INDUSTRY COMMENT
The pathway to
Updated Aegean Fan Coil Unit for heating and cooling comfort
Newly updated Aegean fan coil unit exceeds current and future market requirements
Stacey Lucas, President of the BCIA responds to the Future
W
ith the government aiming to achieve Net Zero by 2050, including reducing carbon emissions of new homes and non- domestic buildings, it is regularly updating its existing policies or bringing in new energy efficiency regulations. One such regulation change is the Future Buildings Standard. This policy responds to Part L and Part F of the Building Regulations and
provides a pathway to highly efficient non-domestic buildings that are zero carbon ready.
As you would expect, such significant changes to policy often require statutory consultation. Indeed, the Future Buildings Standard consultation period closed recently, on Wednesday 27th March 2024. As a leading organisation in the sector and an advocate of the use of controls as key to the operational efficiency of buildings, the BCIA submitted its response and made some important, yet achievable, suggestions. The Part L regulations that look at the conservation of fuel and power in buildings other than dwellings are one of the biggest factors affecting the Future Buildings Standard. To that end, the BCIA has suggested that guidance for the installation of Building Automation and Control Systems (BACS) based on heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) output should be changed to a mandatory requirement for HVAC systems above 180kW to decrease to 70kW between 2025 and 2030.
Doing so will encourage compliance with carbon and energy efficiency standards and the creation of a mandatory requirement will accelerate the uptake of BACS, leading to a reduction in energy usage and carbon emissions. In fact, a requirement to install Class A BACS in commercial and public buildings with an HVAC output over 180kW could save a total of £16.9bn in energy bills. With around 80% of current UK buildings still likely to exist in 2050, the retrofit market is essential in ensuring net zero targets are achieved. The BCIA strongly believes in updating Building Regulations with a regulatory timeframe for the mandatory installation of Class A BACS in new and existing buildings, including a clear end date. Unmaintained controls can often miss opportunities to enhance energy efficiency and carbon emission savings. With this in mind, the BCIA suggested the introduction of a minimum standard of scheduled maintenance for BACS. Additionally, with buildings using electric technologies for heat and transport often increasing the demands on the National Grid, integrated smart controls should be implemented where possible. Scoring for automatic demand control or networked room automation was also recommended, due to smart controls being able to deliver automated optimisation through a series of functions, such as equipment maintenance, energy storage, demand response, consumption prediction and facilities management. It’s important that occupancy demand-based controls for heating, cooling and hot water parameters are also considered given that hot water and heating accounts for a significant amount of energy consumption. In fact, occupancy-based controls can often result in lower energy use and a reduction in user energy bills. With primarily time and set point controls within the modelling guide and technical manual, this can impede progress to decarbonising new non-domestic buildings. This is due to technology and scoring not currently being aligned with a Class A level of controls, which have a significant carbon and energy saving potential. The BCIA would therefore seek clarification on how these technologies and functions represented in the Building Regulations, from 6.83 to 6.84, are represented in Simplified Building Energy Model (SBEM). As an organisation that understands the importance of innovation and the need for more sustainable buildings, the BCIA believes in championing best practice and recognising where others are taking significant steps towards Net Zero. An annual event, the BCIA Awards recognises innovation, product development, project delivery and training in the building controls sector.
This year’s event takes place on Thursday 2nd May at The Eastside Rooms in Birmingham. Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER MAY 2024 7 - Independently certified by BSRIA and SRL
- 5-row coils ensuring suitability for very low LPHW temperatures
- Free 2-year parts and labour guarantee - Suitable for traditional and renewable heat sources
- Designed and manufactured in the UK for short lead times
01245 324900 |
sales@smithsep.co.uk SmithsEP.co.uk | @SmithsEP_UK | #ThinkSmiths
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