Chris Greenhow David Millward, group product manager at Elta Fans, calls for an urgent review of ventilation systems in office buildings following a Carter Jonas finding of widespread non-compliance with new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) requirements that come into effect in 2027.
According to a study by leading property consultancy, Carter Jonas, only 31.6 per cent of office stock in the United Kingdom currently meets the minimum proposed MEES standard of EPC band C or better, which is needed by 2027. Even more concerning, a mere 8.3% of office stock sits in EPC band B, which is the minimum MEES requirement by 2030. With the tightening of MEES regulations, a substantial proportion of office buildings could be unlettable by 2027 unless necessary upgrades are carried out.
Services stakeholders need to look into how ventilation systems are performing. Keeping a close eye on energy consumption related to ventilation systems can not only help quickly identify performance issues but also contribute to overall sustainability efforts. Addressing these inefficiencies translates into reduced operational costs and a more environmentally friendly operation that complies with the MEES.
Services stakeholders need to look into how ventilation systems are performing.
As MEES regulations continue to evolve, the need for proactive action becomes increasingly evident. Taking these steps now secures the long-term sustainability and marketability of non-residential properties while providing more comfortable and energy-efficient spaces for tenants.
To meet the impending legislative requirements of MEES, it is essential to also align operations with other regulations such as Part F of the Building Regulations, which governs ventilation. One uplift that came during the revision of the regulations last year is the new requrement for CO2 monitors to be installed to measure air quality in new build office spaces.
Engaging ventilation experts to conduct your review can also optimise indoor air quality (IAQ) to ensure compliance with Part F, and requires continuous monitoring, especially in populated spaces such as offices. Although CO2 monitoring is only mandated for new build offices, install these systems provides lots of other benefits and can help define indoor air quality strategies.
“Monitors provide continuous tracking of crucial indoor air quality parameters. Last year, we launched our partnership with Airthings for this reason to allow building and facilities managers to track CO2 levels, particulate matter, noise levels, relative humidity, temperature, relative light intensity and more. Moreover, the Airthings systems receive constant improvements and over-the-cloud upgrades directly to the device, ensuring accurate and up-to-date data.”
By combining efficient ventilation system management with continuous IAQ monitoring, building owners and facilities managers can create safer, healthier, and more sustainable indoor environments.
