Indoor Air Quality - BRE Group
Indoor environment testing services
Improving the quality of indoor environments
The positive impacts of good quality air, lighting and comfort on the health, wellbeing and productivity of building users are now well established. We help building developers, owners, manager and occupants to ensure that their buildings and communities not only meet regulatory requirements, but are also places in which people want to live, work and spend time.
Why work with BRE
BRE’s technical experts have substantial training, skills, experience and knowledge of monitoring and assessments in a wide range of indoor environments. We offer a flexible approach to testing with a variety of work patterns and test protocols available to suit your organisation.
Our reports provide you with impartial findings and assurance, allowing you to commission testing of the air within an indoor space, or the safe and effective operation of an air treatment/cleaning product carried out in a real-life environment.
What our clients say
Air quality
As well as being beneficial to health and comfort, good air quality has the potential to enhance performance at work, learning in educational establishments and healing in healthcare settings. We test and monitor indoor air quality, and identify, and advise on dealing with, problems such as VOCs, odours, excess moisture and outdoor pollutants.
Find out more about our air quality testing service
Ventilation
Our experts offer guidance on effectively ventilating buildings of all types. This provides users with ‘fresh’ uncontaminated outdoor air, or properly treated recirculated air, while improving energy efficiency and complying with Building Regulations (Approved Document F) and environmental certification schemes such as BREEAM.
Find out more about our ventilation testing service
Lighting
Successful lighting has the right balance of natural and energy-efficient electric lighting, with integrated control systems that complement the building design and support business activities. Our experienced lighting experts and first-class facilities provide professional consultancy, analysis and advice on all aspects of electric and natural lighting.
Find out more about our lighting consultation service
Thermal comfort
We assess and monitor indoor spaces to investigate the thermal comfort of occupants. Where buildings are found to be overheating, we offer a range of services from monitoring and inspections, to expert witness services.
Post-occupancy evaluation
Ensuring that buildings perform as planned can have an important impact on running costs, staff and client well-being and business efficiency. We offer a variety of post-occupancy evaluation methods, which provide feedback on a building’s performance in use, and can be tailored to your individual needs.
Find out more about our strategic advisory service
Acoustics
We carry out the monitoring of noise levels inside and outside of buildings. Our services range from advice on commercial and domestic buildings and environmental impact assessments, to technical advice on product development and the design of whole building systems.
How we can help?
BRE has considerable experience in developing experimental facilities and bespoke tests for the innovative products in the heat pump industry.
- Testing of air-to-water heat pumps (outdoor units and exhaust air units), and ground source heat pumps across a wide range of heat outputs based on different climates and user cultures/behaviours
- Commercial R&D and collaborative research
- Technical and fully referenced reports
Reducing potential exposure to nitrous oxide in different settings
Buildings and areas that are mechanically ventilated are less likely to experience an accumulation of nitrous oxide, providing that the mechanical ventilation system is functioning correctly. Supply and extract ventilation rates in these areas should therefore be checked regularly to confirm that they are adequate and working as expected. Naturally ventilated areas may be more problematic.
BRE can independently review, assess, and measure the ventilation provision in areas of healthcare settings likely to be affected by nitrous oxide.
Assessment of indoor environmental quality and ventilation in healthcare buildings
Effective hygiene and adequate ventilation are essential for all hospitals and other healthcare settings, as they are tasked with protecting the health of occupants on a daily basis. It is therefore imperative to balance the health and wellbeing of patients, staff and visitors with the economic and sustainability-based factors associated with use of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) and air cleaning systems when designing, equipping, and operating these buildings.
