CIBSE Lift Group

🌍 The Future of Energy: Shifting Towards Sustainability in Buildings and Vertical Transport ⚡ As the world transitions away from fossil fuels and moves towards cleaner, renewable energy sources, this shift is set to reshape the way we power our buildings and vertical transport systems. With an increasing focus on sustainability, energy efficiency, and reducing carbon footprints, the energy mix of the future will play a crucial role in shaping our urban environments. Key Trends in the Future of Energy: - Renewable Energy Growth: Solar, wind, hydro, and other renewable sources will become the dominant energy providers, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and lowering carbon emissions. - Nuclear Energy's Role: Next-generation nuclear technologies, such as small modular reactors (SMRs), offer a reliable, low-carbon energy source that can complement renewables, providing consistent power to buildings and critical systems like vertical transport. - Decentralised Energy Systems: More buildings will incorporate on-site renewable generation and storage systems, such as solar panels and battery storage, helping to reduce energy consumption and increase self-sufficiency. - Smart Grid Technologies: Advanced grid systems will optimise energy use across buildings, integrating renewable sources and improving efficiency in the distribution of power. - Electrification of Vertical Transport: As energy becomes cleaner, vertical transport systems, such as lifts and escalators, will increasingly be powered by renewable energy, making them more sustainable and energy-efficient. - Energy-Efficient Building Designs: The future of building design will be highly focused on energy-saving technologies, from passive design strategies to efficient HVAC and lighting systems, further reducing the energy demand for vertical transport systems. How This Shift Benefits Vertical Transport: - Greener Lifts and Escalators: With renewable and low-carbon energy powering vertical transport systems, elevators and escalators will contribute less to global emissions, making them more sustainable. - Improved Efficiency: Energy-efficient lift designs, like regenerative drives, will capture and reuse energy during operation, minimising energy consumption. - Integration with Smart Buildings: Vertical transport will become more integrated with building management systems, optimising energy use and reducing waste. As the world moves towards a cleaner, more sustainable energy future, the buildings and vertical transport systems that support urban life will evolve to meet these new energy demands. This transition is not just a technological shift but a critical part of achieving long-term sustainability goals for cities and the built environment. #EnergyTransition #Sustainability #RenewableEnergy #NuclearEnergy #BuildingDesign #VerticalTransport #FutureOfEnergy #SmartBuildings #GreenTransport

🚀 Rigid Chain Driven Lifts: A Practical, Low-Rise Solution, for Multi-Level and Plant Replacement 🚀 Rigid chain lifts are emerging as a valuable alternative for low-rise, slow-speed goods lifts, particularly in buildings with multiple level changes that can complicate plant replacement strategies. Using a push-pull chain design, these lifts allow for compact and flexible installations that traditional cable systems may struggle with. Why Rigid Chain Lifts? - Multi-Level Flexibility: Excellent for navigating complex level changes in buildings where plant replacement and maintenance require access across different floors. - Space Efficiency: Requires less overhead space a pit depth, making it adaptable to tight and challenging spaces. - Handles Large Loads: Designed to accommodate heavy-duty lifting, making it suitable for transporting substantial equipment and machinery across multiple levels. In cases where typical goods lifts may not be feasible, rigid chain lifts offer a practical and efficient option to support multi-level plant replacement needs. #VerticalTransportation #RigidChainLifts #GoodsLifts #PlantReplacement #BuildingEfficiency #Engineering

🚨 Evacuation Lifts: Enhancing Safety for All in Emergencies 🚨 Evacuation lifts as defined in BS9999 and in the new BS9991:2024 and (when published) BS EN81-76 are a vital safety feature in modern buildings, designed to assist in the safe evacuation of disabled people, during emergencies like fires. Unlike traditional lifts, evacuation lifts are specially constructed to remain operational and safe for use under specific emergency conditions, helping building occupants to evacuate quickly and efficiently. Why Evacuation Lifts Are Important: - Safe Evacuation for All: Provides a safe and accessible evacuation option for people with who require level access and egress. - Specialised Design and Protection: Equipped with smoke control on lobbies to protect users from fire and smoke while waiting. - Independent Power Source: Whilst BS 9999:2017 Anex G includes the possibility for some lifts to not have a secondary power supply but to have a second cable route and automatic rescue operation (subject to risk assessment); Some are equipped with a backup power supply to ensure continuous operation during power outages, making it reliable during emergencies. - Controlled Use During Emergencies: Managed by trained personnel (consistent with BS 9999:2017, Annex G) or designed with automated systems to ensure the lift is used safely and only when conditions allow (where bespoke solutions will be required due to no standard for such use). - Upcoming Standards Update: A new European Standard EN 81-76 is under development. Until we have BS EN 81-76, BS 9999:2017 Annex G is the only evacuation lift specification in British Standards. Incorporating evacuation lifts into building designs represents a commitment to inclusive safety and accessibility, ensuring that everyone has a way out in emergencies. As buildings grow taller, evacuation lifts are becoming a key component of emergency preparedness and resilient building design. #EvacuationLifts #BuildingSafety #EmergencyPreparedness #InclusiveDesign #VerticalTransportation #Accessibility #EN81-76

