The British University in Dubai welcomes the President of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), David Hughes, to deliver a public lecture at 18:00 on 20th March 2007.
With a membership of 17,000, the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers is an international body which represents and provides services to the building services profession. CIBSE promotes the art, science and practice of building services engineering for the benefit of all, and the advancement of education and research in building services engineering. Services such as lighting, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, public health systems and lifts which, in commercial buildings, typically account for 30-40% of total construction costs.
The lecture will take place in the University’s auditorium in Block 17 of Knowledge Village, Dubai. Academics and construction industry professionals will be in attendance.
David Hughes will be speaking on the topic “Buildings of the Future: People and Services”. He will focus on the skills needed by building services engineers in the future, how the relevant technologies are likely to develop and the role that CIBSE is playing to enhance the profession and enable Chartered Building Services Engineers to play a more proactive part in improving the buildings of the future.
“We are delighted to welcome David Hughes to the region in support of its economic development and the professional development of different disciplines” said University Vice-Chancellor Dr Abdullah Al Shamsi.
The talk is scheduled for Tuesday 20 March, 2007 at 18:00 in the BUiD Auditorium, Block 17, Knowledge Village, Dubai.
Buildings & Materials Past, Present & Future: People & Services
Natural ventilation of buildings is gaining popularity with design teams, as with correct application of modern materials, substantial energy savings can be achieved without unduly jeopardising occupant comfort.
This paper will be delivered in four sections:
1. An examination of current natural ventilation theory
2. A case study of the refurbishment of an existing building employing natural ventilation theory combined with modern building materials
3. A description of how a modern material such as ETFE Foil (Ethylene Tetra Flouro Ethylene) can be applied to both existing and new buildings
4. Professional life and how it might be enhanced
1. An examination of current natural ventilation theory
Natural ventilation systems are intended to provide sufficient outside air to achieve appropriate standards of air quality and to provide cooling when needed. Since the cooling capacity of natural ventilation is limited, a key design challenge is to limit heat gains through good solar control and the careful management of the internal gains. This section explains how the fundamentals of natural ventilation design do not aim to achieve constant environmental conditions, but take advantage of dynamics to provide comfortable, controllable conditions for the occupants.
2. A case study of the refurbishment of an existing building employing natural ventilation theory combined with modern building materials
The Treasury building in London when originally constructed was provided with open fires, cross ventilation being provided through open-able sash windows located in external elevations and into external light wells. It was part of the Treasury brief that the natural ventilation remains as the environmental strategy for the office portion of the project. Air Conditioning and mechanical cooling was only to be provided to spaces requiring it for operational or demand led activities.
To improve operational efficiency and to create a modern ambiance, the majority of the cellular offices were removed and eight of the light-wells enclosed creating atria. This had the benefit of substantially reducing winter heat losses, creating occupiable spaces within the light-wells and enhancing cross-stack ventilation to the surrounding offices during summer months.
This section will describe the engineering strategy employed to achieve this objective together with the application of modern materials.
3. A description of how a modern material such as ETFE Foil (Ethylene Tetra Flouro Ethylene) can be applied to both existing and new buildings
Texlon is considered as a construction material, this being made from a modified copolymer Ethylene Tetra Flouro Ethylene. The ETFE Foil is extruded into thin films and supported in an aluminum perimeter extrusion which is supported on the building frame. The films are given a structural a stability by being inflated to approx. 220 p.a.
The environmental evaluation of the technology is considered together with the production processes for the constituent materials, the features and changes that occur to those materials during the life of the building together with possibility to recover the raw materials after the demolition of the building.
Consideration is given to the environmental performance of the material as a component of the building, and what effect that component has on the energy usage and comfort levels enjoyed by the building occupants.
An environmental analysis is undertaken to consider the quantities of materials being used and the embodied energy costs for a given environmental performance.
Various projects will be illustrated to demonstrate the versatility of the material and how it can be applied to solve both aesthetic and environmental issues.
4. Your professional life and how it might be enhanced
The Engineering Council in the UK holds the professional registration of all engineers that satisfy the competence criteria of education and workplace experience. As a signatory to the Washington Accord this offers registrants the opportunity to be recognised throughout the world.
The routes to membership will be described with illustrations.
Biography:
David Hughes - President, Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers and Director of Consulting Engineers Jaros Baum & Bolles
David Hughes joined the major design contractor Matthew Hall in 1963 as an apprentice, graduating from London South Bank University in 1968. During a 25-year career with Matthew Hall David attained the position of Divisional Director having responsibility for the design, co-ordination and construction for many substantial building projects throughout the UK. In 1976 David established an expatriate multi-disciplinary office in Iran, which undertook the design and construction of projects both in Tehran and on the Caspian Sea coast.
Obtaining a Master of Science Degree in Architecture from University College London, David went on to join the Consulting Engineering Practice of Jaros Baum & Bolles in 1988 as a Director and has subsequently been involved in many substantial engineering projects.
David joined CIBSE in 1963 becoming a Fellow in 1985 and a Chartered Engineer in 1989. He has served on CIBSE committees for over 12 years. Prior to being elected as President Elect David was a Vice President for two years with responsibility for international co-ordination, a role that has taken him to Hong Kong and Australia to reinforce the Institutions strong ties with these regions.
Within the context of the Engineering Council David has been a CIBSE appointed EC representative and is currently serving on their International Advisory Panel and the Working Group on Competence Statements and Technical Reports for the UK-SPEC.
