Dr. Elizabeth Grant The University of Adelaide

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

Designing for Thermal Comfort in

Prisons

Designing for thermal comfort in Prisons

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

Co-Researchers

Assoc Prof. Mary Myla Andamon RMIT

Dr Alana Hansen The University of Adelaide

Professor Terence Williamson The University of Adelaide

Designing for thermal comfort in Prisons

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

• Violent behaviour is more prevalent in

facilities that are poorly ventilated or are

either very hot or cold.

• Group collective resistance

behaviours increase when the prison

environment is too hot or cold

• Higher numbers of ‘natural’ and

‘unnatural ‘ deaths in custody

Impacts of Excessive Heat or

Cold in Prison Environments

“Nothing changes in the prison

it is either too hot

or cold”

Prisoner, Mobilong Prison

Designing for thermal comfort in Prisons

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

Inability to regulate heating and cooling

produces greater adverse individual

emotional and behavioural responses.

(Wener and Olsen 1978; 1980;

Goodstein and Wright 1989; Wright and Goodstein 1989).

Impacts of Excessive Heat or

Cold in Prison Environments

“Having a heater or cooler is

important but you have to be

able to turn it on and off. It

must be

accessible. I don’t want the

screws controlling the heat. He

is cold sitting on his butt in his

office and

I’m cooking in my cell”

Prisoner, Yatala Labour Prison

Designing for thermal comfort in Prisons

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

UNITED STATES Texas • 13 prisoners have died of heat stroke

since 2007 Michigan 2002 • Prisoner with schizophrenia

administered medication Held in observation room Died from dehydration 2006 Mentally ill prisoner held in restraints

during heatwave Died from dehydration and

hyperthermia

Deaths in Custody

Designing for thermal comfort in Prisons

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

UNITED STATES

Alabama 2007 • Prisoner with schizophrenia treated

with antipsychotics • Confined to cell in dangerously hot

conditions • Died due to complications of

bronchopneumonia and hyperthermia

AUSTRALIA Western Australia 2008 • Mr Ward - Prison Transport

Deaths in Custody

Designing for thermal comfort in Prisons

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

Chronic Illness

Certain Medications/

Substance Disuse

Capacity OR Ability for

Adaptiveness

Highest Risk

Thermoregulation

The Regulation of Body

Temperature

Designing for thermal comfort in Prisons

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

PHYSIOLOGICAL Thermoreceptors brain increased

blood flow to skin heat loss Radiation, conduction, convection Evaporation of sweat

Behavioural

Moving to a cool environment • Air conditioning • Ventilation

Showers Light clothing Adequate hydration

Designing for thermal comfort in Prisons

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

Designing for thermal comfort in Prisons

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

Overview

• Introduction

• etc

• etc

Designing for thermal comfort in Prisons

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

Designing for thermal comfort in Prisons

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

Blood pressure increase

Cardiovascular disease

• Myocardial infarction

• Cardiac arrest

• Ischaemic heart disease

Thrombosis

• Coronary

• Cerebral

Respiratory disease

Hypothermia

Effects of Cold on Health

Designing for thermal comfort in Prisons

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

Heat exposure can :

Exacerbate underlying chronic

conditions

Cause heat-related illnesses

• Heat stress

• Dehydration

• Hyperthermia

• Heat exhaustion

• Heat stroke

Exertional

Classic

• High mortality rate

Effects of Heat on Health

Designing for thermal comfort in Prisons

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

Limited opportunities for behavioural thermoregulation in the heat

In confined area

Outdoor work details outside

Unable to modify environment

Why are prisoners vulnerable to heat

stress?

Designing for thermal comfort in Prisons

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

• Evidence has shown that vulnerable populations to heat include those who have underlying illnesses or are ageing.

• High population of prisoners suffer from chronic health conditions

Why are prisoners vulnerable to heat

stress?

Designing for thermal comfort in Prisons

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

Why are prisoners vulnerable to heat

stress? Chronic conditions that can increase susceptibility to heat illnesses:

Heart disease

Respiratory disease

Renal disease

Diabetes

Mental disorders

Mental Health

in Prisons

Designing for thermal comfort in Prisons

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

2012 National Prisoner Health Data Collection

54% of females, 41% males had received treatment or assessment for mental health issue

Designing for thermal comfort in Prisons

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

International Review of prison surveys shows prisoners compared to general population

2-4 fold more likely to have psychotic illness and depression

10 times more likely to have antipsychotic personality disorder

Mental Health

in Prisons

Designing for thermal comfort in Prisons

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

Medications contributing to the risk of Heat Illness

Used in the treatment of mental disorders:

• Antipsychotics

• Anticholinergics

• Some antidepressants

• Lithium

• Anti-anxiety medications

• Lithium

• Barbituates

Others:

• Beta blockers

• Diuretics

Designing for thermal comfort in Prisons

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

Cocaine

Heroin

Ephedrine

Ethanol

Amphetamines

Drugs contributing to the risk of

Heat Illness

Current Guidelines for Prisons -

Thermal Environments

GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF PRISONERS Correctional services in Australia seek to improve and maintain safety of and confidence in the correctional system by managing prisoners consistently and with reference to the guiding principles that prisoners are: 1. Managed and contained in a safe, secure, humane manner. 2. Managed equitably, with recognition of their diverse needs.

