Security
Click Here for further details

DECs and EPCs: What’s the Difference?
Andy Land, energy specialist at building & project consultants CNP explains
With 1st October fast approaching, DECs, or Display Energy Certificates, have started to come in to focus for many organisations across the UK. Like Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) they are a graphical representation of the energy consumed within a property, but there are many differences between the two, many of which are not clear to those who have yet to address the details of the legislation.
Firstly, the main difference is the legislative requirement to undertake and produce DECs. Unlike EPCs they will only be legally applicable to buildings occupied, operated or funded by the public sector, which are accessible to members of the public, providing the area occupied by said bodies is greater than 1,000 sqm. This is the Government’s interpretation of the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) which refers only to “public buildings”, and which has been interpreted differently across the EU. Some EU Member States have opted to require DECs for any building which is accessible to the public. It is possible that an approach along similar lines may follow in the UK.
From a legislative point of view, DECs only apply to the public sector at present. However, a recent report published by the Parliamentary ‘All-Party Urban Development Group’ has called for expansion of DECs to include commercial properties as part of a broader approach to accelerate progress in ‘greening’ the existing building stock.
Ahead of potential legislation impacting the private sector in this area, DECs may appeal to private sector organisations that are keen to demonstrate and promote their sustainability credentials. With Corporate Responsibility (CR) rising up the agendas of many private sector organisations, positive CR results are increasingly being seen as marketing assets, and it is therefore anticipated that progressive private sector companies may begin to undertake and display DECs voluntarily in order to display their “green credentials”. It is not difficult to think of a number of high profile retailers, for example, who already use their carbon reduction initiatives as positive marketing tools.
Within the legislation there is also another key difference between DECs and EPCs – that is: whose responsibility they are. For EPCs it is the vendor or landlord who must provide the certificate and recommendations report on sale or lease of any building from 1st October (with buildings greater than 2,500 sqm required from 1st July), whereas the onus on producing DECs rests with the occupiers themselves. This is an important distinction, most certainly in terms of who will bear the cost of these certificates, but it also reflects the distinction between how the certificates are calculated and exactly what it is they measure.
EPCs are what is known as an ‘asset rating’, in that they are a calculation of the energy consumption of the physical assets of a property based on a modelling exercise which applies standard patterns of occupation and management appropriate to the type of building and activities which are modelled. They can be seen almost as a predictive measure of the potential energy consumption, and subsequently carbon emission, pattern of a property which potential purchasers and occupiers may factor in to their decision-making processes.
Conversely, DECs are an ‘operational rating’. Unlike EPCs they reflect the management processes and equipment within a property or tenancy, and are based upon historic energy consumption data which is normalised against the floor area of the property or tenancy to give an A-G rating. In this way DECs are therefore much easier to calculate and as a result are expected to be much less expensive to produce than EPCs.
So when they are compared it is clear that DECs will not require the work that EPCs currently do. Both require good levels of information in order to maximise the cost-effectiveness of their production. Indeed, the legislation will only allow for estimated energy consumption data to be used in the first year of implementation for DECs – and both carry potential fines for those who are legally required to comply and fail to do so. However, they could potentially produce very different ratings for the same property. As a rule of thumb, EPCs are a measure of how good a building is, while DECs are a measure of how well it is being run.
Key facts about DECs:
When?: By 1st October 2008
Who?: Buildings over 1000 m2 owned or occupied by a public body
What?: Measure of how well a building or tenanted area is being operated by its occupants
How? The DEC is based on an operational rating which will be calculated from metered energy consumption
Why?: To establish and display how well buildings perform in terms of energy usage.
Action: CNP has produced a Need-to-Know guide to energy certificates and copies can be obtained by emailing andyland@cnpltd.co.uk

Superlife luminaire has 10-year minimum guarantee
As part of its Actulite polarised daylight lighting range, Aura Corporation Ltd has now created a ‘Superlife’ option, offering luminaires with a written guarantee for a minimum of 10 years or 80,000 hours maintenance-free life, including tubes.
