Building services bodies collaborate on net zero and safety


Iain Hoey
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UK organisations join forces for net zero goals
Two of the UK’s main building services engineering organisations, BESA and CIBSE, have agreed to collaborate more closely on key initiatives, including the push for net zero in the built environment and the delivery of the Building Safety Act.
As reported by BESA, the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) and the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) will undertake a series of joint projects aimed at advancing and promoting the practice of building services engineering.
This collaboration is driven by the urgency to transform the built environment to meet decarbonisation and healthcare goals.
CIBSE chief executive Ruth Carter highlighted the importance of this collaboration: “The building services industry is in greater demand than ever as it increasingly accounts for a much larger proportion of the value of construction and facilities management projects.
“Therefore, our supply chains must be more closely aligned, and the different professions more joined up.”
Focus on building safety and air quality
The organisations will deepen their support for each other’s key events, such as national conferences, seminars, and awards, while continuing their successful collaboration on technical guidance.
They will focus on the Building Safety Act, developments related to indoor air quality (IAQ), and retrofitting existing buildings for decarbonisation and heat networks.
The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the industry and its potential to improve productivity will also be explored.
David Frise, BESA’s chief executive officer, noted: “There is now far greater awareness of the role played by the building services profession in addressing some of society’s most pressing challenges, so this is the right time to deliver a programme of joint initiatives.”
Frise also congratulated Fiona Cousins on her election as CIBSE President, praising her focus on “reimagining building performance” to tackle embodied and operational carbon and address issues linked to poor quality buildings.
Historical context and future plans
The partnership between BESA and CIBSE dates back to the founding of BESA in 1904 by engineers who were also members of CIBSE’s predecessor.
Historically, BESA represented engineering contractors, while CIBSE focused on individual engineers’ interests.
This long-standing relationship underpins their current collaborative efforts.
Upcoming joint sessions on the Building Safety Act will be held at the BESA National Conference on October 17 and at CIBSE’s Build2Perform Live event on November 13-14.
Both organisations have also produced guides to improve professional standards in building ventilation and are working to strengthen links with the healthcare profession.
BESA’s revamped NextGen Network will work closely with CIBSE’s Young Engineers’ Network (YEN) to give young building services engineers a stronger collective voice.
BESA will support this year’s CIBSE Young Engineers’ Awards for the first time and remains an active member of the CIBSE Patrons group.