The risk of death and illness because of exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace can be cut by following the best practice guidance in ILEVE and BESA’s new TR40 publication. Alex Smith summarises the guidance aimed at the safe design and installation of local exhaust ventilation
Author: Alex Smith
Measuring overheating
To minimise overheating in homes it is important to produce accurate models to understand where risks might lie. To test the accuracy of modellers’ predictions, researchers – led by Ben Roberts – compared four models with real-life temperatures in two homes
Calculating Covid-19 risk according to activity and indoor space
A group of UK researchers has attempted to quantify the transmission risk of airborne Covid-19 infection according to activity and type of indoor space. Chris Iddon describes the methodology and how the risk of infection falls as ventilation rates are increased
Agar Grove: measuring the performance of a Passivhaus winner
The success of Agar Grove at the CIBSE Building Performance Awards was in part due to the focus on controlling overheating and minimising plant heat losses. Andy Pearson finds out how the Passivhaus approach helped tackle fuel poverty
Safe return: making school air conditioning Covid-secure
As children across the UK return to the classroom, schools have had to devise Covid-secure services strategies to safeguard pupils and staff. Chris Baker details the plan for safe air conditioning at Parrs Wood High School
Homes for the future?
The UK has had a housing shortage for some time. Hywel Davies looks at proposals to increase provision and possible unintended consequences
How thermal storage will free up roofspace at Millennium Bridge House
By using thermal storage in buildings with cooling and heating requirements, designers can cut energy use, reduce HVAC plant and potentially free up space for rooftop gardens. Joshua Martoo reports
Rethinking buildings to make them net positive
The net zero challenge focuses on cutting energy and carbon, but buildings could have a positive impact on the environment, says Aecom’s Dave Cheshire
Taking the heat out of the ICT classroom
Increased use of computing in schools is causing a rise in cooling loads that can results in air conditioning being in conflict with heating. Science teacher Chris Baker looks at four methods of reducing cooling requirements at Parrs Wood High School
Streetwise: How a pair of terrace homes reduce energy use using smart technology
Passivhaus standards of energy efficiency were delivered in two Cardiff homes by installing a sensor network that monitored room occupancy, temperature and air quality. Atamate’s David Miles, Dan Cash and Kat Kelly explain
