CIBSE President, Adrian Catchpole, highlighted the role CIBSE guidance and knowledge play in helping members lead on delivering better building performance at the ASHRAE Conference in Galway.
Addressing the conference, Catchpole drew on his Presidential Address, Taking a Lead, to emphasise the need for a robust route to net zero, driven by industry and leadership. This linked to the conference
title Achieving net zero’, which referred to the summer wildfires across Europe as evidence that climate action is required.
He referenced the update to Part L of the Building Regulations – committing to carbon emissions reduction of 27-31%, with further amendments promised in 2025 – as well as changes to EPC requirements as having a positive change. He said he was also encouraged by the new Part O for Overheating, which CIBSE has been calling for.
Building services engineers are finally being recognised for the vital role they play in influencing the shape and form of buildings for the better
‘Building services engineers are finally being recognised for the vital role they play in influencing the shape and form of buildings for the better,’ he said.
He highlighted how CIBSE is leading the call for embodied carbon to be addressed in the Building Regulations. To be truly carbon neutral, he said, the carbon created in the manufacturing process of the materials used to construct the buildings must also be considered. For this reason, CIBSE guidance,
such as TM65: Embodied carbon in building services, and CIBSE’s role in the developing the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard are so important.
Other publications, such as Guide M, launching in September, also demonstrate the importance of CIBSE’s role in bringing knowledge and guidance forward, enabling CIBSE members to further lead on delivering better building performance.
Adrian Catchpole attended the ASHRAE Conference in August, together with CIBSE CEO Ruth Carter.
For details of the Guide M launch visit: www.cibse.org/what-s-on/search-events/cibse-guide-m-launch