The risk of overheating in buildings is growing significantly as temperatures rise, but a new survey by CIBSE Journal and Zehnder Group UK shows that mitigating the risk is not always a priority in design even though respondents say it’s a hot issue. David Blackman reports
Category: Technical
Low carbon, high safety: fire engineering and embodied carbon
The embodied carbon impact of fire safety measures is relatively unknown. Arup’s Grete Wilson and Dr Emma McIntyre have created a roadmap to establish how engineers can create low carbon designs without compromising fire safety
Out of site: modular heat pump solutions
With site accommodation contributing significantly to construction projects’ carbon footprints, engineers on a £227m residential scheme at Wembley Park have come up with a modular heat pump solution that cut operation carbon by 14 tonnes in six months, as Solaris Energy’s Daniel Large explains to Andy Pearson
Exploring the non-visual effects of lighting
The 2023 Jean Heap Bursary has helped fund an advanced eye-tracking headset, which is allowing lighting designer and researcher Simone Bonavia to assess how lighting affects people’s non-visual functions
Intelligent Solutions for Safer Water Systems
Continuous monitoring of water quality within HVAC systems plays a vital role in ensuring the long-term health and longevity of building networks
Safe and practical applications: natural refrigerants
The higher flammability of low-GWP refrigerants in heat pumps and air conditioning systems has to be carefully considered by designers and installers. Alex Smith reports
The urban emergency: addressing environmental quality
Designers must take a holistic approach to the urban environment, say members of the UK Urban Environmental Quality working group, who explain how elements such as wind, water and the urban form can be addressed to optimise air quality and thermal comfort
The good, bad and illegal: rules and guidelines for IAQ
How can you tell whether the indoor air quality of buildings is safe for occupants? DustScanAQ’s Oliver Puddle gives a summary of current regulations and guidelines for monitoring air pollutants
Building on performance: CIBSE awards analysis
The quality of data in entries to the CIBSE Building Performance Awards is improving, says Julie Godefroy, who reveals new categories for the 2025 accolades, which are now open for submissions
Sustainable cooling in a warming world
As carbon emissions from cooling spiral upwards, Professor Graeme Maidment reveals the latest research underpinning government strategy on air conditioning and refrigeration