Category: Technical

Research on indoor air quality for homeworkers

Millions of people now work from home because of Covid-19 restrictions, but are they working in a healthy environment? Researchers have assessed the impact on indoor air quality in eight homes. Anastasia Mylona reports

The ambient lighting manifesto

Leading lighting academics Peter Boyce, Kit Cuttle, Kevin Kelly and Peter Raynham are calling for a fundamental change to lighting practice

One vision: integrating intelligent HVAC

Integrating intelligent HVAC controls could resolve systems conflicts and give facilities managers a powerful online tool to manage their portfolios. Aecom’s Mary-Ann Clarke MCIBSE reports from a CIBSE HVAC Group webinar on implementing smart HVAC systems

Water quality: Locked-down buildings’ ticking time bomb

Water-quality tests reveal deteriorating water conditions in commercial buildings under lockdown. Guardian Water Treatment’s Tom O’ Sullivan says action is needed in underused facilities to avoid HVAC breakdowns and the risk of legionella

Best practice HVAC controls: ASHRAE Guideline 36

Building controls systems are complex and can be a major obstacle to good performance if they are not specified and commissioned properly. Building Intelligence Group’s Paul Ehrlich says new tools and standards are helping to digitise the design process and streamline verification

Leading light: ensuring effective use of UV technology in buildings

October 2020

Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation has been used for many years to mitigate the spread of measles and tuberculosis. It can effectively inactivate the Covid-19 virus too, but a lack of guidelines makes modelling the equipment a complex task. Liza Young reports