Government proposals to improve building safety call for a golden thread of information to be passed between accountable people at every stage. Alex Smith looks at how industry is responding to the challenge of recording and retaining robust and reliable information
Author: Alex Lamb
Life safety support: CIBSE Guide E: Fire Safety Engineering
Grenfell put fire safety in building design under greater scrutiny. Martin Kealy introduces the new CIBSE guide to fire safety engineering, which – in its fourth edition – has been updated to take account of the findings from Grenfell Tower and other fires
In plane sight: ultra-high-resolution thermal imaging
Ultra-high-resolution thermal imaging technology is giving researchers much more detail on how cities are affected by high temperatures. James Richards explains how a land-temperature sensing project, led by King’s College London, could help assess urban overheating risk and model ventilation strategies
Get smart: ensuring resilient power supply
ABB’s Russell Wood answers questions on how engineers can ensure resilience in smarter cities
An engineer first – interview with new CIBSE President Lynne Jack
The new President of CIBSE, Professor Lynne Jack, is the first woman to hold the position. Here, she tells Alex Smith that the notion of women reaching senior positions in building services now needs to be considered the norm
Prime example – How industry can promote diversity in engineering
After the inauguration of the first female CIBSE President, Liza Young finds out why inclusivity and female role models benefit engineering organisations and looks at what industry is doing to boost diversity
Fossil futures?
Headlines have focused on Extinction Rebellion protests, teenage activist Greta Thunberg and the UK’s drive to be zero carbon by 2050, but the growing global fossil-fuel market underlines the scale of the challenge, says Hywel Davies
Leaner machines – using data analytics to reduce oversizing in building systems
Data-driven design can reduce energy consumption by reducing the oversizing of plant. Ramboll’s Andrew Henderson shares building performance data that suggests 30% of heating and cooling plant capacity will never be required
Climate action: what CIBSE is doing
The Institution has started mapping its activities around climate change, to allow members and others to understand and access the work being done. Julie Godefroy breaks down the main areas of action
On the right track: services retrofit saves TfL’s Palestra £400,000
Like most large offices, TfL’s Palestra building is complex. To realise its true potential, it underwent significant interventions resulting in £400,000 of energy savings. Andy Pearson explains how an energy performance contract made the building 6% better than good practice