The transition to low carbon heating is at a finely balanced tipping point with installers split on whether they will be installing heat pumps in their customers’ homes.

Veolia is now increasing energy savings at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading following a 15 year extension to the existing contract. 

Biotecture - a company in the living wall sector - is celebrating its 15th year anniversary with an eye on the future.

CIBSE has launched the updated Commissioning Code M: Commissioning management. The original Code was published in 2003. This new document better represents modern commissioning and reflects current commissioning management best practices.

Signify has announced five new CIBSE accredited Continuous Professional Development (CPD) courses to arm specifiers, lighting designers, facilities managers and installers with the knowledge to be able to respond to a range of business needs from meeting sustainability goals to protection from COVID-19. 

New for 2023, CIBSE introduce Best Digital Innovation category as part of the Building Performance Awards.

The two new issues of Idronics UK aim to enhance industry knowledge of modern plumbing and heating best practice, covering topics such as, Heat Interface Units, system balancing, net-zero building and heat network design.  

The British Pump Manufacturers Association (BPMA) has enjoyed further membership growth in recent weeks, with three new full members joining the association.

Vital Energi has secured £72.3m of Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme funding for clients across the country, and will deliver projects using the latest technologies to save almost 15,000 tonnes of carbon per year.

Schneider Electric and RIB have partnered with Building Transparency, a non-profit organisation that has developed the Embodied Carbon Calculator.

New regulations for existing homes mean that, from June 15^th, 2022, heating installers will be required to install thermostatic room controls when replacing a boiler.

Baxi Commercial Solutions is pleased to announce the return of face-to-face product training at its Warwick Commercial Training Academy.

The Heat Network Design Guide aims to ensure specifiers, consultants, and contractors achieve the designed system performance post build, and how maximum energy savings from Heat Interface Units (HIUs) can only be achieved if the system is designed, installed, and commissioned correctly.

CIBSE has launched the updated Commissioning Code M: Commissioning management. The original Code was published in 2003. This new document better represents modern commissioning and reflects current commissioning management best practices.

A cross-industry steering group, representing stakeholders across the built environment, have joined together to develop a standard for verifying UK buildings as net zero carbon.

In response to the lack of women and other under-represented groups in the building services engineering sector - less than 1% of tradespeople are female - leading Awarding Organisation (AO), LCL Awards has launched an Inclusivity Charter for its centres, to encourage them to take steps to make their training facilities welcoming places, with flexible course options to suit people from all walks of life.

The recent passage of the Building Safety Act is a welcome recognition of the fact that making safe buildings is a highly skilled operation says the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, endorsing the need for more effective regulation and a profound change in culture.

• 13% rise in detailed planning approvals against the preceding three months
• 18% decline in main contract awards against the previous year
• 9% increase in underlying starts during the three months to May

Glenigan has released the June 2022 edition of its Construction Review.

A snap survey of members of the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) reveals long-term concerns over inflation, with 80% of respondents viewing it as an issue in the next 12 months and beyond. 

The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) have launched new guidance AM17: Heat pumps for large non-domestic buildings. 

The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has completed its trilogy of free guides designed to help building owners and managers turn their buildings into ‘safe havens’ that protect occupants from health risks linked to airborne contaminants and viruses. 

SELECT’s campaign for regulation of the electrical industry continues to attract more backing, with two major industry organisations and four MSPs adding their names to the trade association’s Wall of Support.

This year BPEC will celebrate 30 years of delivering industry leading qualifications, assessments, training courses and learning materials to the plumbing and heating industry and the wider energy sector. Established in 1992, it is a unique organisation led by employers for the benefit of the sectors, and all surplus funds generated by its activities are re-invested by The BPEC Charity.

Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) has developed a ‘Smart Check’ app to help construction site operators verify the identities and qualifications of more than two million skills card holders. 

Operated by the AEMT and produced by Touchwave Media, the awards will again acknowledge the skill, effort, and dedication of the people and businesses serving this important industry sector.

Property, construction and infrastructure consultancy Pick Everard has strengthened its presence in the Southwest by opening an office in Bristol city centre. Situated in the heart of Bristol, Pick Everard’s 15^th national office will be headed up by director, Kieran Bradley. 

GEZE UK, has updated its Product Guide and Price List to help architects, architectural ironmongers and specifiers choose the most effective product for their needs.

The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) has developed a new training course focused on the Building Safety Bill. The course is designed to support building services professionals in preparing for and complying with the most significant reform to building regulations in 50 years.

Engineering services alliance Actuate UK is working with Energy Systems Catapult (ESC) – an independent, not for profit, centre of excellence for energy systems innovation and transformation for net zero - on a strategy to boost the creation of a skilled workforce that will play a central role in reducing emissions from the built environment and deliver on the government carbon targets.

The Scottish Construction Leadership Forum (CLF) launches a new guide - Summary of Funding and Business Support Available to Scottish Construction Companies. The guide is just one of the actions from the Scottish Government (SG) funded CLF Recovery Plan of actions aligned with SG policies and the Construction Scotland Industry Strategy.

Combat Heating Solutions have launched a new website which has been designed and updated to offer a more user-friendly experience with improved navigation, functionality and the addition of a technical help page providing users with easy access to essential information.

A leading UK Retail giant’s distribution centre, located in Milton Keynes is a state-of-the-art facility and is one of the UK’s largest, covering a 45 acres site – the size of 12 football pitches.

The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and London Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI) will be launching new guidance, developed to provide industry-wide definitions and address frequently asked questions during an online launch event on 7 April 2022. 

With progress being made towards decarbonising domestic use of gas, using hydrogen, the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC) membership of appliance manufacturers have agreed new, clear labelling for hydrogen appliances.

Tune into BBC One at 8pm on 31^st March 2022 as PipeSnug founders Chris Burdett and Alex Lever prepare to enter the Dragons’ Den.

Following yet another comprehensive and robust Judging Session, which this year was held virtually on 27th January, the Finalists in the 2022 Pump Industry Awards have been determined.

The ECA (Electrical Contractors Association) has responded to Ofgem’s announcement today that the energy price cap will rise by 54% to £1,971.

Actuate UK warn that skills shortages are hampering ambitions to deliver net zero emission buildings.  While the number of Engineering Services apprentices starting out in England in 2022 is back to pre-COVID levels, many more new starters are needed if we are to achieve net zero by 2050.

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).

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.

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.

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).

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).

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.

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.

Construction volume output rises 3.5%, reversing October’s 1.7% decline. 

Baxi Commercial Solutions has released a new educational guide for the non-domestic sector that aims to debunk the myths surrounding hydrogen for heat and provide a timeframe for the anticipated transition to this greener gas.

The Digital Manufacturing Centre (DMC) has partnered with Beckhoff Automation Limited to bring completely automated building control to the DMC’s state-of-the-art engineering and production facility at Silverstone Park.