should carefully consider the following spectrum of issues which may be directly relevant to Your Project. Following a process of consultation with you, we then develop Project-Specific Fire Engineering Design Objectives … bearing in mind that you must also comply with safety at work, anti-discrimination, and environmental legislation, etc … maintain business continuity, etc … be energy efficient, etc … and be socially responsible, etc …
– Protection of the Health of All Building Users … including People with Activity Limitations (2001 WHO ICF), Visitors to the building or facility who may be unfamiliar with its layout, and Contractors or Product/Service Suppliers temporarily engaged in work or business transactions on site ;
– Protection of Property from Loss or Damage … including the Building or Facility, its Contents, and Adjoining or Adjacent Properties ;
– Safety of Firefighters, Rescue Teams and Other Emergency Response Personnel ;
– Ease and Reasonable Cost of 'Effective' Reconstruction, Refurbishment or Repair Works after a Fire ;
– Sustainability of the Human Environment (social – built – virtual – economic) … including Fitness for Intended Use and Life Cycle Costing of fire engineering related products and systems, etc … fixed, installed or otherwise incorporated in the building or facility ;
– Protection of the Natural Environment from Harm, i.e. Adverse or Damaging Impacts.
FireOx International – Our Fire Engineering Services
WE will advise you on Fire Safety Policy, Fire Safety Strategy Development, Fire Safety Implementation … and, whether you are within or from outside the European Union, on CE Marking of Fire Protection Related Construction Products ;
WE understand the process of Design, particularly the new language of Sustainable Design … and we will produce Creative Fire Engineering Solutions for Your Project ;
WE are thoroughly familiar with the intricacies of Building Sites … and we will verify and/or validate Design Compliance during construction, and at project completion … and, if requested or necessary, as a completely Independent Technical Controller ;
WE communicate easily and effectively with other Professional Design Disciplines, including architects and structural engineers … and we will act as fully participating members of Your Project Design & Construction Team … and, if requested or necessary, as the Design Professional in Responsible Charge ** ;
WE practice in accordance with a comprehensive Professional Code of Ethics.
Sustainable Fire Engineering Solutions ?
- Are adapted to Local Geography, Climate/Climate Change, Social Need, Culture, Economy … and Severe Events (e.g. earthquakes, flooding) ;
- Are 'Reliability-Based', i.e. that design process based on practical experience, competence and an examination of real extreme events, e.g. 2001 WTC 9-11 & 2008 Mumbai Attacks, and 2011 Fukushima Nuclear Incident … rather than theory alone ;
- Are 'Person-Centred', i.e. that design process which places 'real' people at the centre of creative endeavours and gives due consideration to their responsible needs, and their health, safety, welfare and security in the Human Environment.
FireOx International's Contact Information
E-Mail: email@example.com
International Phone: +353 1 8386078 / National Phone: (01) 8386078
Important Note: This Post should be read in conjunction with an earlier Post …
Sustainable Design International Ltd. – Our Practice Philosophy
It is there, not here, that we define Sustainable Human & Social Development … and describe how our Practice is responding to this open, intricate, dynamic, and still evolving concept. The resulting transformation in how frontline services are provided to our Clients/Client Organizations ensures a much more comfortable 'fit' to their needs … and a greater level of protection, safety and security for society !
[ ** 2005 NIST(USA) Final Report on 9-11 World Trade Center 1 & 2 Tower Collapses
– Footnote 49 –
… the Design Professional in Responsible Charge – usually the lead architect – ensures that the (Design) Team Members use consistent design data and assumptions, co-ordinates overlapping specifications, and serves as the liaison with enforcement and review officials, and with the client or client organization. ]
'Sustainable Accessibility for All' – An SDI Professional Service
2012-11-30: Related specifically to my 2 Previous Posts on 27 November 2012 & 28 November 2012 … this is how we would like to help you … whether you are an individual, or an organization … whether you are located in Ireland, Italy or Turkey … some other part of Europe, the Arab Gulf Region, India, Japan, China … or wherever !
And … we can, if requested or necessary, work in collaboration with local partners in those different geographical regions.
