CIBSE has launched the UK's first training course in Advanced Simulation Modelling for Design for NABERS UK Design for Performance (DfP).
The course will ensure building services engineers are equipped with the skills to simulate the energy performance of new office buildings in operation.
The course has been developed in collaboration with The Better Buildings Partnership (BBP) – a collaboration of 44 of the UK's leading commercial property owners. The BBP led and industry backed DfP initiative culminated in the launch of NABERS UK in November 2019 with the objective of helping investors and owners deliver on the design intent for new UK office developments.
The majority of office schemes in the UK are ‘designed for compliance’ which often results in a disappointing performance gap between how buildings are designed to perform and how they actually perform in use. Under the NABERS UK Design for Performance Project Agreement a developer or owner commits to design, build and commission a new office development to achieve a specific energy rating, which is then publicly disclosed.
The groundbreaking new course supports a fundamental requirement of the NABERS UK Design for Performance scheme to use building simulation modelling to optimize base building energy use. This will ensure heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and their controls are appropriately sized and as efficient as possible.
The course will be particularly relevant to building services engineers undertaking simulation modelling during the design stages of an office development, most especially those whose owners have committed to having their building verified using the NABERS UK scheme.
The new course will be delivered for the first time on 21-23 September 2021.
Laura Ford, Training Development Manager for CIBSE said: “This pioneering course will ensure building services engineers have the modelling skills to deliver office buildings with an excellent operational performance.”
Sarah Ratcliffe, CEO at Better Buildings Partnership said: “We are delighted to see this Advanced Simulation Modelling course launched by CIBSE. The sector faces a significant skills gap in the race to zero carbon across all disciplines and this course will support building service engineers keen to focus on delivering operational performance. It will also enable them to meet increasing demands from owners, investors and occupants to demonstrate that offices really can deliver on their design intent.”
Darren Coppins, Director, Built Physics, a member of the independent design review panel scrutinising the design of the course said: “The Advanced Simulation training will assist both modellers and design engineers to understand the complexities of closing the performance gap, how to model to target actual performance and the prediction of what can go wrong. This is the next step in raising the quality of our designs to meet the climate agenda.”
For more information, or to book a place on the course go to the CIBSE website
