MC Building Physics

Packaged services

MC Building Physics offers a range of services applicable to new build and renovation.

Early stage matrix

Zero Level package - Simpler methods for a quick, broad overview

This is an offering for bid or scoping stages designed to inform but not to impose any particular method or system.

For speed and economy information is produced using quick hand calculations, simple tools and benchmarks to give an overall picture of potential opportunities or issues.

These categories are interconnected as shown in the matrix (click to enlarge) and knowing how they interact is crucial to achieving a high performance built environment.

Site

The surroundings of the development are assessed for aspects that may affect building performance or represent an opportunity -:

  • Sources of noise
  • Terrain/topology
  • Water sources
  • Bodies of water

Massing

The possible massing of the development

  • Natural ventilation – Floorplate, proximity to noise sources
  • Daylighting – Self shading, sun position
  • Solar – Gains, PV, thermal
  • Exposure
Solar track

Fenestration

The possible fenestration characteristics of the development

  • Daylighting – Maximising useful, sky view
  • Solar gain levels – Shading, solar control glazing
  • Natural ventilation – Opening sizes
Daylight

Distributed energy

The potential for using distributed energy

  • Demand – Heat, electricity, cooling
  • Opportunities – Existing, new

Wind

The wind profiles for the site

  • Effect on building – Natural ventilation, infiltration
  • Wind power – Availability, siting issues
Wind

Biomass

The potential for using biomass fuel for the development

  • Sourcing – Locality, available quantity

Demands

These will have a large influence on many of the other categories. Factors include -:

  • Occupancy – Numbers, fresh air, activities
  • Internal gains – Equipment, lighting
  • Internal design conditions – Temperature, air quality, comfort
  • Lighting requirements – Levels, daylighting, glare
  • Noise levels
  • Likely heating and cooling demands
  • Likely electricity and gas demand
  • Water demand – Potable, possible grey water utilisation.

Climate

A summary of the climate for the location is produced taking into account -:

  • Potential for natural ventilation – Temperature, solar, wind
  • Free cooling – Temperature, humidity
  • Rainfall – Runoff, harvesting
  • Adaptive comfort – Running mean temperature
  • Heat island – Possible implications
Psychrometric

Fabric

The fabric of the development

  • Innovative materials – Superinsulation, phase change
  • Sustainable construction – Meeting requirements with low impact methods
  • Thermal mass

Solar

The potential for using solar energy and possible issues with solar gain

  • Solar energy – Available energy (irradiation), PV, solar thermal
  • Solar gains – Sun paths
Solar map

Geo energy

The potential for using energy stored in the grounds

  • Ground source heat pumps – Ground water, ground type
Ground conditions

Passivhaus

Passivhaus

MC Building Physics can provide the calculations required for Passivhaus [12][13] certification using the Passivhaus Planning Package. If necessary the calculations can be supplemented using less simplified tools, particularly when calculating thermal bridging values.

BREEAM energy points

BREEAM

Although normally part of a Part L2 and EPC process a BREEAM[8] energy points model can be produced separately earlier in the design programme. The model produced can then be used to produce the Part L2 submission and any EPCs required.

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