BSRIA has launched its new Soft Landings & Government Soft Landings (GSL) guide which is available to download from its website.

Soft Landings is being recognised increasingly as an important step in helping to ensure the actual building performance in terms of energy consumption and occupant comfort closely matches the design intent. BSRIA’s free PDF summarises this process.

It is particularly relevant in the public sector where it is usual to have long leases or ownership of property and where the benefits of Soft Landings through the building process and life cycle analysis can be demonstrated.

In September 2012 the Cabinet Office formally announced the policy that by 2016 all centrally funded projects should be delivered in accordance with GSL, as part of the Government’s expectations for the public sector adoption of BIM.

There are some crucial differences between BSRIA’s Soft Landings and those of GSL. This guide compares the attributes of BSRIA’s Soft Landings framework and GSL and reviews both methodologies to ensure that the lessons learnt will result in improvements, not just in the process, but also in building performance and occupant comfort.

Portfolio energy manager, M&G Real Estate, Mitch Layng, said: “This should assist in achieving the seismic shift which is required in the industry to achieve what a lot of experts believe is the industry’s Holy Grail: demonstrating how well-designed energy efficient and well-managed buildings can result in improved occupant health and wellbeing and, potentially, productivity.”

This guide is available from the soft landings section on the BSRIA website at www.bsria.co.uk/goto/soft-landings-guides

Hard copies are available to order from the BSRIA Bookshop at £10 to BSRIA members or £20 to non-members.

In addition, BSRIA has launched its new Building Performance Evaluation in Non-Domestic Buildings Guide – an introduction to the tests and methods in non-domestic buildings – which is available to purchase from the BSRIA bookshop. 

The guide is a general introduction to Building Performance Evaluation (BPE) that explains why it is important and how it can be carried out. BPE is a key element of the BSRIA Soft Landings process to help deliver a building that meets the performance as expected and deliver an effective and efficient building. The guide focuses on new, existing and refurbished non-domestic buildings and aims to inform those involved in the design, construction, operation and/or management of a building about the current performance.

The guide discusses some of the tests and methods that can be included when reviewing building performance to provide information on: building fabric; building services and operating strategies; energy use; handover and commissioning processes; occupant satisfaction; and occupant comfort conditions.

Hard copies of Building Performance Evaluation in Non-Domestic Buildings are available to order from BSRIA Bookshop at £40 to non-members or £20 to BSRIA Members. PDF versions are also priced at £40 to non-members and are free for BSRIA members, available from: www.bsria.co.uk/goto/bpenondom