Temperature and air quality in classrooms are known to affect learning, but new schools are often built on tight budgets and with low carbon ambitions. Post-occupancy evaluation is adding to the evidence for local hybrid ventilation systems, says BAM Construct UK’s Paula Morgenstern
Category: Technical
Innovative ventilation at the Simon Sainsbury Centre
Arup’s innovative ventilation strategy not only preserved the aesthetic of the Simon Sainsbury Centre in Cambridge, but also exploited the building’s thermal mass. Arup’s Joshua Bird explains
Technical due diligence in commercial property
Robust technical advice given by an M&E engineer can benefit property landlords, investors and occupants – so, asks Tuffin Ferraby Taylor’s Marc Hill, why do so few consultants offer expert transactional services?
Using CFD to predict flows in chilled beams
Computational Fluid Dynamics can be used to gauge flow predictions for chilled beams, according to Abdullah Karimi’s paper presented at the ASHRAE 2018 Winter Conference. Tim Dwyer reports
How to achieve nearly zero carbon emissions with evaporative cooling
In many climates, comfort cooling with zero carbon emissions can be achieved through a combination of evaporative cooling, renewables and a more relaxed dress code in the summer, says John Hammond
Thermal labyrinth offers comfort at Canadian hospital
A new emergency department at a Canadian hospital enabled designers to use a basement void to install a thermal labyrinth and find their way to healthy energy savings. Tim Dwyer reports
Biomass boilerhouse blues – and how to avoid them
Integrating biomass boilers with fossil-fuelled ones creates issues for systems design. In his second article, David Palmer outlines the mathematical modelling needed to inform design decisions
Chain reaction – blockchain in construction
Blockchain could disrupt the construction sector. CIBSE’s Carl Collins explains how the technology can be used to bring the design and delivery teams together
Intelligent load control using circuit breakers
A power-management function built into a circuit breaker can help building operators avoid penalty charges for exceeding the peak consumption agreed in energy contracts, says ABB’s Atif Saleri
Understanding why biomass boilers fail
Successful design of biomass boilers requires a systems approach, says David Palmer, who considers how factors such as oversizing, lack of thermal stores and poor flue-system design can cause boilers to underperform