Overview
Recent surveys have revealed that there are some shocking gaps between the design intention and the reality of some new buildings' energy consumption. This is particularly worrying because the performance shortfall is happening despite tougher Building Regulations.
Innovative technologies devised to deliver low energy consumption and comfortable conditions are often difficult to commission, unreliable in operation and complicated to maintain. The resulting problems require designers to adopt a strategy in order to 'reality-check' their design decisions throughout a project.
BSRIA's Pitstopping guide describes a process that allows construction teams to periodically reconsider critical design issues by focusing on the perspective of the end user.
The guide is specifically designed to run within Soft Landings Framework (BG 54/2018), a form of graduated handover for new and refurbished buildings. Soft Landings activities will assist in gaining credits under BREEAM 2011.
Pitstops may occur during any of the following construction stages:
- Briefing - scheme design check
- Design - technical reality check
- Post-construction - tender stage reality check
- Construction - pre-handover reality check
- Initial aftercare yr 1 - post-handover sign-off review
- Initial aftercare yr 2 - Soft Landings check progress for 18 month aftercare review
- Initial aftercare yr 3 - Soft Landings check progress for 36 month aftercare review
This pitstopping process will become invaluable as the Government pushes for improved operational performance and clients are demanding the expected energy efficiencies upon project completion.