2022 February

Data centres consume huge amounts of energy, much of which goes into cooling. Carl Turbitt, HVAC Drives – UK Sales Manager, ABB, explains how, when it comes to achieving sustainability, variable speed drives (VSDs) are the best-performing technology available.

Clarkson Controls are pleased to launch their new i-ris USB-powered desktop CO2 sensor

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Prof David Walters OBE, a longstanding friend and supporter of the Association of Electrical & Mechanical Trades (AEMT).

Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have signed a formal agreement to support a sustainable future for the built environment, championing innovation and inclusive growth.

It is with great sadness that we announce that Max Fordham, the acclaimed engineer and pioneer of sustainable building design, passed away at his home on 4th January 2022.

CHAS, the supply chain risk management expert, highlights ten issues that will affect construction supply chains in 2022.

COVID-19 has caused a complete re-evaluation of how office spaces work. The previously glacial shift towards flexible working and smarter office spaces was suddenly turbo-charged as the “the office of the future” became “the office of now”. 

No one company can achieve truly smart buildings that address all of the internal and external requirements alone. We need to be aware of all of the challenges and opportunities within the market both for our own development but also to be able to smart enable other solutions and continue to improve the industry. To succeed, we need to work together. 

Matteo Dall’Ombra, VRV Specialist, Product Management and Engineering Group at Daikin explains how by taking a whole-building approach to HVAC, it is possible to balance the drive for energy efficiency with the need to improve indoor air quality.

It’s fair to say that indoor air quality has been a hidden issue for many years, but the COVID-19 pandemic has put it firmly at the top of the public agenda. Hern Yau of Mitsubishi Electric speaks out. 

Managing humidity is an ongoing concern for building professionals working on construction sites that is growing in prominence. With the UK recently struck by storms, many projects have been disrupted by damaging floods and this topic is now rising back in the spotlight. Matt Watson of Aggreko explores how to effectively dry out sites without long-term issues.

Office buildings that fail to demonstrate how they support the health and well-being of users will swiftly become redundant, according to a group of building services engineers.

Government needs to deliver on previously made commitments around off-site manufacturing, including for repeatable social infrastructure to be delivered using a platform/off-site approach, according to the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE).

The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) has published a digital Embodied Carbon Calculator tool to enable engineers to estimate the embodied carbon associated with mechanical, electrical and public health systems in buildings.

CIBSE is delighted to announce that it is now recognised by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) as an End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO).

David Rhodes of Albion Valves explains why specifiers should ask more of their valve manufacturers when it comes to today’s construction projects.

The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) has published revisions to its Technical Memorandum 54: Evaluating operational energy performance of buildings at the design stage. The revisions bring the guidance up to date by taking account of regulatory changes and advances in best practice.

Many anticipated that, by autumn 2021, a semblance of ‘normality’ would have returned to UK workplaces, and we would be putting this pandemic behind us, but sadly this is still not the case. As COVID-19 cases continue to grow steadily in the UK and return-to-work directives remain confusing at best, many firms are, quite rightly, only willing to allow their teams to fully go back to the workplace if they can guarantee their safety and wellbeing in the face of this ongoing pandemic.

Architects are increasingly specifying industrial protection equipment for warehouses and distribution centres. Paul Roehricht of Brandsafe provides guidance on best practice.

Evaporative cooling systems and their water treatment strategies help optimize building performance and contribute to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification and other sustainability programs.