Shopping Centre design
Consultants have a duty to their clients, the centre developers, and owners to design energy efficient systems that result in lower fuel costs. However, this must not be at the expense of the shopping environment. It must be remembered that the atmosphere and environment play a large part in the comfort of the shopper, and a comfortable shopper is likely to stay in the centre longer.
The progress and advancements of technology has resulted in more sophisticated demands from shoppers, meaning that it is no longer enough for them to be warm in winter and cool in summer. The shopping environment must be right, and that includes not only items such as air quality, lighting levels, security, etc., but also the general facilities provided within the centre. The solid covered malls of the early centres are being replaced by glass roofs to introduce natural light, while passive fresh air ventilation has become preferable to mechanical systems.
The building services consultant now has elements to consider such as:
- Shoppers' activities, including the distance they walk
- The amount of clothing worn by customers
- The air temperature
- The radiant temperature
- Air movement
- Humidity levels
It is really only when all these extra factors have been taken into consideration can the consultant begin to take advantage of the latest technology, including computer modelling techniques, real-time communications, and the rest of today's technology.
Building Management Systems (BMS), which are becoming more and more sophisticated, may be employed to switch on and off the mechanical systems that have been designed into the environmental comfort scheme. These will actively introduce heating and cooling in a reactive manner by receiving signals and data from sensors, however a good consultant will have designed a scheme to be more proactive than reactive. Stratification models will have been used to simulate thermal conditions within the centre, based on a footfall of occupancy levels, duty cycles and other factors. The latest developments in glazing will have been incorporated to introduce daylight with minimal solar gain, with even the angle of the sun's entry into the building having been taken into account to control the sunlight that actually reaches the shopper.
Ventilation louvres will automatically open via the BMS although it has to be remembered that fresh air ventilation does not cool a centre below the ambient temperature. It is always preferable for a centre to be at a lower temperature than the ambient on hot days. The BMS will monitor and control all HVAC plant and equipment; boilers, chillers, AHUs, fire and smoke detection equipment, and equipment such as roof veins which may be used within the ventilation activity.
The building services consultant should be utilised during the design and development of the centre, in order to put the right systems and procedures in place from the beginning, however the greater proportion of shopping centre projects these days are refurbishments upgrades and extensions. The building services consultant has to understand what is available within each centre, with the greatest asset being an understanding or appreciation of the current technology.
Contact FHP ESS.