Necessary upgrades to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning at the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) building are expected to ensure disease-related agents are properly contained.

Two projects, worth close to half a million dollars in capital upgrades, will primarily focus on the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) Public Health Microbiology Reference Laboratory located in the BCCDC building. Upgrading the environmental control system will cost $300,000. The replacement of the air-handling units will cost $175,000.

Replacement parts for some obsolete air handling units within the current system are no longer available. Air-flow problems and outages can occur each time the air-handling units fail.

One of the upgrading projects will control air volumes, temperature and air exchanges in order to properly contain high-risk pathogens. A second project will replace air-handling units to improve the control of air flow throughout the building.

Funding for these projects has been provided by the B.C. Ministry of Health. The projects are expected to be completed by June 2013.

Since 2001, more than $7 billion has been spent on health-capital projects in British Columbia.

Quote:

Minister of Health, Dr. Margaret MacDiarmid-

"Ongoing routine maintenance projects, such as the upgrades to the air systems at the offices of the BC Centre for Disease Control, are important to the staff and visitors.

Media Contacts:

Ryan JabsMedia Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)

Patrick Blennerhassett
Provincial Health Services Authority
604 675-7416
604 871-5699 (media pager)