Building performance evaluation BPE

BSRIA (Building Services Research and Information Association) define Building Performance Evaluation (BPE) as:

“…a form of Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) which can be used at any point in a building's life to assess energy performance, occupant comfort and make comparisons with design targets.”

Building Performance Evaluations are an integral part of a soft landings programme, a strategy adopted to ensure the transition from construction to occupation is ‘bump-free’ and that operational performance is optimised. Soft landings keeps designers and constructors involved with buildings beyond practical completion.

As clients increasingly demand proof of performance, BPE is becoming a requirement on many projects, particularly in the public sector for schools, offices and healthcare buildings. Services can range from a complete evaluation to providing energy monitoring instruments and benchmarking building performance.

BPE generally falls into three elements:

• A forensic walkthrough; an inspection to check the building's operation and whether there are any emerging problems or wasteful operational practices.
• An energy survey; a breakdown of the energy used in a building by type of consumption, for example, heating, air conditioning, and so on.
• Assessment of occupant satisfaction; surveys and interviews of building users and occupiers.

For more information, download BSRIA's introduction to BPE presentation on behalf of the Modern Built Environment KTN for more details.

In September 2015, BSRIA launched Building Performance Evaluation in Non-Domestic Buildings Guide – an introduction to the tests and methods in non-domestic buildings. The guide provides a general introduction to Building Performance Evaluation (BPE) and explains why it is important and how it can be carried out. BPE is a key element of the BSRIA soft landings framework intended to help deliver buildings that are an effective and efficient and perform as expected. 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 its current performance.

NB The RIBA Passivhaus Overlay, published by the RIBA in 2022, states in relation to Building Performance Evaluation (BPE): “The process of gathering quantitative and qualitative data and interpreting that information in order to draw conclusions about the performance of one or more of a building’s attributes. It is advantageous to undertake BPE to gather data about the existing building. BS:40101 (BSI, 2022) establishes a framework for undertaking Building Performance Evaluation. It can be useful to review energy use (e.g. CIBSE TM22) and occupant satisfaction (BUS), and then, as appropriate, follow up with temperature and humidity monitoring, thermographic surveys and air leakage tests. This information can be used for designing out existing problems (changing control systems, updating technology, and training occupants), providing feedback to the project team, and informing Seasonal Commissioning of mechanical/electrical equipment.”

--BSRIA

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