CIBSE’s current Building Performance Engineer of the Year, Mike Burton, wants to ensure everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their potential as a building services engineer, whatever their background. By Alex Smith
Author: mollytooherrudd
Framing finesse: Paddington Square’s innovative façade
The façade at Paddington Square in West London is anything but straightforward. Mace’s Ovi Mazareanu, and WSP’s Michele Sauchelli and Serena Gugliotta, describe how the client’s demand for energy efficiency and performance led to the design team taking a collaborative and innovative approach
Step change: designing stairs for fire safety in high-rise buildings
A government consultation calling for two staircases in high-risk residential buildings of more than 30m has raised questions about how this and the amended BS 9991:2021 will impact fire safety design and developments.
Phil Lattimore reports
London calling: why CIBSE is planning to relocate to central London
CIBSE has announced it is seeking to leave Balham and buy a new head office in central London. Alex Smith finds out how the Institution intends to harness Members’ skills and experience to create an exemplar retrofit that will inspire others on the path to net zero
Case study: targeting UK’s highest Nabers rating in Pimlico
The Belgrave Road office development in London is the first to receive a Nabers UK 5.5 target rating for its carefully considered design. Andy Pearson finds out how the rating scheme’s independent design review process drove down operational energy use on the hybrid ambient loop/variable refrigerant flow scheme
Net zero: lessons from practice
A deep-dive study on net zero carbon by architect AHMM is being put into practice at an ambitious mixed-use project featuring two towers in London. AHMM’s Dr Craig Robertson and Dr Simon Hatherley share lessons learned
Lethal presence: the scourge of asbestos
Asbestos was a common insulation material in building services until the 1970s, and is an acute risk for those involved in the demolition or refurbishment of plantrooms. Robert Dwyer works with Mesothelioma UK to raise awareness of its dangers in the building services industry
Need to know
Since Dame Judith Hackitt first called for higher-risk buildings to have a ‘golden thread’ of information, industry has wanted to know what this will need to include. New regulations tell us more, says Hywel Davies
Countdown to zero: Build2Perform Live highlights
Decarbonisation and building safety dominated the debates at CIBSE’s Build2Perform Live in London. Alex Smith and Molly Tooher-Rudd find out how CIBSE and the wider industry are rising to the twin challenges
Alison Crompton: breaking down the barriers to zero carbon homes
The recent Building for 2050 report identifies key steps that need to be taken to overcome the challenges of developing low carbon homes. Co-author Alison Crompton answers questions about its findings