BREEAM Version 7 Coming Soon – Are You Ready?

by Charlotte Stansfield | Sep 5, 2024 | Blog

BREEAM Version 7, planned to be released later this year, sets new standards for building performance, aligned with global decarbonisation efforts. The comprehensive overhaul has adopted new minimum standards for achieving BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and ‘Outstanding’ ratings, with an emphasis on operational & embodied carbon reduction and wellbeing.

We have summarised some of the key changes below.

We are keen to help you understand the implications these changes will have on your future projects so please let us know if you would like to discuss BREEAM Version 7 with our team.

It may also be an opportunity for you to register any existing projects against the current BREEAM version to shield you from the more onerous requirements and costs of the new standard. We can of course help you with registration and progression of these projects.

Energy and Carbon

Reduced emphasis on the demand metric and more focus on performance outcomes.

New credits that focus on the prediction of a building’s operational energy use and carbon emissions aligned with NABERS.

Change to EV charging requirements that require a minimum allocation of 10% of parking spaces for EV charging stations and installing cable routes for 20% of parking spaces is required.

A new credit related to flexible demand response that recognises installed electrical building systems which have the capability to automatically modify their electricity consumption patterns in response to signals from the electricity supplier there by supporting grid stability and reducing peak energy use.

A new credit that requires installed controls that enable building servicing systems to respond more efficiently to the demand for energy services.

Health and Wellbeing

New credits rewarding advanced lighting control systems that enhance both comfort and energy efficiency and the benefits of lighting that supports a healthy circadian rhythm. Updated approach to daylight calculations.

Ecology and Pollution

New requirements promoting sustainable site selection practices and updates that include new benchmarks to align with English Biodiversity Net Gain law.

New prerequisite that mandates all refrigerant gases have zero ozone depletion potential.

Carbon and Materials

BREEAM ‘Excellent’ now requires LCA and embodied carbon reporting, while ‘Outstanding’ ratings require a minimum of five credits to be achieved.

A new methodology for Building Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) that includes calculations and reporting of LCA and Embodied carbon at building level during concept design, technical design, and post-construction.

Water

A new credit that requires projects to predict water consumption based on expected occupancy rather than standard occupancy.

Projects can earn up to two standard credits and two exemplary credits for accurately predicting water use, setting targets for in-use water consumption, and committing to measuring actual water use post-occupancy.

For more details of our BREEAM related services please visit our BREEAM page.

Tim Bell

Head of Sustainability

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +44(0)161 337 2200

LinkedIn

Matthew Dalley

Senior Energy & Sustainability Consultant

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +44(0)161 337 2200

LinkedIn

Charlotte Becker

Graduate Sustainability Engineer

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +44(0)161 337 2200

LinkedIn

Sustainability Consultancy – Meet the Team

by Charlotte Stansfield | Jun 7, 2024 | Blog

We are very pleased to introduce you to the Hannan Sustainability team.

As Building Services Engineering Consultants sustainability has always featured at the heart of our design process.

Hannan provides a wide range of sustainability consulting services to support our clients to shape and define strategies to achieve site specific and corporate Sustainability targets including:

Net Zero Carbon
NABERS UK & Energy Performance Modelling
Building Certification
LCA and LCC Studies.

Name: Tim Bell

Role: Head of Sustainability

How did you end up working in sustainability?

A long time ago, I worked with my Dad in California, where we designed and built bespoke homes. It really piqued my interest in construction. From there I took an MSc In Construction Management and Economics at UCL, where sustainability was touched on, before moving into consultancy working on Life cycle costing projects. It just happened one day that I supported a project team on a BREEAM project and found the various subject areas to be very interesting. From there I haven’t really looked back, and my focus was fixed firmly on sustainability.

What do you enjoy the most about your job and what do you find the most challenging?

The variety of project types makes the job interesting and certainly as more of our clients are looking at Net Zero and decarbonisation there is a wider variety of sustainability topics to focus on rather than purely certification. This allows us to add value. Managing several projects can be challenging whilst ensuring that what Hannan provides to our clients is of the very highest quality.

