Imagine yourself in the most fabulous building in the world.
Now take away the lighting, heating and ventilation, the lifts and escalators, acoustics, plumbing, power supply and energy management systems, the security and safety systems – and you are left with a cold, dark, uninhabitable shell.
Everything relating to a building that makes it safe and comfortable to be in, together with the building’s environmental performance, are at the heart of what building services professionals and CIBSE are about.
Buildings account for almost 50 per cent of damaging carbon emissions, and innovative services design can bring dramatic improvements in energy efficiency.
CIBSE (the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers) provides first-class information and education services to support professionals and promote good practice. Through its Royal Charter, received in 1976, it is the standard setter and authority on building services engineering.
It publishes guidance and codes that are internationally recognised as authoritative, and sets the criteria for best practice in the profession. The institution accredits courses of study in further and higher education by approving work-based training programmes and providing routes to full professional registration, including Chartered Engineer, Incorporated Engineer and Engineering Technician.
CIBSE also speaks for the profession and is consulted by government on matters relating to construction, engineering and sustainability. It is represented on major bodies and organisations which govern construction and engineering occupations in the UK, Europe and worldwide.
CIBSE members, who currently number more than 20,000, belong to a global network of professional support and expertise. They receive the monthly CIBSE Journal and regular email newsletters, to keep them abreast of latest developments and new opportunities.
A full programme of meetings and events each year offers hundreds of opportunities for members to meet and learn from colleagues and experts, to explore new ideas and take part in continuing professional development (CPD).
Student and Graduate members can also benefit from bursaries to help pay tuition fees, and advice which is tailored to their specific needs, aimed at obtaining professional registered status in the shortest possible time.