The Superlife option is available with the 18, 36 and 58 watt models in the Actulite range. Superlife models retain all the benefits of standard Actulite luminaires, including an increase in visual acuity of 120%, yet are guaranteed for 4 times normal life. The vital ingredients for the Superlife luminaire are the specially manufactured high frequency control gear and lamps. These are guaranteed to achieve the 80,000 hour life, and over that period only see a 10% degradation in light output. The lamps for the Actulite polarised daylight lighting have been specified as colour 865.
The Actulite polarised daylight lighting system emits a quality of light virtually identical to natural daylight. This is achieved through the combined use of the patented Actulite multi-layered light polarising panel, high frequency control gear and specially manufactured triphosphor full spectrum fluorescent tubes. The result is a natural, glare free light with excellent colour rendition and which greatly improves visual perception. So close is Actulite light to natural daylight, it can even help alleviate the symptoms of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder).
Because of these benefits, Actulite lighting has been installed into organisations and businesses across a variety of sectors, from offices, factories and warehouses, to museums and schools. Actulite polarised daylight lighting fittings are particularly popular in hospitals and the health sector in patient wards and operating theatres, where good quality lighting is essential. In these instances, despite the demands of reducing carbon emissions, running times cannot be reduced. The Actulite Superlife option with its guaranteed life of 80,000 hours therefore carries a considerable benefit to the health service where long life, reliable lighting is required and budgets are restricted due to financial pressures.
Commenting on the Superlife option, Paul Morrey of Aura Corporation said, “The standard daylight tubes which we offer with our fittings have about a 20,000 hour life so the Superlife option, which provides four times the life at 80,000 hours, requires less maintenance and so further increases the economy of our lighting package.”
Further information is available from Aura Corporation Ltd on 01902 332352, by emailing info@actulite.com or by visiting the company’s website www.actulite.com

Sarnafil refurbishes the latest in a long line of roofs at the University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen has specified the use of Sarnafil’s single ply roofing system in the refurbishment of several of its buildings, with the campus’ science building the latest project in the pair’s long-standing relationship.
Originally opened as the Chemistry Building in 1952, then extended in 1968 and fully refurbished in 1988, the Meston Building is one of the largest buildings on campus. But with the passing of the years, the 1988 improvements to its roof became problematic. The junctions where old met new were affected by ponding water, resulting in water penetration into the building, so seeking a solution the University turned to Sarnafil.
Sarnafil’s adhered single ply membrane G410-12EL in Light Grey met the University’s aesthetic requirements, while the system’s BBA-certified life expectancy in excess of 40 years offered the durability and longevity it was looking for. The installation of Sarnafil’s tapered insulation, which enhances drainage from a flat roof, also solved the ponding problems where the original and 1988-fitted sections of waterproofing were joined.
Richard Burke, Sarnafil’s roof management refurbishment surveyor for the north, is pleased with the results of the Meston Building refurbishment, saying: “The project was completed to a very high standard. I hope Sarnafil’s positive working relationship with the University will continue long into the future.”
Other University of Aberdeen buildings featuring Sarnafil roofing systems include The Hub, a recently refurbished £8million dining and social facility, and the Medical School’s Polwarth Building, which was refurbished to suit the building’s 1930s aesthetics. Work to the Queen Mother Library and The Book Stack libraries has also helped safeguard the University’s precious books and manuscripts.
A spokesperson for the University Estates Section concludes: “The University has successfully completed several large refurbishment projects using the Sarnafil single ply roofing system and is very satisfied with the end product.”

Working Buildings Make Your Building Work for You
Featuring three co-located exhibitions, Working Buildings 2008 will take place from 8-9 October 2008 at London’s Olympia. Together, the events will feature over 300 hours of educational content, 400 leading suppliers of products, services and solutions to the built environment and will host the largest opportunity to network with those responsible for the UK’s workplaces.
