Energy Matters | Issue 6 | 2021
16
F E AT U R E www.elmhurstenergy.co.uk
Building Diagnostics Chris Ricketts, Business Manager for Elmhurst Energy Consultancy
Let me tell you a story; it’s a story that I hope demonstrates what our multidisciplined Consultancy Service has been getting up to with regards to building performance evaluation (BPE) and product performance evaluation.
BPE for us is where we use and combine our services, tools and techniques to determine how well a building and its elements are performing. Quite often this is done to help diagnose a problem, highlighted by a short fall in its performance. We are often picking this up posthandover in the building’s occupancy stage so we are validating its in-use performance vs its predicted As Built stage. A recent case involved a developer contacting us because one of the tenants in a newly developed set of four flats has a significantly increased energy bill than that predicted on his As Built EPC. The first tool out of our array to inform our investigation is our Measured Energy Performance Report, easily conducted with the resident in situ providing analysis and indications on how the dwelling is performing. It is an essential report and set of metrics for understanding overall building performance, running costs and carbon emissions. On that initial site visit, alongside the design and documentation review, we may uncover other areas/ issues that could benefit from a more detailed investigation such as an occupancy audit, a water audit,
The mantra of BPE is Test Measure, Model and Improve.
a Pulse air tightness test or even a Thermography inspection. Informed with this we can then further investigate and follow up using appropriate assessment tools and techniques so that the energy performance is looked at in conjunction with fabric performance, heating systems and occupant behaviour. In the instance of our Developer, concerns over build quality performance and air tightness were identified. Following up on our Measured Energy Performance we conducted a Pulse air test, Pulse is air permeability measurement system, less disruptive than blower door fan testing particularly in occupied homes. It helps inform us on changes to airtightness that may have occurred in the first stages of occupation as the building ‘settles’ and also improves the accuracy of SAP ratings. It uncovers issues with the air tightness and concerns with build quality - hence onto another tool in our diagnostic tool kit: thermography and the carrying