🚶♂️ The Role of Moving Walks in Modern Infrastructure 🚶♀️ Moving walks, also known as moving walkways or travelators, have become essential in spaces where efficient pedestrian flow is critical. From airports to shopping malls, and even in urban transit systems, these horizontal or inclined conveyor systems help people cover long distances with ease, improving accessibility and enhancing user experience. Why Moving Walks Matter: - Efficient Pedestrian Flow: Ideal for high-traffic areas, moving walks reduce congestion and help people move more smoothly and efficiently through large spaces. - Accessibility & Inclusivity: Moving walks can be designed to include the conveyance of wheelchairs, prams, pushchairs etc. but this may introduce hazards and therefore risks that are foreseeable. In such situations designers should undertake a risk assessment in accordance with BS5656 part 2 (2004) where attention is drawn to risks associated with the environment in which the unit is installed. Considerations include wider clearance, gentler incline, safety barriers to prevent rolling off, clear signage on safe use and having emergency procedures in place. - Adaptability: Available in both horizontal and inclined designs, moving walks can fit a variety of environments, whether flat or with slight elevation changes. - Energy Efficiency: Many modern moving walks come with energy-saving features like variable speed controls, which adjust operation based on foot traffic to reduce energy consumption. As cities and public spaces grow, the demand for efficient, accessible pedestrian infrastructure is more important than ever. Moving walks offer a simple yet impactful solution that benefits everyone. #MovingWalks #UrbanMobility #Infrastructure #Accessibility #PedestrianFlow #BuildingDesign #PublicSpaces

🌍 Dirty Energy and the Route to Decarbonisation: A Critical Shift for the Future ⚡ The world is at a pivotal moment in its energy journey. For decades, fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas—often referred to as “dirty energy”—have powered our industries, homes, and transportation. However, the environmental impact of these energy sources is undeniable, driving the urgent need for decarbonisation and a shift toward cleaner, more sustainable alternatives. The Challenge of Dirty Energy: - Environmental Impact: Fossil fuel combustion releases harmful greenhouse gases (GHGs) that contribute to climate change, air pollution, and health problems. - Resource Depletion: Over-reliance on finite fossil fuel reserves raises concerns about long-term energy security and price volatility. - Energy Inefficiency: Traditional power generation technologies based on fossil fuels are less efficient compared to modern renewable and nuclear options. The Route to Decarbonisation: - Renewable Energy Revolution: Solar, wind, hydro, and other clean sources are already proving to be scalable, cost-effective alternatives to dirty energy. These renewables not only help reduce emissions but are also increasingly reliable and affordable. - Energy Storage Solutions: Advanced battery technologies and energy storage systems allow for efficient storage and distribution of renewable energy, overcoming the intermittent nature of some green sources like wind and solar. - Electrification of Industries: Moving away from fossil fuel-powered machinery and vehicles towards electric solutions will significantly reduce the carbon footprint across sectors, from transport to manufacturing and construction. - Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS): While not a complete solution, CCS technologies can help capture and store CO2 emissions from fossil fuel industries, providing a transitional pathway towards a decarbonised future. - Energy Efficiency and Smart Tech: Leveraging smarter grids, more efficient buildings, and energy-saving innovations like regenerative lifts and elevators will help reduce the overall energy demand, further cutting emissions. Why It Matters for the Built Environment: - Decarbonising Vertical Transport: The shift away from fossil fuels can power elevators, escalators, and lifts with renewable energy, reducing the carbon footprint of buildings and urban spaces. - Sustainable Building Designs: Energy-efficient technologies in building design, such as better insulation, LED lighting, and HVAC systems, will reduce reliance on dirty energy. - Greener Cities: By decarbonising transportation, infrastructure, and buildings, cities can become more resilient to climate change and create healthier living environments. #Decarbonisation #CleanEnergy #Sustainability #RenewableEnergy #CarbonFootprint #BuildingDesign #EnergyEfficiency #ClimateAction

The CIBSE Lifts Group Annual Seminar 2024, held on November 12th at Novotel Excel, featured key presentations on lift codes, emergency systems, innovative projects like Lusail Plaza Towers, and critical safety topics such as Grenfell Phase 2. A video of the seminar and copies of the presentations are available from the below link; https://lnkd.in/e72AJrjF

Great turnout at the CIBSE Lift Group’s Annual Seminar this evening. Great to see some new faces also! #CIBSELiftGroup #CLG #VerticalTransport #CIBSE #VT

Looking forward to welcoming our guests to our Annual Seminar tomorrow! Spaces still available!

We are thrilled to share the news that the CIBSE Lifts Group is preparing a proposal to the CIBSE Board to become the Society of Vertical Transportation (SoVT). This transition would represent a key milestone in broadening the scope and influence of vertical transportation (VT) professionals, as well as expanding opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation in the sector. The proposed SoVT would aim to foster a community of professionals committed to the advancement of VT technology, focusing on the safe, efficient, and sustainable movement of people and goods in our built environment. This is an exciting step toward shaping the future of vertical transport. For those who are keen to support this proposal, please register your expression of interest via the survey: https://lnkd.in/e_yiZpWX #VerticalTransportation #Sustainability #BuildingServices #Innovation #CIBSE #SoVT

Don't forget to register and secure your space for the CIBSE Lift Group's annual seminar for the 12th November.