The first day of the CIBSE Build2Perform event at London’s Olympia has proven a success with the number of visitors exceeding the total number of delegates over the entire conference last year
The Build2Perform event offers some 130 speakers leading five simultaneous seminar streams, combined with volunteer presentations, special interest group meetings and exhibitor stands for specialist suppliers, Build2Perform is covering a lot of ground.
Many sessions focused on finding the ideal combination of natural phenomena and engineered solutions.
The lighting session considered the effects of natural circadian rhythms on people’s health and how well designed artificial lighting can complement this natural system. The session also outlined how ill-considered building design – tinted windows keeping out too much UV light or a landlord insisting on the use of roller blends – can have a significant impact on the wellbeing of occupants and their satisfaction with their working environment.
Natural ventilation was also discussed in a session that considered the vexed issues around assessing the effectiveness of natural ventilation systems and accurately modelling the impact of designed systems.
In an energetic session from the National Trust, the impact of unintended consequences was discussed as the challenge of improving energy efficiency and the sustainable performance of historic buildings stuffed with artefacts was considered.
Detailed modelling to provide comprehensive predictions was ruled out due to the idiosyncratic nature of the historic buildings.
A constant buzz in the conference hall throughout the day pointed towards animated conversation around the formal seminar sessions. Highlights on day two include the most popular single session – on the topic of building simulation. Led by CIBSE Building Simulation Group Vice Chair Professor Darren Woolf of Hoare Lea and Loughborough University the panel will give their overview of this most critical and contentious aspect of building services engineering.
The design of homes for the 21st century is an equally topical issue and a day of discussion on the subject will focus on good practice in the design of new homes, the challenge of retrofit and refurbishment and a consideration of the particular issues around modular and prefabricated house designs.
Alongside a full schedule of talks, CIBSE also launched its Green Infrastructure challenge, looking for inventive proposals to maximise the use of biodiversity in urban environments. Now in its third year, the challenge produces thought-provoking solutions and the results of this year’s programme will be announced at Ecobuild in 2018.
To round off the activity for the day, CIBSE also announced the shortlist for the 2018 Building Performance Awards. Now in their eleventh year these hotly contested awards are the only ones to focus on actual measured performance of buildings rather than design intent or performance specifications. The final result of this year’s competition is set to be announced in February.
