How to use the Guide?

How do you want to use the Guide? Well see if you fit any of the users below  and start there. 

I’m not sure I even want to use the Guide… I don’t know anything about it… just curious?

Then visit The Health Story and see the impact apparently simple changes to the living environment can make to health. If you have a few minutes go to the NEWS FEED item called TEDx – Housing for Health for a summary of what the Guide aims at achieving.


I am starting to design housing and want to use the Guide to test my design ideas.

OK first go to the TOOLBOX  and in the QUALITY CONTROL section select the SKETCH DESIGN stage and print a list of important items your current designs should contain.


Our team have just completed designs and specifications for  housing and want to use the Guide to check we have included all the ideas and details  that will improve safety and health… where can we check this?

OK  go to the TOOLBOX  and in the QUALITY CONTROL section select the COMPLETED DESIGN AND SPECIFICATION  stage and print a list of important items your current designs should contain. You may also want to download and then use the ASSESSMENT TOOL as this can give a printed summary of your design documents and compliance with the principles of the Guide. 


I am a medical doctor, or health professional, and have high rates of infectious illness coming into our clinic that need to be  treated every day. Where can we find information about what actions we can take to reduce this infectious disease?

Go to The Health Story and start with the Section 4 HOW MIGHT HOUSING FOR HEALTH PROJECTS IMPROVE HEALTH.


I am a politician or senior bureaucrat and very sceptical that any change in housing or the living environment is possible or affordable – lots of money has been spent – for what results.  How can the Guide convince me to  reconsider the issue ?

The Guide probably can’t convince you! But … if you have 3 minutes, start by going to the NEWS FEED on the HOME PAGE and the story Why houses fail to deliver health benefit -TENANT DAMAGE IS NOT THE PROBLEM. If you have 5 minutes consider the NEWS FEED Why the Guide is needed. And finally, if you can really spend time researching the issue spend 17 minutes viewing the summary of what can be achieved again by visiting the NEWS FEED item called TEDx – Housing for Health.


I am a student of architecture, industrial design, landscape design, interior design, engineering and would like to use the Guide on a student project… where do I start ?

Well maybe the best place to start is on the HOME PAGE with an overview of the SAFETY section and the HEALTH & HOUSING section. If you are in the engineering or landscape design area maybe start with the HEALTHY COMMUNITIES section.


I manage the maintenance work for 20/50/500 houses and think the safety and health issues, outlined in the Guide, should be our highest priority work. Is there a quick way to get safety and health focussed work lists for selected tradespeople like plumbers and electricians to help manage the work?

Yes there is a simple way the Guide can help. Go to TOOLBOX and the MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST. Then select the time period you require (ie items that need 3/6/12 monthly attention) and then the trades available to do the work (ie plumber, carpenter, electrician etc) and you will be able to print safety and health prioritised maintenance work lists.


I work for a company that manufactures… (hot water systems, lights, tap ware, stoves, electrical fittings etc) and would like to know how some of our products may be particularly useful to improve safety and health in housing. How can we check?

OK, first use the search here box in the top right corner of the HOME page and type in your particular product area i.e. light fittings, or hot water. This will take you to the detailed section containing these items. Read the design requirements, the ensure and consider sections and look at the associated detailed performance data and assess if you have a product that could perform well. Use the Guide’s data when approaching building designers or housing managers to define your product’s specific advantages.

 

Architect Greg Norman speaking on how applied research projects inform Housing for Health, the Guide