Energy Solutions Expo is the UK’s fastest growing event dedicated to clean, efficient, sustainable, renewable and alternative energy solutions for business. Sustainable practices are at the top of the agenda for everyone. The event is full of the latest technology, solutions and know-how, all presented in a direct and accessible way. Visitors can get advice from the industry’s leading organisations including The Carbon Trust, Dimplex, Mitsubishi Electric and The Energy Institute.
Total Workplace Management is the UK’s largest exhibition for facilities and estates management and is organised in association with the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM). Focusing on the efficient maintenance and running of a building's infrastructure, Total Workplace Management brings together product and service providers with FM and estates professionals and is a vital event for the industry. The event will provide an interactive forum to source the latest products and services, network with peers and pick up top tips from FM experts.
M&E - the building services event is the premier exhibition for professionals involved in building design, installation, specification and operation. Supported by CIBSE, the ECA, BSRIA, the HVCA, BSEE and the IET, the event will explore key product areas including heating, lighting, ventilation, air conditioning, controls, security, and electrics. Visitors will be able to speak to over 100 of the industry's key organisations, including Andrews Water Heaters, LG Electronics, Potterton Commercial and Vent Axia.
The Roadmap to Sustainability
Companies in the UK waste £1.8 billion every year through inefficient energy consumption and business is responsible for more than 40% of the UK’s carbon emissions. However, as businesses and industry come to terms with the challenge, there is a desperate need for information resources and guidance.
The key theme of this year’s educational seminars is the “Roadmap to Sustainability”. This is a unique series of free seminars that will take delegates on a journey from designing sustainable business strategies and programmes, through to establishing ‘green’ working practices all the way to the options for encouraging suppliers and customers to think and act sustainably.
Event director, Adrian Newton comments, “Anyone visiting The Roadmap to Sustainability at this year’s Working Buildings will walk away with all the information and resources needed to fulfil the required parts of their role, and be privy to the latest thinking on the business case for sustainable FM, legislation, techniques and ideas.”
Under the headings, “Design”, “Build & Install”, “Manage & Maintain” and “Go Green”, the sessions will look at a number of key topics, delivered by industry experts in one place.
Seminars will include:
* What does a sustainable business look like?
* The business case for sustainable FM
* Recycling and reusing waste
* Soft landings – a better way to run your buildings
* How to save energy right now
* Energy performance certificates – keeping up with the new paperwork
All visitors to the seminars will receive a password for free access to the Working Buildings online Sustainability Starter Pack, which will provide information from leading professional organisations including BIFM, CIBSE, HVCA, FETA, the National Energy Foundation and others. The pack will bring together more information on topics such as Energy Performance certificates and carbon calculators into one place so that you can build your own Sustainable Roadmap for your business.
The seminar programme is free to attend and has been described as the “ultimate resource” for those looking for the latest conservational insights.
The Future Office
A new feature for 2008 will be ‘The Office of the Future’, where visitors can get a glimpse of tomorrow's office, today. A major design project that's attracting huge attention, the Office of the Future will allow attendees to view the latest office innovations and learn how to design sustainability into their offices. Hear about the latest CAD model and view the virtual presentation focusing on projected energy consumption of buildings and how to manage design. The area will also feature cutting-edge AV solutions for businesses.
To register for free entry to attend any of these events, to see the full educational programme or for further information on Working Buildings visit www.working-buildings.com. Companies interested in exhibiting should contact Mark Rimmer on 020 7921 8148 or mrimmer@cmpi.biz, or Darren Gilchriest on 020 7921 8087 or dgilchriest@cmpi.biz.

£2m BP contract is Saville’s biggest ever
Working closely with Barco, Saville won the contract to equip more than a hundred rooms in the new building, including eight identical ‘Advanced Collaboration Environment’ (ACE) monitoring suites and a new Emergency Response Centre. Two four-man teams in each of the ACE suites now have the benefits of the latest IP-controlled Barco projectors, NEC flat screen monitors and Polycom high definition video conferencing systems, linked around the clock to BP’s network of rigs in the North Sea.
