Looking back over the past five years, would we have anticipated the significant changes and challenges that our industry is now facing? The introduction of the Building Safety Act, the imminent launch of the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard (NZCBS), and the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution are just a few of them.
CIBSE needs to think about the resources and knowledge members need to address these challenges. These are the technical areas I believe we should focus on in the next five years.
Building Safety Act
The publication of the Phase 2 Grenfell Inquiry report, and the recent fire at a block of flats in Dagenham, have again brought fire safety into the spotlight.
The introduction of the Building Safety Act is a significant step forward, but we must continue to prioritise fire safety – not just in new buildings, but also in the refurbishment of existing ones – to prevent future tragedies. The CIBSE Fire Safety Working Group, led by David Fitzpatrick, will identify the next steps for CIBSE in providing technical support and guidance to our members and the wider industry, to comply with the act and deliver safe buildings.
Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard
The NZCBS, due to be launched in autumn, brings together net zero carbon requirements for major building types, based on a 1.5°C global temperature change trajectory. The standard will enable industry to prove that its built assets are net zero and in line with our nation’s climate targets.
Based on measured data, the standard, of which CIBSE is a founding member, will set out metrics by which net zero carbon performance will be evaluated, as well as performance targets – or limits – including for energy use, upfront embodied carbon, and life-cycle embodied carbon. It will cover carbon accounting, procuring renewable energy, and the treatment of residual emissions. (www.nzcbuildings.co.uk)
CIBSE will remain at the forefront of providing technical guidance and training towards meeting the standard and supporting its implementation.
Intelligent buildings
Smart controls and building management systems are widely used in buildings, but we still don’t fully understand how to integrate them, how to learn from the data, and the cybersecurity implications. AI in building design and operation, and human and AI integration, are concepts with which our industry is starting to get familiar.
A new generation of engineers with expertise outside of traditional M&E skills will be needed to bring new ways of thinking, integrate technologies and learn from data. CIBSE’s Society of Digital Engineering and Intelligent Buildings Group are leading the Institution’s response to these advances.
Retrofit
We still have substantial existing building stock that is underperforming and exposed to risks. CIBSE recently published the results of the Retrofit Revisit 2024 research (bit.ly/CJRR24), which presented lessons learned in the refurbishment of existing homes. We anticipate retrofit to stay relevant for many years to come.
Areas of focus for CIBSE will include retrofit strategies that prioritise health, wellbeing and safety, energy security, resilience to a changing climate, and flexibility of use.
Decarbonisation of heating and cooling
Decarbonising UK building stock will be essential for meeting our net zero targets. The policy focus is currently on decarbonisation of heat, with incentives to promote technologies such as heat pumps and heat networks.
CIBSE has responded with guidance, including CP1, AM16 and AM17, and is working with the Domestic Building Services Panel and key industry partners to provide guidance on the design and installation of heat pumps in single family homes. The carbon implications of such technologies will need to be taken into account. The potential increase in the uptake of cooling, particularly in homes, will threaten our net zero targets.
CIBSE is due to launch new weather files to assist in assessing overheating risk. It is also promoting sustainable cooling strategies and supporting Part O. We will work with partners in hot regions to inform our knowledge of sustainable cooling strategies that could be adapted for the UK.
References:
- Research into overheating in new homes report, 2019, MHCLG
About the author
Anastasia Mylona is the technical director at CIBSE