Swansea-based environmental building services consultancy, EFT Consult, has played an instrumental role in the launch of a ground-breaking new British Standard (BS), BS40102-1.
The new BS, which was launched on Friday April 29, 2023, addresses the evaluation of a building’s indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and includes a new best-practice approach to indoor air quality, thermal comfort, lighting and acoustic quality in buildings.
BS40102-1 is the first standard of its kind in the UK and is intended to be a nationwide benchmark for the evaluation and improvement of indoor environmental quality. The standard covers a range of crucial parameters, including indoor air quality, thermal comfort, lighting, and acoustic quality. It provides guidance to help organisations assess and improve the indoor environmental quality of buildings with the aim of enhancing the mental and physical health and well-being of occupants.
This pioneering document addresses key issues that affect the health and well-being of individuals by providing standards to measure, monitor and evaluate the quality of indoor environments, which aligns with the principles Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.
EFT Consult, part of the wider Raven Delta Group, originally started working on the concept back in 2015, when it identified the need for a consolidated approach to industry specification of IEQ. As the lead sponsor and in association with the British Standards Institute (BSI), EFT signed a contract with BSI in 2019 and drafting of PAS 3003 began in early 2020. The other sponsors of PAS 3003 were Atkins, Canary Wharf Group, Pilot Group, Schiedel Metaloterm, Rotronic, Plasmaclean, and Raven Delta Group sister-companies RDM Electrical & Mechanical Services and DRS FM Services.
Following early success during the drafting process and with the emergence of the Covid pandemic, BSI recognised its importance, and the document was subsequently fast-tracked and elevated into a full British Standard – BS40102-1.
The BSI is the UK’s national standards body and is responsible for developing and publishing technical standards for a wide range of industries and sectors. The incorporation of EFT’s PAS 3003 into the new British Standard underscores the importance of the work that EFT, its partners, and BSI have done together to develop a comprehensive and effective approach to the assessment of indoor environmental quality.
To conform to the standard, organisations will as a minimum need to assess and improve thermal comfort, assess and improve indoor air quality relating to factors which can be harmful to humans, such as humidity, CO2, CO, NO2, volatile organic compounds (VOC), particulates and moulds, ensure that changes to how airtight a building is improve its energy efficiency but not at the expense of occupant safety and comfort, and design, install, commission, and maintain ventilation systems effectively.
As part of its ongoing commitment to improving IEQ, EFT Consult has worked with a leading software partner to develop the W-360 Sensor and monitoring and reporting platform, specifically designed to measure building IEQ levels.
The W-360 Sensor has been calibrated and tested across all the parameters of BS40102-1, enabling building owners and managers to visualise the areas that need immediate attention for occupant and building health. The engineering team at EFT can then use this data to help ensure all these parameters remain within optimal levels.
Raven Delta (RD) Group, of which EFT Consult is a part, is a multi-faceted group of companies providing full building services solutions covering electrical, mechanical, and environmental design and condition reporting, electrical and mechanical project delivery, and ongoing support through 24/7/365 Facilities Management and maintenance. RD Group employs a holistic approach to every project it undertakes, with a focus on improving the standard of indoor environmental quality and the health and well-being of all building occupants.
Chris Jenkins, Director at EFT Consult, said:
“The launch of BS40102-1 marks a major milestone in the assessment and improvement of indoor environmental quality in the UK. We are proud to have played a key role in the development and delivery of this new standard, and we believe that it will make a significant contribution to the health, well-being, and productivity of building occupants across the country.”
“Here at EFT Consult, we put social and environmental concerns at the forefront of everything we do. All our solutions are practical, innovative and measurable, and while they aim to keep costs down and enhance productivity for our clients, we constantly strive to achieve those aims in a way that is also good for the well-being of people and the environment. We believe this is vital for all organisations, in order for them to achieve sustainable growth.”