Using flat screen displays, the Polycom systems are permanently connected to the control rooms of the offshore platforms via BP’s own IP infrastructure. This enables constant two-way communications alongside real-time performance data being projected in the ACE suite, showing the flow rates and constituents of the materials being pumped. A highly directional Sound Tube speaker has been installed above each member of the monitoring team, so that extraneous sound is eliminated and operators can hear – or switch off – their own sound feed as and when required, without being cut off from what’s going on around them.
The new Emergency Response Centre provides minute by minute monitoring for the entire oil rig network, via sixteen PC computers and a constant multisite videoconferencing link. The Centre is equipped with five NEC projectors, a range of LCD monitors and a large main screen with two interactive SMART Boards. Ceiling mounted microphones and a Dome camera operated from the adjacent control room capture activities at each workstation for analysis and evidence in the event of an actual emergency.
After winning the contract last year, installation work commenced in November and was completed on time within a demanding four month schedule. Led by Senior Project manager Jim Millar, a team of engineers from the Saville head office at York flew to Aberdeen every Sunday evening to be on site at 7am on Monday. Working four days of 12-hour shifts each week and flying back into Leeds on Friday afternoons for abbreviated weekends at home, they completed the installation precisely on time in March.
In total, the project involved the installation of 43 Barco NH-5 1920 x 1080 resolution projectors with on-screen windowing, 43 Polycom HD videoconferencing systems, over sixty NEC LT-280 projectors and more than a hundred 32” and 40” NEC LCD screens, plus some 46” and 57” screens in the communal areas.
Colin Critchley, IT Project Manager at BP said: “Saville differentiated themselves by working collaboratively with EDS, our current offshore network suppliers and all other (sometimes competing) parties. Their flexibility ensured that the project met a very aggressive timeline. As testament to their work, our users were in the new building on each prescribed day, up and running from the off. Feedback has been great, with only minor snagging issues.”
Saville’s Jim Millar said: “The project presented the biggest technical and logistical challenge that Saville had ever faced. With so many lives and enormous business revenues at stake, the demand for reliable, efficient communications could not have been more critical. We’re proud to have delivered every stage of the project on time and on budget - to the total satisfaction of the client.”
www.saville-av.com

Red Sugar reaps the benefits of going green
Workplace design specialists have helped create one of Scotland’s most eco-friendly businesses – where even the paint is environmentally sound.
Space Solutions transformed the interior of a B-listed Georgian building to create a cafe where the fixtures and fittings are meticulously green-focused.
Now the firm, which has launched Sustainability Services for Scottish businesses, says the Red Sugar superfoods cafe is a shining example of what can be achieved by eco-conscious firms.
Red Sugar and the Space Solutions team who delivered the fit out scoured the market to find paints and varnishes made from natural products. They do not contain the toxins or give off the powerful odours associated with standard finishes.
Meanwhile the counters and shelving were made from naturally sustainable bamboo while Red Sugar was keen to ensure all new furnishings were painstakingly selected for their sustainable origins.
The cafe has LED energy-efficient lighting, while fridges and other electrical appliances are on timer switches and power down every night, ensuring the cafe’s electricity consumption is a fraction of what similar-sized businesses face.
Thanks to careful use of compost bins the cafe produces just a single bag of rubbish every week, while water usage is carefully regulated by a meter.
Space Solutions is Scotland’s leading independent specialist in design, build, fit out, refurbishment and relocation of modern and productive business environments.
Its Sustainability Services are also a recognised leader in helping businesses become more energy efficient and environmentally friendly – though Director Derek Binnie admitted Red Sugar posed unusual challenges.
Derek said: “The lengths we went to with Red Sugar were a real eye-opener about just what can be achieved on a sustainability front when you put your mind to it.
“It has never been more important for businesses to have an environmentally-friendly corporate image, though there aren’t many that could rival Red Sugar.
“However, you don’t have to go to such lengths to make a difference. The good news for businesses is that by taking action to reduce their carbon footprint, they will also dramatically reduce energy bills and associated costs.”