Designing for thermal comfort in Prisons

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

Current Guidelines for Prisons -

Thermal Environments

Designing for thermal comfort in Prisons

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

Safe Environments and the Effective Management of Risk 1.25 Prisons should identify, minimise and manage risk. 1.27 Prison should provide for the personal safety of staff, visitors, and prisoners by ensuring a prison environment that protects the physical, psychological and emotional wellbeing of individuals.

Current Guidelines for Prisons -

Thermal Environments

Designing for thermal comfort in Prisons

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

10. All accommodation provided for the use of prisoners and in particular all sleeping accommodation shall meet all requirements of health, due regard being paid to climatic conditions and particularly to cubic content of air, minimum floor space, lighting, heating and ventilation.

United Nations

Standard Minimum

Rules for the Treatment

of Prisoners (1977)

Designing for thermal comfort in Prisons

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

ASHRAE state: Comfort depends on behavioural actions that are initiated unconsciously or by the conscious mind and guided by thermal and moisture sensations to reduce discomfort. Some possible behavioural actions to reduce discomfort are altering clothing, altering activity, changing posture or location, changing the thermostat setting, opening a window or leaving the space. Unlikely that prisoners would be able to undertake these behaviours.

Current Guidelines for Prisons –

Air-conditioning

International technical society

organized to advance the arts

and sciences of heating,

ventilation, air-conditioning and

refrigeration

Designing for thermal comfort in Prisons

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

No specific standards developed for custodial settings Other issue is that air-conditioning temperature standards are set using experiments using 18 – 25 year old HEALTHY men. Air-conditioning standards are USUALLY NOT APPROPRIATE for other users.

Current Guidelines for Prisons -

Air-conditioning

International technical society

organized to advance the arts

and sciences of heating,

ventilation, air-conditioning and

refrigeration

South Australia

Banksia Unit

• Introduction

• etc

• etc

Designing for thermal comfort in Prisons

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

South Australia

Yatala Labour Prison

Designing for thermal comfort in Prisons

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

I go straight to bed when I get

locked up. It is too bloody cold

to do otherwise. 16 hours in

bed a day.

Prisoner. Yatala Labour Prison

Northern Territory

Alice Springs Correctional

Centre

Designing for thermal comfort in Prisons

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

Northern Territory Darwin

Correctional Centre

Designing for thermal comfort in Prisons

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

Victoria Corella Place Ararat Prison

Designing for thermal comfort in Prisons

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

West Australia West Kimberley Regional Prison

Designing for thermal comfort in Prisons

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

What is to be learnt

Designing for thermal comfort in Prisons

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

Heat can be a silent killer.

In non temperature controlled

environments, prisoners may be at risk

because of:

• Poor health

• Lack of adaptive capacity

• High proportion of mental disorders

• Medications that interfere with

thermoregulation

No current thermal standards for

correctional environments

What is to Needed

Designing for thermal comfort in Prisons

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

Standards required for

• Air-conditioning

• Natural ventilation

• Heating

• Ability to adapt

These need to take into account

• Cultural background

• Health status

• Possible ‘heat sensitivity’

• Prison provided bedding and clothes

Designing for thermal comfort in Prisons

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

What do we need? Further understandings of numbers of prisoners on psychotropic medications or with other risk factors Heat Policies for ‘heat sensitive’ prisoners. A commitment from Government to provide safe environments for prisoners

Designing for thermal comfort in Prisons

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia

Resources and Outputs

Grant, E, A, Hansen and T. Williamson (2012) ‘Design issues for prisoner health: Thermal conditions in Australian custodial environments’ World Health Design 5 (3) pp. 80 – 85. Grant, E. (2013) "Pack em, rack em and stack em": The appropriateness of the use and reuse of Shipping Containers for Prison Accommodation' Australasian Journal of Construction Economics and Building, 13 (2) pp. 35 – 44. Container Thermal Standards Thermal Preference – Aboriginal People in Western Desert

Thank you

Dr Elizabeth Grant The University of Adelaide Email: elizabeth.grant@adelaide.edu.au

5th Prison Planning, Design, Construction and Maintenance Conference:

Following the production of existing, developing and future correctional facilities across Australia