Unlocking a Healthier Tomorrow: The Power of Good Ventilation

November 2, 2023 by Leave a comment

In our quest for healthier and more sustainable living, it’s easy to overlook one vital factor – the air we breathe. A good ventilation strategy forms part of a critical system in ensuring two key components of indoor environmental quality, indoor air quality (IAQ) and thermal comfort are optimised to increase occupant well-being and productivity. We’ve been at the forefront of championing healthy indoor environments, and today, we’ll delve into the importance of ventilation and how BSRIA is leading the way.

The Crucial Role of Ventilation

Ventilation is the process of exchanging indoor air with clean filtered outdoor air to remove stagnant or polluted air from within an enclosed space, creating an environment that supports health, comfort, and productivity. Poor ventilation can lead to a range of issues, including increased health risks, decreased cognitive function, and decreased energy efficiency in buildings.

To understand the significance of ventilation, let’s take a closer look at our Air Quality Hub. Here you’ll find a wealth of resources and expertise to help you appreciate the impact an effective ventilation strategy has on building occupants.

The Air Quality Hub is your go-to destination for in-depth insights on air quality, its impact on our daily lives, and the role ventilation systems play in achieving cleaner, healthier air. This resource is invaluable for anyone who seeks a deeper understanding of indoor air quality and its impact on well-being.

Monitoring Air Quality

Understanding air quality is the first step in improving it. Here at BSRIA, we offer a range of advanced instruments to help you measure and monitor air quality. These instruments are essential for building owners, Facilities Managers, and anyone interested in creating a cleaner, more comfortable built environment. Click here to find out more.

Consultancy on Indoor Air Quality

If you’re seeking expert guidance on how to improve indoor air quality in your building, BSRIA’s consultancy services are here to help. Our team of specialists can assess your current systems, provide recommendations for improvement, and support you in creating an environment that fosters well-being and sustainability.

In conclusion, the air we breathe is a fundamental aspect of our lives, and a good ventilation strategy is key to ensuring its quality. BSRIA’s commitment to cleaner air and a better tomorrow is reflected in our resources, research, and services. By utilising the links above, you can embark on a journey to a healthier and more sustainable future.

Join us in making a positive impact on indoor air quality and building a better world for all.

BSRIA (Building Services Research and Information Association) is a global leader in research and consultancy services for the built environment. With a rich history spanning over six decades, we are committed to advancing sustainability, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality. Our wide range of services, from research and testing to consultancy and instrumentation, empowers clients to create safer, more comfortable, and environmentally responsible spaces.

Trust BSRIA as your partner in building a sustainable future.

T: 0800 254 5700 (UK)
T: +44 (0) 1344 465600
E: bsria@bsria.co.uk

Filed under domestic ventilation, HVAC, Indoor air quality, Mechanical Ventilation Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , ,

Taking action on Climate Change

September 29, 2020 by Leave a comment

by Michelle Agha-Hossein, BSRIA Building Performance Lead

Most nations now recognise climate change as an established, perturbing fact that needs immediate attention. We can see the effects in the worsening and more frequent extremes of weather: flash floods, droughts, strong winds, heavy snow, heat waves, etc.

UK temperatures in 2019 were 1.1°C above the 1961-1990 long-term average and it was a particularly wet year across parts of central and northern England. Still fresh in the memory are storms Ciara and Dennis in February 2020 with strong winds and heavy rain that caused significant damage to homes and commercial buildings. There is growing evidence that periods of intensely strong winds and heavy rain are likely to increase in the future.

The UK is not the only country affected by climate change. Many other countries are (and will be) suffering disproportionately. The world’s leading climate scientists have warned that we might have just 12 years to keep global warming at a maximum of 1.5°C. After this point, the risk of extreme weather conditions will significantly increase. The increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather will affect all but is most likely to bring catastrophic consequences in many less economically developed countries, where food shortages and water scarcity can trigger deep social changes.

Immediate radical action is required to limit carbon emissions, and the built environment industry can play a crucial role by changing the prevailing culture.

Most building-related carbon emissions are generated from energy use in buildings. However, there are choices that building owners/operators can make and initiatives that they can undertake to lessen the related negative impact on the environment:

In brand new buildings, the most effective way for addressing emissions is reducing consumption through energy efficient design. In existing buildings, the issue can be addressed by efficient retrofitting and effective maintenance strategy. Adopting renewable energy technologies in both cases can significantly reduce building emissions.