How has the industry changed since you first started your career?

Well it’s changed dramatically. I remember sitting in meetings 20 years ago and being asked ‘Sustaina…what?’ Now obviously, climate change, decarbonisation and net zero are everyday terms and key drivers for the built environment. Importantly all these issues are being discussed, taught in schools, highlighted in the media and the younger generation, on the whole, are much more aware of the situation we find ourselves in and keen to make a difference. The built environment is now defined by sustainability and developers and investors are motivated to deliver and invest in ‘green’ assets as tenants become more particular about the buildings they want to work in.

What changes do you foresee for the next 20 years?

Embracing innovation, sustainable supply chains and procurement, the continued rise of the circular economy and more focus on the economic and social impacts of sustainability such as community engagement. As the climate crisis becomes increasingly complex, customers will also be more cautious about their own carbon footprint and will question if a product is sustainably sourced or produced.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I try to live a relatively active lifestyle and have recently taken up Padel and play as often as my knees allow. I’ve basically got all the gear and no idea! Just being with my wife Sarah and daughter Esme. Long walks in Formby Pinewoods and on the beach with Indy our dog. And got to put it out there, I’m a lifelong LFC supporter so try to get to Anfield when I can and having grown up in California, I also have a great passion for baseball and American Football.

Name: Charlotte Becker

Role: Graduate Sustainability Engineer

Which training route did you take?

I completed a BSc (hons) in Environmental Science and an MSc in Environmental Sustainability and Green Technology both at Keele University, before spending a year gaining industry experience working in environmental consultancy.

What do you enjoy about your job?

I enjoy the fact that I am able to apply my passion for the environment to projects that can produce real-world positive impacts such as preventing greenhouse gas emissions or making improvements to the local environment which can be very rewarding. I also enjoy the wide variety of tasks and projects I get to work on in the role of Graduate Sustainability Engineer, as well as being able to play a part in the transition towards sustainable development that encompasses all aspects of sustainability from material efficiency to ecological enhancement.

What do you enjoy about working at Hannan Associates?

I enjoy the friendly and supportive atmosphere at Hannan Associates and being able to work with, and learn from, a range of different people who are very knowledgeable in their respective disciplines. I also enjoy the variety of training opportunities I have been given since working at Hannan Associates which have enabled me to develop my skills and understanding and have put me on a path to becoming a recognised sustainability professional.

What do you enjoying doing in your spare time?

I like to spend much of my spare time with my family and friends as well as staying active by going running and doing gym classes.

Name: Matt Dalley

Role: Senior Energy & Sustainability Consultant

How did you end up working in sustainability?

The Kyoto Protocol was signed in December 1997. In 1998, at the age of 16, I applied to study A-Levels in Environmental Science, Geography and Geology. This led me to study for a degree in Environmental Protection and then read for an MSc in Sustainable Development.

What do you enjoy the most about your job and what do you find the most challenging?

I enjoy seeing the evolution of sustainable building design and the finished building.
The challenge is changing the existing mindset of designers and contractors towards sustainability.

How has the industry changed since you first started your career?

Sustainability has gone from being a fringe concept to a core requirement. Clients and tenants now understand the climate issues and expect a high level of sustainability in their buildings.

What changes do you foresee for the next 20 years?

The move to zero carbon and the use of operational energy models / in-use energy data will become a driving factor in building design.

Any advice for people looking at starting a career in building services engineering?

A career in sustainability can be rewarding, but there are still many challenges. As with many things, the barrier of cost requires a compromise between sustainability and affordability.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Hiking/camping /DIY.

