FOI 35-22: CO2 Monitors and HEPA filters located in Parliament Buildings
Information Standards Freedom of Information Response
Our Ref: FOI 35-22
26 July 2022
Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“FOIA”)
I am writing to confirm that the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission (Assembly Commission) has processed your request dated 4 July 2022 in line with the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The Assembly Commission response has been outlined below in regards to each element of your request.
1. To ask how many CO2 monitors have been procured for Parliament Buildings?
The Assembly Commission has procured zero CO2 monitors for Parliament Buildings.
2. To ask how many CO2 monitors have been installed within Parliament Buildings?
The Assembly Commission has installed zero CO2 monitors within Parliament Buildings.
3. Please provide the locations within the building.
The Assembly Commission does not hold information in relation to your request.
4. Please provide a copy of the guidance document that accompanies the CO2 monitor when distributed. Please detail the levels of CO2 at which users are to take steps to improve ventilation.
The Assembly Commission does not hold information in relation to your request.
5. To ask what recommendations / guidance have been provided to committee clerks regarding the use of CO2 monitors
The Assembly Commission does not hold information in relation to your request.
6. To ask how many CO2 monitors are installed in common areas such as the shop, Long Gallery, Members’ Dining Room, Canteen area as well as any educational spaces.
The Assembly Commission has installed zero CO2 monitors within Parliament Buildings.
7. To ask how many HEPA filters are installed in the common areas listed above and any other common areas.
The Assembly Commission has installed zero HEPA filters within Parliament Buildings.
8. If no HEPA filters have been purchased, could the rationale be provided
The Assembly Commission uses a framework agreement for property maintenance that is operated by Central Procurement Directorate (CPD) within the Department of Finance (DoF). The contractor for property maintenance works in conjunction with engineers and technicians from CPD and Properties Division, to advise the Assembly Commission on all relevant requirements for particular items of plant. While the Assembly Commission has not specifically asked CPD and/or the contractor to install HEPA filters, neither have the specialists retained by the Assembly Commission advised of any requirement for HEPA filters in Parliament Buildings at this time.
9. To ask what recommendations/ guidance has been provided to assembly staff and party / MLA staff working in Parliament Buildings regarding ventilation.
From the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Assembly Commission established a working group to determine what measures were required to be taken to comply with all relevant Regulations and guidance and to help ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of all building users. In keeping with other similar buildings, and compliance with the relevant guidance, the advice in relation to ventilation has been to ensure, where possible, that there is an adequate supply of natural ventilation in all occupied rooms.
10. How many assembly staff / party staff / member staff have access to a CO2 monitor? How many have access to a HEPA filter where necessary?
The Assembly Commission does not hold information in relation to your request. Please note the response to questions one, two and seven.
11. Is there any centralised data collation from the CO2 monitors? What analysis is occurring. If so, please detail?
The Assembly Commission does not hold information in relation to your request.
12. What air filtration systems are in place in Parliament Buildings?”
Parliament Buildings has air filtration systems covering the Assembly Chamber, the Senate Chamber, Press Offices, Café Recess, basement dining and kitchen areas, first floor kitchen and one office area on the 4th Floor.
In addition to this, there are air domestic style extract systems in place in toilets, shower rooms, tea points, Control Room, the east and west entrances as well as several offices.
You have the right to request a formal review by the Assembly Commission and if you wish to do so, please write to me at the above address. If after such an internal review you are still unhappy with the response, you have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF who will undertake an independent review.
The Assembly Commission may publish details of your FOI request and its response within the organisational disclosure log. The request will be completely anonymised and you will not be identified in any way. This is to meet the requirements as laid out by in the agreed publication scheme with the Information Commissioners’ Office.
Yours sincerely
Information Standards