Steps building owners and operators can take today.

There are several initiatives/activities that can help building owners/operators combat climate change:

  • Consider ‘net-zero carbon’ targets for your building: UKGBC launched its Advancing Net Zero programme in 2018 and published the ‘Net Zero Carbon Buildings: A Framework Definition’ in 2019. The framework provides the construction industry with clarity on the outcomes required for a net zero carbon building.
  • Ensure the required outcomes for a ‘net-zero carbon’ building are achieved: As advised by UKGBC in the framework definition, initiatives like BSRIA Soft Landings should be adopted in new build as well as in refurbishment projects to ensure a net zero carbon building will be achieved. The BSRIA Soft Landings framework provides a platform for project teams to understand the required outcomes for their project and ensure all decisions made during the project are based on meeting those outcomes.
  • Maintain your net zero carbon building effectively: Business-focused maintenance is a methodology developed by BSRIA that can be adopted to help building operators maintain critical assets effectively and efficiently to sustain a net zero carbon building within budget.
  • Investigate failure quickly: Is the energy bill for your building higher than it should be? Investigate the problem as soon as you can. The first and easiest step would be looking at the energy end use breakdown to see which areas are using more energy than expected. If the issue is related to the HVAC system, check the system’s setting points and monitor the indoor air temperature and relative humidity. Thermal imaging of the fabric of the building can also help to identify, thermal bridging, missing/damaged insulation and areas of excessive air leakage.
  • Promote a healthy diet among building occupants: This is a non-technical initiative that building owners/operators can adopt in their buildings. Eating less meat and gradually shifting to more plant-based foods is vital for keeping us and our planet healthy.  It is important to think about initiatives such as using signage or lunchtime talks, to educate building occupants about healthy diets and encourage them to eat more fruit and vegetables. Research has shown that adhering to health guidelines on meat consumption could cut global food-related emissions by nearly a third by 2050. Healthy diet is also supported by Fitwel and the WELL building standard.

Building owners and operators, to play their role in combating climate change, should ensure their decisions and the way they create and run their buildings contribute positively to the wellbeing of our planet and its citizens.

So, make a start today and choose the first thing you are going to assess/change in your building to help combat climate change.

To find out more about how BSRIA can help you improve building performance, visit us here.

Filed under BEMS, best practice, BPE, BSRIA, BSRIA publication, building energy management systems, building failure investigations, Building Performance Evaluation, Carbon, carbon dioxide, Climate Change, Energy, energy consumption, energy management, energy perfomance, energy-efficiency, Environment, environmental, global warming, guidance, low carbon, maintenance, operation and maintenance, Soft Landings, Sustainability, thermal imaging, Thermal Performance, thermography, wellbeing, Zero Carbon Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Testing of Solid Fuel Stoves

November 12, 2013 by 2 Comments

Dr Arnold Teekarem, Head of Combustion at BSRIA

Dr Arnold Teekaram, Head of Combustion at BSRIA

Stoves manufacturers are now CE marking their appliances under The Construction Products Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 (CPR) having successfully completed the CE marking tests at BSRIA on a purpose built facility.  The facility was UKAS assessed this year in accordance with BS EN ISO/IEC 17025 “General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories”  to become an Accredited and Notified Test laboratory for testing Solid Fuel Stoves  The automated test facility which has a unique data acquisition system for recording real time data such as flue gas emissions, 300 trihedron wall and floor temperatures, flue draught and the fuel load enables both the thermal performance and smoke emissions tests to be carried out on free standing stoves designed to burn wood and mineral fuels.

Thermal Performance and Safety tests

In accordance with BS EN 13240: 2001 +A2:2004 “Room heaters fired by solid fuel-requirements and test methods” BSRIA is able to offer clients the following tests on residentially non mechanical stoves (intermittent and continuous burning) for various types of solid fuels

  •  Thermal performance tests including thermal heat output and efficiency
  • Safety tests- These include operation of appliance to determine the safe combustible distance from the stove to any combustible material
  • Emissions of combustion products
  • Checks to determine whether the materials, design and construction requirements of the appliance comply with the requirements of the standard
  • Checks to determine whether the installation and operating instructions of the appliance comply with the requirements of the standard
  • Checks to determine whether the marking information given on the appliance comply with the requirements of the standard

