A revision to the BCO guide to fit-out comes after changes to office use in a post-pandemic world. The ramifications for future office design are summarised in the new Future of UK office densities report
Category: Technical
Monitoring the situation: cost effective remote water quality testing
By monitoring water quality remotely, expensive remedial works can be avoided. FairHeat’s Peter Horne looks at the costs of keeping a close eye on district heating systems
Sponsored roundtable: cooling for life
Decarbonising cooling involves passive design measures, efficient cooling and a robust approach to refrigeration leakage, according to members of a CIBSE Journal roundtable on whole life cooling, sponsored by Daikin
Life enhancing: improving IAQ with smart systems
Exposure to indoor particulate pollution can significantly affect health over a lifetime. Research by Dr Elizabeth Cooper and Dr Yan Wang suggests that the smart integration of automated windows and home air purifiers could improve average life expectancy by six months
Bundles of energy: the platform approach to decarbonising schools
The Department for Education is exploring how it can apply platform construction principles to create an innovative retrofit solution that can decarbonise schools and colleges, and facilities in other sectors. Andy Pearson reports on the energy pod concept
Sensible cooling: avoiding overcooling in buildings
When spaces are cooled to uncomfortable temperatures, negative impacts are seen on people’s health and the environment. Tim Dwyer looks at a new paper that attempts to measure the extent of the issue
The value chain: blockchain in the built environment
Blockchain is fuelling the digitisation of the built environment by providing a secure method of data exchange. IN2 Engineering’s Samreet Singh explores how it could revolutionise the use of BIM, energy microgrids and the circular economy
Keeping it clean: award-winning UV-C lighting
The germicidal effects of UV light were discovered in 1877. Now, in the shadow of Covid-19, an application of UV-C is winning plaudits and a CIBSE Building Performance Award. Phil Lattimore reports
Lessons from Nabers: how advanced modelling is transforming services design
Key to attaining a Nabers operational rating for a commercial building is the creation of a dynamic energy simulation model that closely predicts actual operational performance. Alex Smith looks at how Hoare Lea modelled Timber Square to achieve the UK’s first design target rating
Facing up to embodied carbon in façades
Façades account for up to 30% of a building’s embodied carbon, which is why the Centre for Window and Cladding Technology is working to produce a new methodology to bring consistency to life-cycle assessments. Buro Happold’s Teni Ladipo reports