BSEE OCTOBER 2011 TM
The British Standards Institution (BSI) has launched a new standard to help manufacturers demonstrate best practice regarding the sustainability of their products. BS 8905:2011, Framework for the
BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER The authoritative voice of the industry
New standard demonstrates sustainability INSIDE THIS MONTH:
assessment of the sustainable use of materials encourages manufacturers to give due consideration to environmental, social and economic impacts when assessing potential use of materials in their products. Products with increased sustainability can be defined as those that generate greater positive or lower negative social, environmental and economic impacts along the value chain from producer to end user than conventional products.
Growing pressure
Historically manufacturers have based choice of materials on cost and performance, however with growing pressure to demonstrate social, economic and environmental compliance BS 8905 helps companies perform a full sustainability assessment on their potential material choices. For example a manufacturer in the automotive industry may use BS 8905 to help select materials to comply with the End of Life Vehicles (ELVs) Directive, the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive, and the Registration,
Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulations. The standard also takes into consideration the opinions of wider stakeholders to the supply chain, not just the manufacturers. For example, in many cases wider stakeholders will include consumers, meaning this group now have the opportunity to influence the materials that go into the products they buy and use by taking part in the stakeholder consultation.
Make the choice
“Companies need to be able to determine that the choices they make are the most sustainable possible, and BS 8905 is one of the tools that can enable them to do so when selecting materials for their products,” says Dan Palmer, Head of Market Development, Manufacturing and Services at BSI.
“This demonstrates once again that standardisation, and BSI, can work in partnership with organisations and consumers alike to develop a tool that can give enormous benefits to industry, society and the environment.”
Fighting fire Page 28
In 2005 fire fighter, Jeff Wornham died having become
entangled in cables in the lobby of a
fourteenth floor flat in Stevenage. Six years later, Richard Shaw of Ellis Patents says there is still a chance a similar tragedy could occur.
Making light work of water
Page 31
Iain REA launches biomass campaign
The Renewable Energy Association has launched a new campaign urging Government to ‘Back Biomass’ heat and power in its proposals on the incentives regime for renewable energy. Sustainable biomass offers a proven,
practical, secure source of low carbon energy as part of a balanced energy mix. The Back Biomass campaign aims to deliver the clear message to Government that it must not let the opportunity to reap the benefits of this flexible and affordable technology slip away as they fix the details and levels of future support for planned projects over the coming months.
Support levels
The Government has committed to making decisions on the Renewables Obligation
(RO) by the end of 2011, to set support levels applicable to renewable electricity generation and combined heat and power from 2013 to 2017. To ensure confidence is maintained and projects proceed, the biomass sector is calling on Government to ensure that decisions taken not only provide sufficient levels of support to leverage the huge sums of private investment required, but are taken on time. Until industry and investors receive clarity, many projects hang in the balance. Rigorous new Government sustainability
criteria will require generators to demonstrate at least a 60% reduction in Green House Gases in order to be eligible for financial support. Industry welcomes this measure, which will drive up standards in the sustainability and conservation of
forestry, helping to ensure that biomass is cleaner and more sustainable than it has ever been.
Raise awareness
The campaign aims to raise awareness of biomass as a practical, sustainable, renewable part of the UK energy mix. Gaynor Hartnell, Chief Executive of the REA, said about the campaign: “It is highly significant that the Government has just increased its ambition for power generation from biomass. There are a number of large projects in development that would produce very cost-effective renewable electricity and can deliver steady baseload power. Their contribution towards our legally-binding renewables target is essential.”
Stringer of Bristan explains why, when specifying taps and showers for commercial premises, there are many decisions to make to ensure full consideration is taken for access, design, functionality and maintenance.
An opportunity too good to miss
Page 36
Stephen Takhar of Vacon UK talks about a straightforward and cost- effective way for businesses to make big energy savings
and reductions in their carbon footprint.
l FOR THE LATEST IN RECRUITMENT SEE PAGES 41-43 l
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