Facilities and Technologies
The Sustainable Building Futures Project offers a number of facilities and technologies available for SMEs to access.
Our Environmental Technologists can help you learn about these new technologies and advise how best to use them within your current business practices.
The list of facilities includes:
Thermal imaging cameras
- Investigate building problems such as damp patches, cold spots and leaks without the need for pulling up carpets and floors.
- Create a visual record of how heat travels through a particular building product or group of components.
- Identify heat lost through poorly fitted windows or demonstrate reduction of heat loss by improvement works through taking before and after pictures. Read more about thermal imaging cameras.
Omnidirectional telescopic probe
- Used for indoor air velocity measurement at low range readings, between 0.15 and 5 m/s (0.3 to 10mph), with a high resolution of 0.01m/s. This is most often used to monitor and assess draughts in buildings. Read more about omnidirectional telescopic probes.
Vane probe anemometer
- For indoor and external air velocity within normal range readings between 0.25 to 35m/s (0.5 to 80mph) with detection of air flow direction and temperature measurement between 0 to +50°C. Read more about vane probe anemometers.
Indoor air quality measurement tool
- A CO2 probe can be used for both outdoor and indoor readings within the measuring range between 0 and 5000 parts per million (ppm).
The Environmental Chamber
- For building product manufacturers, we can test thermal performance of products across different weather conditions and temperature profiles
- Testing usually uses standard weekday and weekend profile plus an extremely cold day
- Recent tests have included the thermal performance of an acrylic based secondary glazing product against a glass based one, testing condensation amounts produced by each material
- Measuring 2.5m wide by 3m long by 2.1m high, designed to test the hygrothermal performance of real life samples in a wide range of simulated climate conditions. Read more about our environmental chamber.
Building monitoring equipment
- To collect evidence of performance either immediately post construction or as part of an in-use or post-occupancy study. Read more about building monitoring equipment.
Air tightness testing equipment
- Free air tightness tests for companies that are to building regulation standards, but not registered so this service cannot be used to obtain sign off
- Companies can achieve high levels of air tightness by performing an intermediate test part way through their build showing if design and build are able to achieve their target
- Use air tightness in conjunction with thermal imaging. This artificially draws cold external air into a building which is then pictured and highlights where heat is being lost
- To carry out air tightness tests on domestic and small to medium sized commercial properties. Leakage rates at any predetermined pressure can be calculated together with effective leakage area and air changes per hour.
Energy audit surveys
- Free impartial energy audits of businesses aiming to reduce energy costs and manage this resource more efficiently
- Audits are based on the minimum capital expenditure needed to make the most difference. In many cases suggestions for change require little or no expenditure
- Our surveyors will set up energy monitoring equipment and will cross reference this with your previous year's energy bills
- Our monitoring equipment will establish temperature and energy profiles throughout the day and at weekends to help businesses identify exactly where and when they are using energy
- Recent tests include a Warwick based manufacturing company who saved £1500 per year with a CAPEX of £1100 and a payback period of 9 months
- For domestic and commercial buildings. Read more about energy audits.
Contact us today on +44 (0)24 7765 8800 or sbf@coventry.ac.uk.
