The development of localisation and local code compliance for standardised design is a key USP but a balance must be struck between standardisation, localisation, and the ability to pivot towards rapidly evolving technology and tenant demands.. What are the problems that need to be solved?.
The electricity grid had a much higher carbon factor a few years ago than it does now.This is due to coal plants, etc.
However, substantial development and investment in recent years by the government and private bodies has reduced the carbon factor of the grid, through the use of renewables, nuclear power stations, and so on.The National Grid is responsible for working out the carbon factor for the entire grid.They have scenario modelling and are aware of where things could end up in the best case scenario.
However, they also look at what’s happened over the last year.This means we know what’s happening in the UK in terms of energy balance.
We can use that data when considering sustainability in our designs to give a very detailed, current understanding of what the electricity grid is, and what that means for buildings.. We can also use their predictions to understand how the grid is going to decarbonise over the next five to ten years.
Importantly, the trajectory for that decarbonisation looks healthy.With limited riser space this means upper-floor office conversions are preferable, though these tend to be less advantageous from an access or structural point of view..
It is essential roof exhausts have efflux arrangements that ensure discharged fumes get sufficiently away from the building to prevent recirculation into make-up systems or to anyone on the roof or in a nearby building.In the UK, the British Standard has a blanket statement requiring fume stacks be either 3m high or 25% the building height – whichever is greater.
For tall buildings this can lead to very high stacks that would impact the building’s appearance and will likely require Planning Permission.For example, a 10-storey office building with an average floor to floor height of 4m would require a stack 10m tall (nearly 3 storeys.)
(Editor: Rechargeable Lights)