For many Weak and Vulnerable People, today's Complex Human Environment is inaccessible and unsafe … a hostile 'reality' which prevents independent functioning and participation in a local community; it is a blatant denial of their human rights.
Restrictions on Social Participation, e.g. physical barriers, sloppy user-unfriendly management procedures, discrimination, stigma, etc … also limit the Use Potential of buildings, transportation systems, public spaces and other facilities … shortening product life cycles.
These factors impose a large, negative cost burden on society generally … and on you, as an individual … or as an organization, whether private or public. It is bad business !
SDI's Commitment to You
As a necessary response to the New Paradigm of 'Accessibility' mandated by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), and elaborated in greater detail by International Standard ISO 21542 : 2011 –
WE are committed to … the implementation of a Sustainable Human Environment which is Effectively Accessible for All … through the use of innovative, person-centred and reliability-based sustainable design practices and procedures.
SDI's Accessibility Services
- WE will advise you on Accessibility Policy, Accessibility Strategy Development, Accessibility Implementation … and, whether you are within or from outside the European Union, on CE Marking of Accessibility Related Construction Products ;
- WE understand the process of Design, particularly the new language of Sustainable Design … and we will produce Creative Accessibility Solutions for Your Project ;
- WE are thoroughly familiar with the intricacies of Building Sites … and we will verify and/or validate Design Compliance during construction, and at project completion … and, if requested or necessary, as a completely Independent Technical Controller ;
- WE communicate easily and effectively with other Professional Design Disciplines, including fire engineers … and we will act as fully participating members of Your Project Design & Construction Team ;
- WE practice in accordance with a comprehensive Professional Code of Ethics.
Sustainable Accessibility Solutions ?
- Are adapted to Local Geography, Climate/Climate Change, Social Need, Culture, Economy … and Severe Events (e.g. earthquakes and flooding) ;
- Are 'Person-Centred', i.e. that design process which places 'real' people at the centre of creative endeavours and gives due consideration to their responsible needs, and their health, safety, welfare and security in the Human Environment ;
- Are 'Reliability-Based', i.e. that design process based on practical experience, competence and an examination of real extreme events, e.g. 2001 WTC 9-11 & 2008 Mumbai Attacks, and 2011 Fukushima Nuclear Incident … rather than theory alone.
SDI's Contact Information
E-Mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
International Phone: +353 1 8386078 / National Phone: (01) 8386078
Important Note: This Post should be read in conjunction with an earlier Post …
Sustainable Design International Ltd. – Our Practice Philosophy
It is there, not here, that we define Sustainable Human & Social Development … and describe how our Practice is responding to this open, intricate, dynamic, and still evolving concept. The resulting transformation in how frontline services are provided to our Clients/Client Organizations ensures a much more comfortable 'fit' to their needs … and a greater level of protection, safety and security for society !
National Disability Authority – 2nd Time Unlucky with Evacuation ?
2009-06-16: Further to one of our first posts, dated 12th December 2008 (or 2008-12-12 !), concerning the National Disability Authority's 2008 Publication: 'Promoting Safe Egress and Evacuation for People with Disabilities' …
On 15th April 2009 … we were circulated by Mr. Shane Hogan (NDA), in a general e-mail communication which was not addressed to us … with a Proposed 2nd Draft of the Evacuation Document. Comments on this 2nd Draft were requested.
So … here are our comments …
1. We repeat the earlier statement that 'the document has many technical errors'. It is clear that the National Disability Authority does not possess the requisite technical competence to oversee the proper development of such a publication.
Furthermore … many of the inadequate, flawed and discriminatory practices in relation to Fire Safety, Protection and Evacuation for All which have originated in Britain over many years … and are described yet again and most recently in BS 9999:2008 – Code of Practice for Fire Safety in the Design, Management and Use of Buildings (see previous post) … are just mindlessly regurgitated in the NDA Publication.
2. We very much believe in, and are promoters of, Open Content on the Internet. For that reason, SDI's Copyright Guidelines are quite liberal. And … although we do reserve all rights … we also state that …
' Reproduction by others of content produced and/or developed by Sustainable Design International Limited is permitted, except for commercial purposes, provided the source is acknowledged.'
