When the Home Laboratory of the Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE) was constructed, the aim was to harmonise the building with its environment, while simultaneously integrating energy-saving measures. Moreover as this is an advanced technology research laboratory, it is very important to combine energy-saving measures, working environment and research functions through careful planning and design. These measures resulted in a 29% reduction in primary energy consumption and a 26.5% reduction in airconditioning load.

Clients, designers and institutions are all calling for more airtight buildings. Do we need mandatory pressure tests backed up by compliance procedures in Part L, or simply the publication of good practice guidelines? A recent CIBSE workshop delivered some answers.

The rainscreen principle is not new. lt was proposed as early as the mid sixties by researchers of the Division of Building Research of the National Research Council of Canada and the basic principles were developed. lt has been applied to certain exterior wall types but the performance of rainscreen walls remains largely unknown because of the absence of engineering data.