Red Sugar’s co-founder Steve Montgomery said he wanted the outlet to fully embrace the best of the planet’s natural resources during the £70,000 fit out, which has won plaudits for its attractive design and sustainable methods.
The cafe and store on Raeburn Place is the first of its kind in Scotland selling nutritious raw foods such as chocolate cakes with more antioxidants than blueberries.
He added: “Customers continuously comment on how impressed they are with the store – from the lighting, to the paint and furniture.
“It is great that being environmentally-friendly in our design does not mean we have to be dull. In fact we have proved the complete opposite. The buzz it has helped generate about the place is simply invaluable.
“When we enlisted Space Solutions we already knew that being environmentally-friendly was at the heart of our vision for Red Sugar. We paid a bit more for the organic materials and sustainable features but in the long-run it will definitely pay off many times over.”
Space Solutions, which had a turnover of £12million last year, has offices in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Peterborough. Founded in Aberdeen in 1997 it was the subject of a successful management buyout by the current directors in 2007.

Interbuild 2008 Bigger and Better
£1.2 Billion increase on buying power at Interbuild
Latest figures from Interbuild reveal a massive £1.2 billion increase on the value of ‘live’ visitor projects underway during the 2007 show.
Visitors were working on 5,500 active projects, worth a staggering £17.4 billion, according to the show’s sister company, EMAP Glenigan, who specialise in the tracking of projects, companies and contacts in UK construction.
“These figures are testament to the industry’s valuable contribution to the wider economy,” says Interbuild’s Senior Marketing Manager, Sam Matthews. “The visitor breakdown shows audience buying power was at an all-time high, signifying the start of a new era for Interbuild.
“With the launch of the show as an annual event the trade now has this fantastic opportunity to tap-into a huge buying audience year-after-year. We look forward to replicating the success enjoyed at this year’s show and making it an annual cause for celebration.”
The time, money and resource that organisers EMAP Construct have invested into the show has clearly paid dividends for Interbuild and the industry it serves. Thanks to a revised layout, streamlined product focus and strong marketing and PR initiatives to support the show, Interbuild has retained healthy audience figures with a 44,000 strong attendance and not least a significant increase in buying professionals attending the event.
The revised layout in the NEC’s larger halls 3/3a, 4 and 5 worked well to ease navigation and kept the traffic flowing throughout the full five days. Staged in the same location, Interbuild 2008 promises to be bigger, better and back with a raft of new show initiatives that build-on the 2007 show’s successes.
“The layout and general feel of the show worked well this year and the audited figures back-up this sentiment,” says Sam. “The intention now is to take this winning formula and enhance it with some new additions to keep the format fresh and Interbuild alive as an inspirational industry event.”
Internationally acclaimed
Interbuild’s international presence is growing year-on-year.
Data analysis of the 2004, 2006 and 2007 events reveals that the number of overseas exhibitors has more than doubled since EMAP Construct acquired Interbuild in 2004. Figures reveal an 80 per cent increase between 2004 and 2006 and a further 20 per cent growth by 2007, with near 300 international exhibitors involved in last year’s show.
This year, organisers are placing even greater focus on recruiting further international representation for the 2008 event. Five new overseas agents have been brought on board to support the initiative and international clusters already confirmed include a new French pavilion, as well as Belgium, Italian, German and Canadian areas.
“In recent times, the current environmental focus has attracted more forward-thinking European countries, using Interbuild as an effective launch platform for ‘eco’ driven products,” says Interbuild’s Senior Marketing Manager, Sam Matthews. “Europe has traditionally been more intuitive in terms of ‘green’ issues and their research and development is streets ahead on the sustainability score. Belgium, for example, is particularly progressive on waste water treatment and recycling technologies.”
Belgium has had a high profile presence at Interbuild for several years now and there are currently nine companies confirmed in the Belgian Pavilion at Interbuild 2008.
“Belgian companies are generally mindful of environmental concerns and of the importance of saving energy when designing and manufacturing products,” says Francoise Gondry from AWEX, the Belgium government’s agency in charge of promoting trade and attracting foreign investment.
