Guidance on energy and ventilation regulations must be more integrated, say researchers, after their study of UK airtightness tests showed air permeability is often too high for MVHR systems to work optimally. Alex Smith reports
Category: Technical
Climb every mountain: BIM from design to operation at Schneider Electric’s Grenoble campus
Can a single BIM model be used from design to operation? Schneider Electric was keen to find out if true BIM was achievable at two flagship new buildings in Grenoble. The company’s Bertrand Lack describes the not inconsiderable challenges to Andrew Pearson
SAP 10: Other factors to consider
Lower carbon factors for grid electricity, in draft SAP 10, will profoundly affect how designers provide heat and power to buildings. Remeha’s general manager, Mike Hefford, puts the case for monthly intensity calculations
Planning effective pipework
The design of a pipework system can have a significant effect on the user experience and even safety of building occupants. Scott James, director at Viega, discusses the factors that building service engineers and consultants need to consider
Playing to the gallery – V&A Dundee’s low carbon strategy
With its bold geometric design in danger of upstaging the exhibits inside, V&A Dundee has been making waves far beyond the museum world. Phil Lattimore looks at how the showstopping design influenced Arup’s low carbon strategy and choice of the renewable energy source
The next phase: heat pumps and PCM
An InnovateUK research project is looking to combine phase change materials with a smart heat pump system to cut energy use, reduce overheating and control humidity in homes. PCM Products’ Sam Gledhill explains how the system works
Taking charge: gas sensors in battery rooms
A build-up of hydrogen in battery stores or charging rooms will create an extremely flammable atmosphere, so detection systems should be competently installed and commissioned, says Medem’s Chris Dearden
Customised BPE on a different level – developing building performance evaluation in India
Tim Dwyer digests research, led by Rajat Gupta, that investigates the opportunity to develop – and nurture adoption of – building performance evaluation that is of practical use in the booming ‘green’ building marketplace of India
Refrigerant choice
Despite the F-Gas phasedown that is taking place over the next 12 years, there is still a wide range of refrigerants available. Martin Passingham, product manager for DX at Daikin UK looks at the current landscape and the factors that inform the selection of refrigerants
The pressing issue of pipe selection
Developments in multilayer pipe means that it is now increasingly used for applications such as heating systems and drinking water pipework. Here, Scott James, Director at Viega discusses the growth in popularity of multilayer pipe and what engineers need to consider when selecting a system.