NewsBS 40102-1: New guidance from the BSI focuses on IAQ for non-domestic buildings

Published in April, the BSI’s new code of practice for non-domestic buildings looks set tackle the health and wellbeing performance of non-domestic buildings. BS 40102-1 gives recommendations for measuring, evaluating and acting on the key health and wellbeing factors of buildings.

According to the BSI, BS 40102-1 on indoor environmental quality can be adopted by:

• Building design professionals
• Construction industry
• Surveyors
• Facilities management professionals
• Landlords
• Employers and employee representatives
• Occupational health & safety and well-being professionals
• Air quality consultants
• Light quality consultants
• Thermal comfort consultants
• Soundscape quality consultants

BS 40102-1 gives recommendations for measuring, monitoring and reporting on the wellbeing and indoor environmental quality (IEQ) performance of an occupied building and associated building services.

It provides an evaluation and rating system, the aim of which is to enhance IEQ. The IEQ performance score generated as an outcome of evaluation provides organizations with a benchmark score that can be used to identify areas of below par performance and enable improvements to be made accordingly.

This new code of practise brings with it the following business benefits:

• It enables measuring and reporting on health and well-being factors in buildings
• It enables target setting and actions that improve health and well-being in buildings
• It can create healthier buildings and improve the mental and physical health and well-being of building occupants, including staff, visitors, tenants and customers
• It can help improve the efficiency of building occupants, of retrofit activities and of buildings themselves

BS 40102-1 applies to non-domestic buildings, including existing building stock. It can be used, along with other standards and design guidance, in existing buildings, renovations and new build developments. It covers a good practice approach to the evaluation and assessment of the following factors:

• Air quality
• Light quality
• Thermal comfort
• Acoustic and soundscape quality

NOTE: Indoor environmental characteristics in terms of their definition, evaluation and interpretation are detailed in BS EN 16798-1, CEN TR 16798-2 and BS EN ISO 7730.

The guidance can be purchased from BSI in digital format, or hard copy.