Fairfield Halls theatre in Croydon is a prime example of 1960s public architecture, so when Max Fordham was asked to devise a services strategy during a major refurbishment, it had to stay faithful to the original while maintaining 21st-century comfort and efficiency. Andy Pearson reports
Author: Alex Smith
Planning sticking points
More environmental rigour is needed to support the government’s rhetoric on deregulating planning while ensuring standards, says Julie Godefroy
Young Engineer Awards: Meet the 2020 finalists
Alan Sugar’s show may have been cancelled this autumn because of Covid-19, but CIBSE’s first Apprentice of the Year competition is taking place as part of the virtual Young Engineer Awards. We introduce the nine finalists, plus the candidates for Graduate of the Year
Tall order: fire safety guidance for façades
Following the ban on the use of combustible materials in some building façades, two industry bodies have come together to produce guidance on these legislative changes. Liza Young looks at the wider implications of the new regulations
Safety with numbers: using data to make workplaces Covid-secure
Data monitoring can help identify poorly ventilated office spaces at risk from Covid-19, as well as highlight poorly performing HVAC systems during lockdowns, says Carbon Intelligence’s Khasha Mohammadian
Performance pioneers: the developers targeting real outcomes
Eleven office developments will trial the UK version of Australia’s Nabers rating scheme, which grades buildings by actual performance. Andy Pearson speaks to consultants on the Design for Performance initiative about outcome-based designs
Thinking outside of the box: the 2020 CIBSE ASHRAE Technical Symposium
Covid-19 may have moved the 10th CIBSE Technical Symposium from auditorium to desktop, but the expertise and knowledge shared by more than 70 speakers, made it an enriching experience for those who tuned in. Alex Smith, Liza Young and Phil Lattimore report
Slowing the flow: estimating water demand in non-domestic buildings
Overestimating water flow rates means plant is oversized and water is wasted. Heriot-Watt University’s Sarwar Mohammed considers a new method for calculating flow rates accurately in
non-domestic building
Industry urged to have its say on changes to Wiring Regulations
Draft for public comment released for proposed Amendment 2 to BS 7671:2018
Understanding Hepa filters
An appropriately specified Hepa filter can be used in mechanically ventilated spaces and recirculating systems to practically remove small airborne particulates. CIBSE Journal technical editor Tim Dwyer looks at what must be considered when integrating them into HVAC systems