“From our perspective Interbuild is a ‘must’ attend event. Our exhibitor base is made up of companies which have already established distribution within the UK and others which are looking for partnership for the first time. Interbuild offers a practical platform for Belgium to make meaningful, long-lasting business connections within UK construction.”
As well as the environmental pull, the 2012 London Olympics and the opportunity that this presents is another big draw in terms of the potential for inward investment.
“With the Olympics looming and a focus on improving our infrastructure to support this massive event, there are huge opportunities at an international level and I look forward to working with our new agents to further expand Interbuild’s global business reach,” says Sam Matthews.
Interbuild now has specialist, international agents based in Belgium, Holland, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey, Korea, Poland and the USA.
Setting out its sustainability stall
Budget outcomes impact on the construction industry
Following the Budget - in which the government set further environmental targets - Interbuild announced its sustainability agenda for the 2008 show.
Alistair Darling deemed that all non-domestic buildings must be zero carbon by 2019, building on the existing 2016 target for new homes. He also announced more help for homeowners to install insulation into existing stock, with a £26m increase in funding for the Green Home Service.
As sustainability continues its reign as the industry’s number one issue, ‘eco’ will inevitably be an important theme across the UK’s biggest building show. In-line with Interbuild’s practical approach the ‘green’ focus throughout this year’s event will be showcasing solutions for the ‘here and now’.
“Interbuild is all about real, live business-to-business. It’s an event where the trade can think, act and do,” says Interbuild’s Senior Marketing Manager, Sam Matthews. “The show’s continuing success reflects our practical, let’s do it approach and sustainability is a case-in-point. Where other trade events essentially pontificate its impact, Interbuild presents realistic solutions that adhere to the latest legislation and offer the trade tangible business benefits.”
To assist organisers in planning for the 2008 show, EMAP Construct conducted a series of focus group sessions with representatives from each of its key audiences at the beginning of the year. While supportive of the environmental cause, the jobbing trades expressed some degree of frustration with sourcing eco solutions suited to their current business needs. The research revealed a perception across the trades that environmentally approved products are inherently more expensive and often aimed more at the specification end of the market, representing unrealistic objectives in construction today.
The architect and professional groups, however, were keen to see future-focussed content, looking to view more forward-thinking initiatives as inspirational fodder.
“Sustainability is a long-standing issue and we as an industry must embrace its impact and the opportunities it presents,” says Sam Matthews. “Interbuild aims to cater for both ends of the spectrum, carefully balancing trade and specification needs. While we offer a practical platform from which visitors can source accessible, quality solutions, there are other areas of the show – such as the architectural feature - where the focus is very much on creating an inspirational vibe.”
Tying into the ongoing sustainability theme Interbuild is introducing a number of new additions to this year’s format including on-site structures in which ‘green’ materials will be an important structural element. The overarching story behind the structures will be showcasing sustainable solutions in situ in a house and a commercial building, exploring the complete process from specification through to installation.
Other changes afoot relate to Interbuild’s awards schemes at the show. In celebration of environmentally driven innovations, The Eco Product Showcase (launched at Interbuild 2007) is being transformed into a self-contained feature in Hall 3, with New Product Showcase now situated in Hall 5. There will also be a separate Eco Products Awards scheme and as part of the judging criteria, companies will be required to demonstrate how their nominated product performs to current standards and assists from both a financial and performance perspective in specific construction projects.
The sustainability angle will also be majored in a series of informative seminars hosted by Interbuild’s supporting trade bodies. Participating associations to-date include the BRE, who’s seminar programme proved hugely popular at last year’s show; TRADA talking about timber’s inherent environmental properties; and Mtech addressing sustainability in relation to offsite construction. New areas such as Sports and Play in Construction with SAPCA are also looking to deliver similar seminar content.
Making its annual debut 26 – 30 October 2008 plans are already underway for more show-stopping initiatives set to feature at the new-look Interbuild 2008.
For further information visit www.interbuild.com