Hannan Sustainability Services

Strategy

Sustainability Strategy (Building and/or portfolio level)
Net Zero Carbon Pathways
Bespoke Sustainability Framework & KPI development
Planning – Energy & Sustainability Reports
ESG and Sustainability Policy development

Certification & Assessment

BREEAM
BREEAM Communities
CEEQUAL / BREEAM Infrastructure
NABERS
LEED
WELL – Early stage advice
GRESB Consultancy
EPC

Decarbonisation

Operational Energy Modelling
Passive Design Analysis
Low Zero Carbon – Renewables Feasibility Studies
Embodied Carbon Assessments

Additional Services

Indoor Air Quality Plans
SBTI Consultancy Services
Life Cycle Costing Assessments

Please reach out to our team to discuss how we can support your organisation on your sustainability journey.

Tim Bell

Head of Sustainability

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +44(0)161 337 2200

LinkedIn

National Apprenticeship Week 2024

by Charlotte Stansfield | Feb 9, 2024 | Uncategorized

To celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, we caught up with past and present building services engineering apprentices here at Hannan Associates to see what they had to say about their experiences.

George Ellison – Apprentice Electrical Design Engineer

George joined Hannans in 2023 when he started his BEng Degree Apprenticeship in Building Services & Sustainable Engineering after completing his HNC and Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma in Construction & the Built Environment.

Why is undertaking an apprenticeship the right route for you?

Undertaking a degree apprenticeship is the right route for me as I’ve been able to study for a well-recognised qualification whilst also gaining valuable experience in the workplace.

It’s also a great opportunity to earn money whilst completing your studies. The exposure you get being in the workplace on a day-to-day basis weather that be learning software, attending site visits or meetings, these are all skills which being an apprentice helps build and prepare you for the future.

I enjoy being able to play my part in making a positive impact on the way buildings work/perform, the problem-solving aspect of the job and I also enjoy the demand of it i.e. being kept busy at all times.

My future aspirations would be after completing my Degree to become a well-recognised chartered Electrical Engineer.

What do you enjoy about working at Hannans?

I enjoy the spirit of the team here at Hannan’s, everyone has been extremely welcoming which has made it easy for me to work to the best of my ability at an early stage. There is also a vast range of projects and certainly ones which I have an invested interest in i.e football stadia.

Any advice for people looking at starting a career in building services engineering?

My advice for people considering going into Building Services Engineering would be if you enjoy problem solving and feel as though you would thrive in a fast paced, evolving industry then go for it. It’s a career which will allow you to experience a variety of interesting projects, seeing how they progress from a patch of land all the way through to the finished article.

Brad Spivey – Electrical Design Engineer

Brad joined Hannan Associates seven years ago as an apprentice. He completed his Building Services Engineering HNC at Stockport College and then progressed onto the BEng Degree Apprenticeship in Building Services & Sustainable Engineering at the University of Central Lancashire, which he completed in 2022.

During his time with the Hannan team Brad has developed into a highly skilled, client focused and motivated electrical design engineer contributing to the success of his projects by ensuring that client needs are met at all stages, during design and construction and by ensuring that energy efficiency is always considered and incorporated.

Brad has helped lead several utilities infrastructure projects by producing utility load assessments, reviewing existing infrastructure services and diversion requirements, identifying initial utility space and route requirements, submission of utility applications as well as monitoring utility installations on site.

Why was undertaking an apprenticeship the right route for you?

The apprenticeship route enabled me to train on the job with the luxury of studying one day a week at college & university helping to make my studies much more relatable.

This allowed me to progress academically whilst gaining experience and progressing my career.

What do you enjoy about working at Hannans?

I have worked as an electrical engineer at Hannan Associates for seven years starting out as an apprentice. During this time, I have worked on stadia, industrial warehouse parks, leisure, office and infrastructure projects as well as regularly attending site to complete site inspections and witnessing of systems to ensure all systems are adequate for handover. Everyone at Hannan Associates is helpful and works as a team to ensure that projects are delivered on time to the required standards.

Any advice for people looking at starting a career in building services engineering?

