likely to be in a given floor space area at a particular
point in time. This is measured by ‘occupancy density’
calculations.
New research
Between May and August 2008, the BCO
commissioned research by Pringle Brandon into the
current occupancy density of commercial offices in the
UK. The study covered 249 UK properties comprising
more than two million sq m of net internal office
area (NIA). The results from the study showed that
over 75 per cent of the sampled properties have an
occupancy density of between eight sq m and 13 sq m
per workspace NIA.
This shows a higher density than the 12 to 17 sq m
range used in the past two editions of the guide. This
range arose from research conducted for BCO in the
1990s.
In other words, the comparative workspace density
figures clearly indicate an increase in density of use
Grundy
(desk space for a given area) and intensification of use
(the amount of time a desk is in use over a given period
Securities/Paul
of time). The former has been a result of a shift away
Land
from prescribed space standards in the public sector
and the change from predominately cellular offices to New Street Square, London.
open-plan desk space.
The guide Helping to set
The new BCO guide seeks
The move from hierarchical to flat organisational to reflect recent and current
the client’s brief
structures, and from transactional and individual working trends in office development
to knowledge-based interactive and team working styles, The BCO guide has been
have underpinned this. Rising space costs have also been adopted by professionals as
a factor, as has technology – more computer-based work the definition of an industry
and less paper allows for smaller work spaces. standard for office design –
from the performance of the
Effective density envelope to the strength of
It is important to note that the consideration of the structure, from service
workplace density alone as the basis for design may provision to space comfort,
overstate the demands placed on building services and from floor plate efficiency
systems and result in over-provision of these. Effective to floor space effectiveness.
density, expressed as NIA per person, is a better guide Many of the parameters included in the guide
to the actual demands on building infrastructure. relate to building services design and the indoor
This is analogous to the use of diversity in the environment. The guide is not a substitute for the
design of building services systems. The new guide detailed advice and information contained within
uses both workplace density and effective density to CIBSE publications, but it does identify the key
define occupancy-related design parameters. Services parameters that impact upon value and effectively
such as air conditioning terminal loads, small power
Fundamental
‘set the client’s brief’.
requirements and outdoor air allowances need to be The 2005 edition of the guide, for the first time,
considered in relation to workplace density. Services
to ensuring
included a series of papers from leading industry
related to actual diversified occupancy across a floor appropriate thinkers on the subjects of sustainability, cost
plate area, such as lift performance, main plant loads and
levels of
and value, business performance and mixed
toilet provision, should be based on effective density. use, and how these would impact on the future
When actual workplace densities of the intended
specification
design of offices at that time. Since then, there
user of the space are not known – as in the case of is identifying has been huge change in the industry, with
speculative developments – the guide offers best
the number of
the growing importance of the climate change
practice advice to ensure an adequate level of provision agenda, environmental legislation, changing
is made to suit most potential occupier uses.
people likely to
planning requirements, economic gyrations and
be in a given intensification of use. The new guide seeks to take
Small power
floor space area
these issues on board.
BCO commissioned building services research The BCO Guide to Specification 2009 is available
body BSRIA to carry out an investigation into the
at a particular
at www.BCO.org.uk or ring 020 7283 0125.
small power use profile in 16 office buildings across > point in time.
www.cibsejournal.com June 2009 CIBSE Journal 37
CIBSEjun09 pp36-38 offices.indd 37 28/5/09 15:48:44
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72