ESWG, 24 November 2014
Report: Penryn and Falmouth Campuses Space Temperature Policy
Executive summary:An up to date temperature policy is required in order to help manage energy usage and costs, as well as reduce the risk of fire caused by the uncontrolled use of personal portable heating and cooling equipment. A joint Falmouth and Penryn Campus policy will help provide consistent messages and advice to all Falmouth University staff.
Status of paper:For recommendation of approval to the FX Plus Board
Consultation:FX Plus Estates Technical Services Team, Falmouth Estates Manager, Falmouth
Proposer:Tim Brooksbank
1.Introduction
Reducing unnecessary heating and cooling is an important part of our Carbon Management Plan. Despite a continued investment in carbon efficient equipment and fittings, our absolute carbon footprint and associated energy costs are still continuing to rise year on year.
An up to date temperature policy covering all buildings can help in the management energy usage and cost. This policy sets out the legal definitions for working space temperatures and contains what the Estates Departments consider to be an acceptable room temperatures range during both the heating and cooling seasons.
The draft policy covers both the Falmouth Campus and the Penryn Campus to ensure consistent carbon and energy management messages are given to all Falmouth University staff and students. Portable heaters can pose significant fire safety risks. The policy provides guidance on when, and the circumstances under which, the use of portable heating and cooling appliances are considered acceptable.
It is planned that the policy belaunched alongside the distribution of room thermometer cards to all offices and workplaces on both campuses. These cards measure the temperature in an office or workplace, and will help raise staff awareness of what are considered to be acceptable working temperatures.
2The proposed draft policy:
Penryn and Falmouth Campuses Space Temperature Policy
The reason for the policy
We want everyone who uses our buildings to be comfortable and able to undertake their roles to the full, but at the same time we need to be conscious of our energy consumption.
Our Carbon Management Plan calls for a reduction in energy consumption of 45% per m2 of Gross Internal Area by 2019/20 based on our 2005/06 baseline. Wasted energy is an unnecessary expense, both in terms of rising energy bills as well as fiscal taxes e.g., the Government’s Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) requires us to pay for every tonne of carbon we emit.
A number of people across the two estates are making progress towards reducing the energy consumption in our buildings, but we do still need action and support from the people who use them.
Temperature control is one of the most cost-effective ways of reducing energy and associated carbon emissions. This policy document applies to both the Penryn and the Falmouth Campuses, and aims to achieve a consistency across the estates during normal operating hours through setting temperature parameters, within which, requests for changes to temperature will not be met. In any areas on the campuses where that degree of control is not currently possible we will be seeking opportunities to make improvements.
To help the universities to achieve their carbon targets, all students and staff are requested to report over-heating, or over-cooling to the relevant Estates Department Contact address:
Penryn Campus
Falmouth Campus
ROOM TEMPERATURES
The Workplace (Health and Safety Welfare) Regulations, 1992 Code of Practice states that temperature in workrooms should provide reasonable comfort and goes on to specify that this should normally be at least 16°C for sedentary work and 13°C for manual work.
Non-Residential Areas (both Campuses)
No area will be actively heated to a temperature more than 21°C (+/- 2°C to allow for control variances).
Corridors and circulation space shall not be actively heated above 18°C.
No area shall be actively cooled to a temperature below 24°C (+/- 2°C to allow for control variances).
Corridors and circulation space shall not normally have mechanical cooling supplied.
The Estates Team will aim to maintain these temperatures in all non-residential areas unless there is a requirement for a particular set of temperatures for research purpose or specific activities.
Residential Areas (Penryn Campus)
No area shall be actively heated to a temperature higher than 21°C (+/- 2°C to allow for control variances).
Cooling is not provided to any of the residential areas.
Heating Times
During the heating season, which usually starts in October and ends in May, we aim to maintain the temperatures in buildings at these given levels during their core operational hours. Normal heating hours are optimised to be at working temperature between 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday.
Out of hours heating is provided to study areas, and in scheduled lecture theatres/time-tabled space for use outside the working hours given above.
In other areas, the operational heating hours are:
Food Outlets and Bar Areas – as per advertised opening hours
Performance Centre – as per advertised opening hours
Student residential accommodation: During the heating season, residential heating will be optimised to be a working temperature from 6am to 11pm, 7 days a week. Residential buildings will not normally be heated during the summer months.
