CIBSE’s Building Performance Awards returned to a new venue in London last month to celebrate the cream of the building services industry with prizes for the best projects, innovations and processes
Author: Alex Smith
Live and kicking
CIBSE is planning an extensive schedule of events for 2022 – both in-person and online. Simon Parker focuses on some of the highlights and reveals plans for the industry’s first Building Services Week this autumn
Digging for Britain: Swaffham Prior’s heat network
Escalating energy prices and the urgent need to decarbonise means communities are looking to move away from fossil fuel as a heating source. A pioneering heat network in the Cambridgeshire village of Swaffham Prior is aiming to use a hybrid heat pump system, coupled with a solar farm, to provide ultra-low carbon, affordable heating for every resident, business and school.
Andy Pearson reports
Max Fordham 1933-2022
Building service’s most influential engineer took an integrated approach to design based on first principles that focused on occupant comfort and optimal building performance
Turning to CO2 refrigerant in large-scale retrofits
Using CO2 as a refrigerant in heat pumps is ideal for retrofits requiring higher-temperature heat. Daniel Clark, of Isentra, reports on the refurbishment of Wolfson College, which is using heat pumps for district heating and DHW
Next generation: Arup’s net zero office at 80 Charlotte Street
Arup’s all-electric office at 80 Charlotte Street London is developer Derwent London’s first net zero office scheme. Andy Pearson examines the heat and cooling strategy that combines heat pumps and chillers, and looks at how Covid affected the design and delivery of the project
Hays 2022 Salary Survey: holding all the cards
With salaries rising and plenty of jobs available, building services engineers are seeking good pay and a healthy work-life balance in 2022. David Blackman analyses the Hays Salary Survey and asks industry leaders how they attract the best talent
Cost model: Heating and cooling systems in industrial business parks
In the push to decarbonise, consultants are considering heat pumps and ambient loops to heat and cool business parks. Aecom’s Hannah Reynolds and Max Rattenbury examine the costs for an electric office and fulfilment centre just outside London
A full-scale test
The Grenfell Tower tragedy has prompted discussion about the practicality and usefulness of full-scale fire tests of building products and assemblies. Hywel Davies considers the testing of building services systems
Jo Harris: Why competency will be at core of Guide M update
With strict new rules governing building safety, facility managers will need to ensure they are competent to fulfil key new roles. Jo Harris previews the newly updated ‘maintenance bible’ Guide M