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Last edited 08 Jan 2021

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Tom Blois-Brooke Engineer Website

BREEAM Energy efficient laboratory systems

1 Aim and benefits
2 When to consider
3 Step by step guidance
4 Questions to ask while seeking compliance
5 Tools and resources
- 5.1 Knowledge Base - UK New Construction 2014
6 Tips and best practice
- 6.1 Reduced Air Volume Hoods:
7 Typical evidence
- 7.1 Design Stage:
- 7.2 Post Construction Stage:
8 Applicable Schemes

[edit] Aim and benefits

The aim of this credit is to recognise and encourage laboratory areas that are designed to be energy efficient and minimise the CO2 emissions associated with their operational energy.

Due to the operational requirements of laboratory areas, they are often highly serviced spaces with onerous environmental requirements that results in a high energy demand.

Therefore the implementation of energy efficiency measures has the potential to have a significant impact on the energy demand and consumption of a development. The types of equipment assessed by this issue are not currently fully recognised in the National Calculation Methodology that is used to assess credits under Ene 01.

Care needs to be taken however to ensure that the implementation of energy efficiency measures doesn't impact on the performance requirements of the installation.

This issue only applies to the following building types:

It is not relevant to school buildings; in this instance the laboratory criteria under issue Hea 03 should be followed. Where there are a large number of containment devices in a school or sixth form college assessment, the BRE should be consulted with for guidance.

Links to be added to the Hea 03 article when produced.

This issue offers the following potential benefits to end users and clients:

Reduced energy consumption / energy bills;
Safer working environment; and
Aids discussions on appropriate laboratory systems to meet functional requirements.

[edit] When to consider

There is a pre-requisite for this credit that requires criterion 1 of Issue Hea 03 to be achieved. If this is not met, then no credits can be awarded for this issue. This requires an objective risk assessment of the laboratory facilities to be carried out prior to completion of RIBA Stage 3 to ensure potential risks are considered. If this is not achieved then no credits can be awarded.

Client engagement should be sought through consultation that occurs during RIBA Stage 1. The aim of this engagement is to understand the occupant requirements and determine the laboratory performance criteria. If engagement with the BREEAM process occurs after this stage and the above did not form a part of the consultation process at RIBA Stage 1, no credits can be awarded.

The remaining issues associated with this credit would normally be addressed during RIBA Stages 3 and 4 with the majority of the requirements impacting on the Building Services design.

[edit] Step by step guidance

First Credit:

The project team should confirm that the relevant stakeholders) have been consulted with during RIBA Stage 1 to determine the occupant requirements and laboratory performance criteria. Refer to the manual for a list of the performance criteria that should be considered as a minimum.

During the design stage (RIBA Stages 3&4), the design team should produce calculations to confirm that the energy demand of the facilities has been minimised as a result of achieving the defined design performance criteria and has led to optimum sizing of the equipment.

Where fume cupboards and other containment devices are present, compliance with criteria 2 and 3 of issue Hea 03 should be demonstrated. Links to be added to the Hea 03 article when produced.

All ducted fume cupboards should be specified with an average air flow rate of no greater than 0.16m3/s per linear meter of fume cupboard workspace. Care should be taken when targeting this credit to ensure that the reduced air flow does not compromise the defined performance criteria. See tips and best practice section below.

Credits 2 - 5:

These credits can only be awarded where the first credit and pre-requisite have been met and where the laboratory area accounts for at least 10% of the total building floor area. When calculating the floor area, the following areas should not be included:

Write up/offices
Meeting rooms
Storage
Ancillary and other support areas with a lower servicing requirement.

Where the laboratory area accounts for less than 25% of the total building floor area, up to 2 credits can be awarded. Where it accounts for more 25% or more, up to 4 credits can be awarded.

A selection of the following measures should be implemented to determine how many credits can be awarded:

1 Credit: where the specific fan powers (W/(l/s)) are specified to meet the best practice levels for all relevant items of equipment listed in the credit criteria;
0.5 Credits: an average design air flow rate of <0.12m3/s per linear meter (internal width) of fume cupboard workspace. The same care should be taken when targeting this credit to ensure that the reduced air flow does not compromise the defined performance criteria. See tips and best practice section below.
0.5 Credits:

Only whole credits can be awarded.

[edit] Questions to ask while seeking compliance

Have the relevant stakeholders been consulted with during RIBA Stage 1 to underside their requirements and performance criteria and has this been documented within the project brief?
Has the design team included for undertaking the required energy demand calculations as part of the design?

[edit] Tools and resources

[edit] Knowledge Base - UK New Construction 2014

BREEAM 2014 V. 5.0 ENE 6 - Energy Efficient Laboratory Systems

[edit] Tips and best practice

[edit] Reduced Air Volume Hoods:

Reduced air volume hoods incorporate a bypass block to partially close off the bypass, reducing the air volume and thus conserving energy. Usually, the block is combined with a sash stop to limit the height of the sash opening, ensuring a safe face velocity during normal operation while lowering the hood’s air volume. By reducing the air volume, the RAV hood can operate with a smaller blower, which is another cost-saving advantage.

Since RAV hoods have restricted sash movement and reduced air volume, these hoods are less flexible in what they can be used for and can only be used for certain tasks. Another drawback to RAV hoods is that users can in theory override or disengage the sash stop. If this occurs, the face velocity could drop to an unsafe level. To counter this condition, operators must be trained never to override the sash stop while in use, and only to do so when loading or cleaning the hood. The design team should highlight this to the client so that they understand the risks associated with specifying this type of system.

[edit] Typical evidence

[edit] Design Stage:

Minutes of meetings to confirm consultation with relevant stakeholders
Project brief that includes the laboratory performance criteria and occupant requirements
Energy demand assessment
Laboratory system specification and drawings

[edit] Post Construction Stage:

[edit] Applicable Schemes

The guidelines collated in this ISD aim to support sustainable best practice in the topic described. This issue may apply in multiple BREEAM schemes covering different stages in the life of a building, different building types and different year versions. Some content may be generic but scheme nuances should also be taken into account. Refer to the comments below and related articles to this one to understand these nuances. See this document for further guidelines.