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Dr Sidney Parsons is an international expert in energy management of buildings. His expertise and research also includes indoor environmental control for building-related illnesses, in particular the spread of hazardous biological agents such M.tubeculosis.
Current activities and research interests
- Developing the required framework and investigating material required for an appropriate guideline for briefing and design to assist planners and designers in supporting infection control measures required to minimise the spread of airborne M.tuberculosis in South African healthcare facilities
- Health facilities research: Infection control with particular reference to the built environment as a causal factor in TB and airborne disease transmission through which existing CSIR research initiatives with national and international partners will be strengthened
- Health facilities research: Environmental management through which existing CSIR pilot studies into energy and water use will be developed into measurement protocols, benchmarks and guidelines in order to improve the sustainability and mitigate the impact of South African health facilities on climate change
- Health facilities research via institutional support by participating in quarterly health infrastructure workshops with national and provincial health facility planners, designers and managers providing a report back and review forum for progress on research projects, and the establishment of a peer review mechanism to facilitate the improvement of the standard of new health facilities in South Africa
- Development of a South African energy labelling scheme for commercial buildings
- Chairperson of SABS committees to develop energy efficiency standards and guidelines for developing maintenance contracts.
Formal education
BSc (Eng), University of the Cape Town, 1982
MEng, Potchefstroom University, 2003
PhD (Engineering), North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus), 2007
Experience
Sidney Parsons is a registered professional engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa. He is also registered with the International Society for Professional Engineers. His research interest is in fields of indoor air quality and building-related illnesses, infection control and the commissioning processes for buildings, particularly within the healthcare sector.
He has worked as a consulting engineer for more than 28 years. During his years in private practice, he undertook a wide spectrum of work for the public and private sector, including university campus utility planning, healthcare and research, pharmaceutical facilities (clean room applications), commercial developments and mechanical installations for industrial applications. During 2002 and 2003 he took a sabbatical from his practice and was contracted to Arup Consulting Engineers to provide support in developing its healthcare portfolio.
Prior to leaving for Ireland, he conducted the final-year course in air conditioning and refrigeration at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
He has co-authored various publications, and presented peer-reviewed papers and presentations at a number of international conferences and seminars. He has also been an invited co-presenter on continued education programmes for professional development, focusing on indoor air quality and occupational safety influences, including energy management and efficient strategies.
Over the past eight years, he worked with the SA Medical Research Council (MRC), the Centres for Disease Control in Atlanta, and the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, USA, concerning investigations into the efficacy of electro/mechanical building service systems for the protection of healthcare workers against airborne infectious diseases such as tuberculosis. Since joining the CSIR in October 2004, he assisted in formulating a memorandum of understanding between the CSIR and the MRC for this work.
From 1996 until 2001, he served as the ASHRAE (American Society for Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers), geographical representative for the African region, and then as the nominating committee representative for all regions outside North America. (Globally, ASHRAE has more than 55 000 members (professional engineers).)
He has also served on a number of ASHRAE technical committees, namely Thermal Storage Technical Committee, the District Energy Technical Committee, the ASHRAE Healthcare sub-Committee, and as past chairman of the ASHRAE Environmental Health Committee (2005/2006) where he now serves as consultant member. He is chairman of the ASHRAE Special Projects Committee to develop the ASHRAE Standard (ANSI-approved) for minimising the spread of Legionella.
His interest in the fields of energy management technology and occupational safety and issues related to the built environment, have resulted in him being involved in advising on the maintenance, operation and commissioning of building systems.
He currently serves as the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Council of South Africa's representative on the ECSA Standards Generating Board for the development of the proposed levels 5 and 6 SGG.
Organisational details
PO Box 395
Pretoria
0001
South Africa
Tel: +27 12 841 2596
Fax: +27 12 841 3504
Email: saparsons@csir.co.za
Publications
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