The CIBSE Knowledge series

The publications in the CIBSE Knowledge Series focus on key issues in building services engineering, facilities management and energy management. The series is designed to give practical solutions and succinct, easy-to-read information. The guidance offered can be used by a wide variety of people, including:

• Building services engineers, to provide overviews which can be used in discussions with clients and other members of the design team, and, for some subjects, to provide an in-depth guide on a current 'hot' topic
• Architects, non-expert clients and facilities managers, to provide a useful introduction to different topics and enable them to communicate their needs and requirements to their engineers/advisors
• Students, as an accessible introduction to key building services engineering topics.

How to design a heating system. This guide will provide a clear, step-by-step overview of the whole heating design sequence. A ‘map' of the design process will demonstrate key design decisions and required design steps. Potential problems, such as plant diversity and pre-heating requirements will also be highlighted.

Variable speed pumps. This guide will explain how to design re-circulating heating or cooling water systems incorporating variable speed pumps.

The guide will demonstrate how to quantify the potential pump energy savings for a given situation, and will give examples of typical system configurations and how they should be designed to maximise energy savings and avoid operating problems.

A selection of the current titles in the series

Sustainable low-energy cooling: an overview (KS3). This publication gives an overview of the main low-energy cooling options available.

It is aimed at non-relevant experts such as clients, architects and students. However, it should also be of use to more experienced engineers as an accessible overview to be used in discussions with clients and other members of the design team. The alternatives are clearly explained and compared, with discussions of their suitability for different applications.

Understanding controls (KS4). Controls and control systems are an essential part of buildings, from the simple switching on and off of equipment to sophisticated building management systems that monitor and optimise plant performance to meet building needs.

This guide is designed to assist non-expert clients, facilities managers and building users to understand the functions and limitations of controls, and communicate their requirements to their engineers/advisors.

It includes a useful series of questions and discussion points to help decide controls requirements and provides a good understanding of what control systems do, their main elements and how to develop a control strategy.

Comfort (KS6). One of the primary functions of buildings and their services systems is to create and maintain a comfortable environment. This guide is designed to enable and assist non-expert clients, facilities managers or building users to understand comfort requirements and communicate their needs and requirements to their engineers/advisors.

The guide sets out the key environmental factors that affect comfort and the design criteria that need to be followed to ensure it.