Whole Body Vibration (W.B.V.) In Residential Buildings

The request was partially successful.

Dear Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government,
It has been shown that Whole Body Vibration (W.B.V.) can cause various health problems including balance issues, dizziness and physical pain. Experts in this field have argued that it can cause "cumulative disablement" and W.B.V. can be particularly harmful if a person has an existing health condition, injury or disability.

There are already Regulation relating to the issue of W.B.V. in the workplace and some guidance is given by the Health and Safety Executive.

The following questions relate to W.B.V. in Residential Buildings (particularly Flats) and are made under the Freedom Of Information Act:-
1. What steps are being taken to ensure that problems of W.B.V. don't occur in residential buildings (especially flats) and what enforcement action is currently take?
2. Are there any Laws or Regulations that relate to W.B.V. in Residential Buildings?
3. What steps are taken to ensure that extractor Fans (e.g. those placed in the ceiling of bathrooms) don't cause W.B.V. problems for neighbours?
4. Are there any plans/current consultations/ parliamentary reports or other that relate to the issue of W.B.V. in residential buildings, including Residential Care Homes?
5. Are there any requirements of Housing Providers (e.g. Local Councils, Housing Associations, Managing Agents) to ensure that W.B.V. doesn't occur?
6. Who is responsible for enforcing any issues relating to W.B.V. and the intense vibration that can be caused by some Extractor Fans?
7. Has consideration been given to ensure that there are quality standards for Extractor Fans and the fitting of these?

Yours faithfully,

Rob Heale

FoI Requests,

Dear Mr Heale,

Many thanks for your email below. Please be assured that the Department did receive your email of 20 April 2020 and it has been sent for the attention of the relevant policy team who will be best placed to respond to your questions.

We are not treating your email as an FoI request because we considered that it was not a request for recorded information. When we receive requests that do not fall under FoI we transfer them so that they can be answered by the appropriate policy official.

Your sincerely,

Knowledge and Information Access Team

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FoI Requests,

Dear Mr Heale,

Just to let you know that your email has been reviewed and it will be treated as a Freedom of Information Request. Apologies for the confusion.

An acknowledgement email will follow letting you when we will respond.

Your sincerely,

Knowledge and Information Access Team

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Despatch Box,

                            
Our reference: 6777340             Information request

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
Dear Aleksandra Wisniewska
 
Thank you for your Information Request of 20 April 2020.
 
We will aim to send you a response by 19 May 2020.
 
If you have any questions, please ask by return email. Please leave the
subject line unchanged when replying, to make sure your email gets
straight to us.
 
Yours faithfully
 
 

FOI Team

Knowledge and Information Access

Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government

NOTE: Please do not edit the subject line when replying to this email.

FoI Requests,

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Hi Rob,

Thank you for your enquiry about the above.  We have re-assessed this
request and consider it would be best for one of our policy experts to
write to you directly.  I am sorry this was initially logged as an FOI
request; however, someone should be in contact with you very shortly.

 If you need to follow up this correspondence at any point, then please
write to [1][MHCLG request email] and quote this
reference: 6818740. 

 

Kind regards,

 

FOI Team

Knowledge and Information Access

Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government

 

 

 

 

References

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1. mailto:[MHCLG request email]

Despatch Box,

1 Attachment

Dear Rob Heale,
Thank you for writing to us about Whole Body Vibration in residential
buildings on the 20th April 2020. Please see the attached response. 
 
With thanks again for your time,
Technical Policy Division
Building Safety Programme
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
NOTE: Please do not edit the subject line when replying to this email.