Smarter buildings management urged in response to extreme UK heat
Industry body representing building control experts argues that heatwaves experienced over the summer have highlighted the growing value of better building management.
Record breaking UK temperatures this summer have highlighted the need for smarter building management to address overheating risks in office buildings, says the BCIA.
Graeme Rees, president of the building controls trade group, says that the 40 deg C temperatures experienced in parts of the country over 2022 has put a spotlight on the importance of improving the adaptability of commercial buildings for mitigating extreme weather.
Mr Rees argued that new strategies and tools to control important building functions efficiently were needed in response to a range of challenges such as extreme weather and changing work patterns as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mr Rees also linked concerns around effectively managing building temperatures to issues raised during the initial pandemic lockdowns about the significance of building performance and efficiency.
He added: “With many commercial buildings suddenly left unoccupied we were provided with a real insight into how unprepared many businesses were in terms of managing their premises efficiently.”
“It was also a wake-up call for many organisations realising just how far behind they were in their environmental credentials and commitments to sustainability.”
Demands for improved efficiency when managing building performance and temperatures was identified by the BCIA as being not just an economic necessity for companies, but also a moral and health issue.
The growing realisation of these different benefits had meant that events such as this year’s Smart Buildings Show – taking place in London from 18 to 19 October – will look at the role of effective controls to meet corporate environmental, social governance (ESG) requirements, the BCIA said.
Mr Rees said that the benefits of correctly designed, installed and maintained systems could be clearly be shown to Board members as having a direct impact on reducing carbon emissions and energy costs.