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
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Building performance.
- Building performance evaluation in domestic buildings.
- Building performance evaluation in non-domestic buildings guide – an introduction to the tests and methods in non-domestic buildings.
- Building performance metrics.
- Building use studies (BUS).
- Built2Spec.
- Extended aftercare.
- Handover to client.
- Initial aftercare.
- Lessons learned report.
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology soft landings project.
- Performance of exemplar buildings in use: Bridging the performance gap FB 78.
- Post occupancy evaluation.
- Post occupancy evaluation process.
- Post project review.
- Performance in use.
- Smart meters and building performance evaluation.
- Soft landings.
- Soft Landings for owners.
Featured articles and news
This weeks guest editor, Ankita Dwivedi of Firstplanit.
Fropm practice to research and the business of materials.
Terminologies relating nature and buildings
Arts & Crafts to all the bios, environmental design to topophilia.
Types of work to existing buildings - repurposing of buildings
Alteration to Demolition and everything in between.
2023 HSE data on workplace injuries and ill health
And CIOB's response.
Building Safety Act and Secondary Legislation
Presidential update from CIAT's Eddie Weir PCIAT.
Starting pistol Statement for an election campaign?
Rates freeze, NI cuts, full expensing; early election?
Positive pressure or positive input ventilation
Could this be a remedy for condensation, damp or mould?
Unlocking a Healthier Tomorrow
Report on Social housing retrofit in Scotland 2023
Call for ministerial group and National Retrofit Delivery Plan.
The Great Transformation 1860–1920. Book review.
2023 Autumn Statement in brief with reactions
Including the devolved governments, CIOB, ECA, APM and IHBC.
Irish Life Sciences HQ, an exemplar of adaptive reuse
AT awards small to medium size project category winner.
Formal and informal adaptive re-use or new use of buildings.
Broken Record. Emissions Gap Report 2023
Temperatures hit new highs, yet world fails to cut emissions (again).
Environment Agency cuts waste red tape
No longer enforcing certain waste transfer documentation.
APM Project Management Awards 2023
Winners reactions during the event at the Park Plaza Hotel.
BSRIA Living Laboratory Innovation Challenge
An exciting opportunity for stakeholders to collaborate.
Discussing issues related to inside and outside air quality
Report from the BSRIA Briefing 2023, Cleaner Air, Better Tomorrow.