Laboratory conditions remain outside this protocol
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems in the campus buildings are controlled by Building Management Systems (BMS). A BMS detects both internal and external temperatures and, based on previous performance, calculates the appropriate time to switch systems on e.g. boilers, pumps, etc., in order to achieve the temperature set-point by the start of the occupancy period.
Out of normal operating hours heating requests e.g. for evening or weekend events should be made to (Penryn Campus) or (Falmouth Campus).
Use of Portable Heaters and A/C Units
Electric heating is expensive; it emits more carbon than other fuels, and can pose a significant fire risk. To comply with Health and Safety legislation, all temporary heaters and air conditioning (A/C) units used on the campuses must be portable appliance tested (PAT). Only thermostatically controlled oil filled radiators, may be used for portable heating.
Outside the heating season, in circumstances where internal temperatures are shown to be below 19°C for a significant period, the Estates Team may provide temporary heating on request.
The use of electric heating during the heating season adversely affects BMS control of building systems; building thermostats detecting higher temperatures caused by portable heaters, may cause the shutting down of the heating to potentially large areas of a building, affecting many building users and leading to complaints, inefficiency and higher energy costs. The use of electric heaters during the heating season will only be permitted in exceptional circumstances, e.g. failure of the main heating systems, or any areas which are below the legal heating temperature. For safety reasons portable electric heaters and A/C units must not be left switched on in unoccupied rooms and under no circumstances should be left on out of hours.
Requests for additional heating for health or other specific reasons must be approved by the Head of Department and the relevant Estates Department. Individuals are not permitted to bring in their own local heaters or A/C units and, if found, these may be removed during routine health and safety inspections.
Checklist for Campus Users:
Human perception of a comfortable temperature is subjective, and is based on a combination of factors including; air temperature, radiant temperature, humidity, individual metabolism and clothing.
Personal comfort can also depend on building design and room layout, and this should be considered when plans are being made to change the layout of a building or the rooms within it, particularly if such changes will involve the construction or removal of walls, partitions or other physical aspects which can affect the flow of air within and around a building.
Heating/Cooling Checklist for Campus users:
Are the internal doors between areas of different temperatures e.g. an office and a corridor kept closed? This will keep the heat in and reduce cold draughts.
Is clothing appropriate for the external weather conditions? If the weather outside is cold, this will impact the temperature of internal conditions. Consider keeping a spare jumper in the office for those occasional ‘off days’ when you may feel colder. If the weather outside is warm, not wearing jumpers or heavyweight clothing will help.
Are the radiators (or other heating equipment) blocked with furniture, clothing, towels, etc?
Poorly fitting windows and exterior doors should be reported to the relevant Estates Department for repair. Where windows and doors need draught proofing/fixing, this should also be reported to Estates.
Too hot? Individual control over the thermal environment can help prevent overheating in summer months; e.g. open windows, adjust blinds to keep out direct sunlight, or move out of sunny areas.
If you have high and low level windows, grilles or vents in your space, try to ensure these are open to help provide an updraft cooling effect. However all windows must be kept closed in air conditioned areas.
The need for cooling can be reduced by switching off electrical equipment and lighting when not needed.
Do not use a supplementary heater to compensate for an overcool room; contact the Estates helpdesk to report the problem.
The heating and cooling systems in a space must never operate at the same time. Instances of this must be reported to the relevant Estates Department
Reporting Heating Faults:
If you believe it is too hot or too cold in your area and have tried the above measures, please contact your estates department, who are here to assist. We will then place a calibrated temperature logging device in the space and gather a week’s worth of data. The results will determine the appropriate action to deal with the complaint.
Please note the minimum legally required temperature for sedentary staff is 16°C. There is no legal maximum working temperature.
All heating faults should be reported to the appropriate Estates contact:
Penryn Campus
Or in an emergency contact: •4444 (internal extension – 24/7) or
•01326 370400 (8.30am to 5.30pm) or
•07768 557779 (24/7)
Falmouth Campus
Email:
Or in an emergency contact: 07837 931514
Recommendations
ESWG approve the content of the draft joint campus Space and Heating Policy.
That the ESWG recommend the draft policy be presented to FX Plus and Falmouth Boards for endorsement and publication.
[Tim Brooksbank, November 2014]
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