It is clearly shown in the NDA's 2nd Draft that copyright material developed by FireOx International (the Fire Engineering Division of Sustainable Design International Ltd.) was used, and abused, by White Young Green Consultants (Ireland) in the original 2008 NDA Publication.
We do not wish technical terms to be altered … or our material to be linked directly with BS 8300:2009 – Design of Buildings and Their Approaches to Meet the Needs of Disabled People … and BS 9999:2008. Please re-read our previous post !
White Young Green Consultants (Ireland) gained commercially from the use of our copyright material. They did not inform us … nor did they request any permission from us … prior to that use.
Our material has been used again in the NDA's 2nd Draft … and still nobody has bothered to seek our permission … for or about anything !
In order to at least appear to be acting ethically … perhaps somebody in the NDA, e.g. Ms. Mary Van Lieshout, Mr. Shane Hogan, Dr. Gerald Craddock or Ms. Angela Kerins might care to communicate directly with us now.
Finally, our private thoughts and feelings with regard to the actions of White Young Green Consultants (Ireland) shall remain just that … private !
Perhaps, however, White Young Green Consultants (Ireland) might cover the costs involved in consulting with our team of legal advisors.
Follow SFE2016Dublin on Twitter
Recent Comments
- Recent Terenure Terraced Housing Fires – Party Wall Failures !! on
- Recent Terenure Terraced Housing Fires – Party Wall Failures !! on
- Recent Terenure Terraced Housing Fires – Party Wall Failures !! on
- Recent Terenure Terraced Housing Fires – Party Wall Failures !! on
- Recent Terenure Terraced Housing Fires – Party Wall Failures !! on
- architecture
- art
- built environment
- cinema
- climate change
- design
- economic environment
- eu law
- european union
- fire
- human & social rights
- human environment
- human health & safety
- institutional environment
- international law
- judicial
- media
- national law
- natural environment
- photography
- political environment
- regulations & standards
- resilience
- social environment
- sustainability
- technical control
- travel
- uncategorized
- virtual environment
|« Dec
- 'Spirit of Ireland' Project – National Energy Independence. At last … some 'real' Innovation in this country !
- AL JAZEERA – News & Views from the ARAB WORLD (1440 H)
- ALBA – Alianza Bolivariana para los Pueblos de Nuestra América / Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America
- Amnesty International – Irish Section
- CJ Walsh: Architectural, Design & Technical Control Practice (Ireland, Italy & Turkey)
- Contact Us – Sustainable Design International Ltd. (Ireland, Italy & Turkey)
- Department of Housing, Planning & Local Government (DHPLG) – Ireland
- EL NACIONAL – News & Views from VENEZUELA
- EU E-PRTR – European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register … Europe-Wide Register providing easily accessible key environmental data from industrial facilities in the EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein & Norway
- EU ECC-Net – European Consumer Centres' Network: Network of Consumer Protection Centres in the European Union (EU), Iceland and Norway
- EU EFFIS – European Forest Fire Information System … supporting local services with responsibility for protecting forests against fires in the EU Member States, and providing the EU Institutions with reliable information about wildfires
- EU EPPO – European Plant Protection Organization … co-operation in plant health within the Euro-Mediterranean Region
- EU EUROPEANA – Access to Europe's Cultural & Scientific Heritage though a Cross-Domain Digital Portal
- EU Fundamental Rights Agency – The Agency focuses on the situation of fundamental rights in the European Union (EU) and all of its Member States
- EU WISE – Water Information System for Europe … where information on water-related issues can be found for the whole of Europe
- EUR-Lex – Full, direct and free access to all European Union (EU) Legislation
- FireOx International – SDI's Fire Engineering Division: Fire Engineering Consultancy, Research & Design Practice (Ireland, Italy & Turkey)
- GRANMA INTERNACIONAL – News & Views from CUBA
- HÜRRİYET – News & Views from TURKEY
- Ireland – Information about Public Institutions & Government Services, including updates on the continuing madness that is 'Brexit' !