My advice firstly would be research the building services industry and decide if it’s right for you. Building services has a big role to play in the future due to the need for reducing both existing and new build CO2 emissions whilst ensuring the sustainability needs of buildings are met. This could be your chance to contribute and make a difference both locally and on a larger global scale.

My advice personally to anyone looking to get into building services would be work hard and don’t give up if you make a mistake or don’t achieve something at the first attempt.

Careers at Hannan Associates

If you are interested in joining the Hannan team please get in touch.

We are expanding and on the lookout for new talent for our busy Manchester office. We know that our people are key to the success of our business and we need enthusiastic, inspired and proactive people who are committed to new ways of thinking and working at the leading edge of Building Performance and Sustainability.

Carolyn Sidebotham

Recruitment Manager

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +44(0)161 337 2200

LinkedIn

With 40 years in business we can offer you valuable experience of a fast paced, innovative environment and a very varied workload. Our long standing team of engineers provide mentoring and guidance and we are committed to providing support and funding for continued training and development.

Hannan Associates are an equal opportunities employer and we value the diversity of our workforce. Applicants are considered in relation to business needs, job requirements & individual qualifications without regard to age, sex, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation or gender identity.

Greenhaus wins at the Insider NW Residential Awards 2024

by Charlotte Stansfield | Jan 30, 2024 | Blog

We are delighted to be a part of the team working on Greenhaus Salford, winner of the Sustainability Award at the Insider North West Residential Awards 2024.

Greenhaus is the latest chapter in the regeneration of the Chapel Street area of Salford Central, led by The English Cities Fund. This scheme has been developed alongside Salix Homes who will be the housing association partner for the scheme.

The Hannan residential team are the MEP design consultants for Greenhaus, which will provide 96 eco-friendly, affordable apartments designed and built to Passivhaus standards, making it the largest scheme of Passivhaus accredited, affordable homes in the UK.

Our duties on the project have included:

Technical review and development of MEP strategy options and plant space requirements to achieve Passivhaus Certification
MEP design input into the PHPP assessment
Building Regulations Part L Design Stage Compliance Assessments
Limiting Overheating Analysis
Ongoing site inspections & reporting during the construction period

The Passivahus accreditation will be achieved by employing an all electric strategy including residential ventilation via high efficiency MVHR units, heat pump technology, in addition to passive measures such as enhanced building fabric performance including triple glazing, and significantly improved air tightness.

Other members of the team include: Buttress Architects; Appleyard & Trew; Alan Johnston Partnership; Max Fordham; Design Fire Consultants; Planit IE; main contractor Eric Wright Construction and MEP Contractor Ameon Building Services.

Greenhaus is part of ECF’s wider £1bn regeneration scheme transforming the area of Salford Central. The masterplan contains commercial, retail and residential buildings creating a new and vibrant destination for people to live, work and relax.

The English Cities Fund is a joint venture between Muse Places, Legal & General and Homes England, in conjunction with Salford City Council.

“‘The overarching aim has been to reduce energy demand and to employ highly efficient, sustainable services design to address fuel poverty and the cost-of-living crisis. In doing so, the scheme is also a positive step in the right direction for achieving carbon targets, offers improved levels of thermal comfort, and will improve residents’ health and wellbeing. The success of the scheme has been driven by each discipline’s attention to detail throughout the design and construction period”.

Thomas Cutt

Associate Mechanical Design Engineer

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +44(0)161 337 2200

LinkedIn

Merry Christmas from all at Hannan Associates xx

by Charlotte Stansfield | Dec 20, 2023 | Uncategorized

The Hannan team would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

It has been a pleasure working with you during the last year, we truly value the relationships and enjoy the challenges each project brings us.

We are as ever very thankful for the high level of repeat business we receive and the many interesting projects we are involved with. But none of this could be possible without the continued hard work and commitment of our loyal team.

Instead of sending Christmas cards & gifts this year, we have made donations to Bolton Hospice, Francis House and Dementia UK. Three very worthy charities who do a brilliant job of making a tangible impact on the lives of those who need support.