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Completed

NCT Number: NCT00874692

Health and Environmental Effects of Boiler Management Systems in Social Housing

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of a passive safety measure, namely a reduction in centrally controlled hot tap water temperatures in social housing using a boiler management system, as an effective public health intervention.

Completed

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Key information

Conditions

Hot Water Burns (Scalds)

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Camden

London, United Kingdom

About this study

The annual hospital admission rate in England for burns and scalds is 31 children per 100,000 population. While reducing the temperature in domestic hot water tanks is a recommended injury prevention strategy, the UK has been slow to adopt such 'passive' safety measures. However, Camden Council employs a Boiler Management System (BMS) in boiler houses to centrally set the hot water temperature for parts of its social housing stock, providing the opportunity to evaluate various impacts of a 'passive' safety measure, including quantifying the effects of the BMS on average hot water temperatures at delivery, annual energy costs, and annual greenhouse gas emissions; modelling the reduction in scald injuries; identifying the cost-effectiveness of the system as a public health intervention; as well as describing experiences/ perceptions of risk of scalding and identifying health and social benefits of the BMS. Boiler houses with BMS will be randomised to remain at their constant set temperature or to BMS reduced temperature and sterilisation programme. A process evaluation will also be undertaken to assess the acceptability of water temperatures to tenants.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Individuals living in social housing in the London Borough of Camden where the Boiler Management system has been installed.

Exclusion criteria

  • Aged under 18 years

Treatment and study plan

BMS and sterilisation programme

Other

BMS with reduced hot water temperature and sterilisation programme

Primary outcomes

  1. Thermal energy (degrees Celsius) at hot tap of bath

    Time frame: after 1 minute

Secondary outcomes

  1. Acceptability of hot water temperature delivered to tenant

    Time frame: Up to 2-3 months post-intervention

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Other

Collaborators

  • Camden Primary Care Trust, London
  • London Borough of Camden Housing and Adult Social Care Directorate

Registry information

Official study title

Randomised Controlled Trial of Boiler Management Systems in Social Housing in Camden: An Assessment of Health, Environmental and Economic Outcomes

Important dates

Study start
2009
Primary completion
2009
Study completion
2009
First posted
Apr 2, 2009
Registry last updated
Jun 2, 2010

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.