- Irish Seed Savers Association … protecting Ireland's Food Crop Heritage for future generations
- JOURNAL DE BRASÍLIA – News & Views from BRAZIL
- Kanchi – Changing Society's View of Disability for the Better
- PRAVDA – News & Views from RUSSIA
- Robert F Kennedy Centre for Justice & Human Rights (USA)
- Rocky Mountain Institute (USA) – Super Energy Efficiency by Design
- RTE Lyric FM – Classical Music for Inner Harmony and Mindfulness !
- Sustainable Design International … Theory & Implementation of Sustainable Human & Social Development
- UNFCCC – United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
- UNHRC – United Nations Human Rights Council
- US Congress for the New Urbanism – International NGO working to build vibrant communities where people have diverse choices for how they live, work, and get around
- WikiLeaks … a multi-national media organization and associated library
- XINHUA News Agency – News & Views from CHINA
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- July 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- June 2018
- October 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- September 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- June 2015
- April 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- February 2014
- September 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- July 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008


text:
ATI Career Training Center
ATI offers high-quality career training to help prepare our students for rewarding and successful careers in Health Care, Computer Repair, Information Technology, Automotive Repair, Graphic Design, Business Administration, HVAC, and Welding.
The mission of ATI is helping people achieve a better lifestyle by preparing them, through education, for a career in their chosen field.
All ATI schools are accredited by: Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT).
ACCSCT is a non-profit, independent accrediting agency whose goal is maintaining educational quality in the career schools and colleges it accredits by striving to assure academic excellence and ethical practices.
ACCSCT is dedicated to the more than 450,000 students who annually pursue career education at its accredited institutions.
Address:2401 NW 23rd Street, Suite 14
Zip & city:73107 Oklahoma
Phone:(888) 209-8264
ATI Career Training Center Dental School Location
University of Oklahoma (College of Dentistry)
The University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry is located on the Health Sciences Center campus in Oklahoma City. Set in the middle of a beautifu...


text:
We are a local, not-for-profit, health organisation working to help the people of Darnall, Tinsley and neighbouring areas stay well. Our team includes multi-lingual speakers; Health Trainers, Health Development Workers as well as local volunteer Health Champions and our Social Prescribers.
We deliver a combination of group activities, 1to1 support for healthy lifestyles and long term conditions management, peer mentoring and volunteering as well as delivering local health campaigns, training and talks.
We are the lead organisation for the Healthier Darnall and Tinsley People Keeping Well Partnership, building on our 15-year history of connecting with and engaging the community and working in partnership to address health inequalities.
Our services help to remove barriers, are culturally sensitive where appropriate, build trust, listen and respond to local need and are underpinned by our volunteers. Our approach is collaborative, consistent and client-led and through increasing access to services, help mitigate risks such as loneliness and isolation.
Please contact us to make a referral for health and wellbeing activities including:
- One to One Support from a Health Trainer on healthy eating and being active
- Group activities such as health walks, chairobics, conversation clubs and peer support group for diabetes
- Volunteering opportunities
- Signposting to other activities, services, courses locally or in the city
- Social Prescribing for wellbeing
Contact us on 0114 249 6315 or firstname.lastname@example.com
Our PKW Partners in Darnall and Tinsley:
- Darnall Dementia Group
- Darnall Forum
- Sheffield Carers Centre
- South Yorkshire Energy Centre
- Tinsley Forum
Find out more about keeping well in your local community in other areas.


text:
Exercise Releases DO-pamine
Laughter releases dopamine.
Music, happy or sad, will release dopamine
Chocolate will release dopamine.
Eating or food **** releases dopamine.
A sexual release releases dopamine.
A hobby releases dopamine.
Volunteering releases dopamine.
Anything that brings pleasure
or makes you feel good about yourself
Fear, and Anger also release dopamine but can take you to instead of away from smoking.
There are not many components to failure at quitting smoking.
I believe the lack of dopamine replacement is a major one until
your quit gets on its feet and you've adjusted.
When people feel bummed out and negative is when they go back.
Isn't it likely the dopamine release from an NRT is its only usefulness?
This is something in your power to do in order to keep your quit.
keep it in mind