Thermal performance test facility

Thermal performance test facility

Fundamental to achieving optimum thermal performance of the stove under test are a number of variables.  These include achieving the correct combustion air settings – the appliance air controls must be adjusted accordingly to optimize the flue gas temperature, CO2 and CO levels within the flue gases whist at the same time achieving the optimum burning rate.  Unnecessary variations in the test conditions such as the flue draught can significantly affect the burning rate and thermal performance of the appliance. The test standards require a flue draught of 12 ± 2 Pa for thermal performance test at nominal heat output for appliances up to 25 kW.  For temperature safety tests, the flue draught must be maintained at 15 +2/0 Pa for appliances with a nominal heat output of up to 25 kW.  The test rig is automated to give good controllability of the test conditions within the limits imposed by the test standard.   Minimizing variations in the moisture content of the test fuel is an important parameter that is important both for repeatability of the test results and achieving optimum combustion performance. This variable is also controlled using internal quality control procedures, careful selection of the test fuel and measurement of the moisture content before the tests.

CE marking of stoves became mandatory from the 01 July 2013 and under the CPR, manufacturers products are now required to demonstrate compliance with the above tests by having the appliance tested by a Notified Test Laboratory.  These tests are summarized within annex ZA.1 of the standard.  Manufacturers are also required to implement their own factory production control (FPC) procedures under the current attestation level 3 for room heaters fired by solid fuels.

Smoke Emissions Tests

In addition to the above, BSRIA is also now able to offer DEFRA smoke emissions tests on appliances seeking exemption for

Smoke emission measurement

Smoke emission measurement

burning unauthorized fuel in smoke control areas within the UK (section 21 of the Clean Air Act 1993).  The state of the art test facility uses the dilution tunnel approach with isokinetic sampling of the flue gases, an approach which is also used by some European test houses.  Tests are conducted in accordance with PD 6434, BS 3841 Parts 1 & 2 and the Richardo -AEA Test Protocol issue 3.0.  Because of the variation in the smoke emission between tests, multiple tests are conducted at high heat output as well as reduced heat output.  As the smoke emission rate is dependent on the size of the stove (volume of its firebox), its air controls which affects its combustion performance and the fuel used, the measured heat output at each load must also be reported.  If appliances are fundamentally different in their designs, then individual smoke tests are also required. The exception to this are appliances with cosmetic changes to the exterior.

The smoke emission rate can also be affected by the manner in which the appliance is refuelled.  If the firebed is not established i.e. if there is insufficient burning material to cause the new fuel charge to ignite within a reasonable period or if the appliance is overloaded with a new fuel charge, excessive smoke can occur.  Care has to be therefore taken during the tests to avoid such adverse operating conditions that can cause the stove to unnecessary fail the smoke emission tests.

The iso-kinetic method of sampling the smoke emission within the dilution tunnel used by BSRIA is an accurate and representative method of determining the smoke emission rate from appliances burning wood and mineral fuels. In this technique, the velocity of

Data Acquisition System

Data Acquisition System

the sampled gases within the sampling nozzle is maintained the same as that of the mainstream flue gases within the dilution tunnel.  The specialist instrumentation used for sampling is an automatic gravimetric sampler which continually adjusts the sample volume flow rate and hence the flue gas velocity in the smoke sampling nozzle.

In tests conducted at BSRIA, iso-kinetic sampling has been consistently maintained during the tests.  The maximum isokinetic deviation on the velocity is around 0.8% compared to 2.5% which is required in the test standard.

BSRIA’s smoke emission test results are expressed in grams/hour to enable comparison with the permitted smoke emission rate given in BS PD 6463 and represent the average smoke emission rate taken over the test cycle which is typically 45 minutes to an hour. Alternatively the smoke emission rate can be expressed in mg/m3 at a reference oxygen content of 13% in the undiluted flue.

Opacity measurements are also taken during the tests to detect the peaks in the smoke emissions during refuelling and de-ashing.

Further information on testing of stoves and other types of solid fuel appliances can be obtained by contacting Dr Arnold Teekaram, Head of Combustion BSRIA Tel 01344-465538 or by e-mail at arnold.teekaram@bsria.co.uk or by visiting BSRIA web site http://www.bsria.co.uk/services/testing/standard-testing/solid-fuel-stoves/

Filed under CE Marking, Combustion, DEFRA, smoke emissions, solid fuels, Stove, testing, Thermal Performance Tagged with , , , , , , , , , ,

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