Four promotions across two Ashburner Francis offices
Four promotions across two Ashburner Francis offices
Congratulations are in order at both our Brisbane and Toowoomba offices. In Brisbane, Michael Heaslip (pictured at far left) and John Tait have been promoted to Associates. Meanwhile in Toowoomba, Clinton Walker (pictured third from left) and John Kereczko will also each take on the new title of Associate.
Clinton is a mechanical engineer who joined Ashburner Francis in 2018. Since then, he has led the team’s design and documentation of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) services. His colleague, John Kereczko is an electrical engineer who also brings trade experience to the team. A former electrician, John draws upon significant experience in electrical service connections, metering and power reticulation.
In Brisbane, Michael and John Tait’s promotions come after lengthy tenures with Ashburner Francis. Michael has notched up more than 12 years with the firm, whilst John has been with us for close to a decade. Both Michael and John have contributed to the success of a range of projects across multiple sectors including commercial, industrial and aged care facilities.
Ashburner Francis Managing Director Brian Kenny describes the promotions as well won: “Associates play an important role in delivering our clients timely, efficient and future-focused building services design,” Brian says. “Michael, Clinton, John Kereczko and John Tait are all valued team members with the necessary experience and professionalism to succeed as Associates.”
Want to connect with the newly appointed Associates and discuss your next project? They welcome your enquiry on hello@ashburnerfrancis.com.au
Three new-year tips for building services
Three new-year tips for building services
Whether you’re acquiring a new build, or upgrading an existing one, the start of a new year is a good time to audit your building services and set the agenda to help optimise efficiency and maintenance throughout the year.
If you’re seeking support for the design and documentation of building services in the new year, don’t hesitate to contact us. Our team welcomes your enquiry at hello@ashburnerfrancis.com.au
New industrial warehouse showcases future-focussed engineering services
New industrial warehouse showcases future-focussed engineering services
Working alongside EVERETT Property Development Management, we completed the design and documentation of all mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and ESD services for the new Builders Discount Warehouse in Brendale, on Brisbane’s northside. The warehouse combines a storage facility, spanning just over 12,000m2 and ancillary administration offices and display of goods that’s accessible for both trades and the general public.
Our Project Lead Toby Murdoch, who co-leads Ashburner Francis’s Brisbane office, says working on warehouses is a natural fit for the team. “We have a great deal of experience, delivering engineering services for complex buildings — from workplaces through to industrial manufacturing projects — so we understand what’s required to deliver operational efficiencies,” Toby says.
For the Builders Discount Waterhouse, our remit included the design and documentation of
- Air-conditioning, heating and ventilation
- Lighting (internal, external and signage)
- New transformers
- Fire systems, including smoke fans and sprinklers
- Rooftop solar system (generating approx. 400 kilowatts)
- EV charger station
- CCTV and security system
Longevity of services was a priority for Toby and the team when designing the engineering services for this new warehouse. The installation of high-quality lighting was a key component. “A lot of the lighting for this project is installed at a height of about 14metres, so we were keen to specify high-quality lighting to help minimise ongoing maintenance costs — and potentially circumventing the resources and expenses associated with bringing in scissor lifts for repair/replacement,” Toby says.
Large, well-diffused lighting was another key consideration. “When forklift drivers are positioning the forks into pallets, the glare from overhead lighting can be problematic,” Toby explains. To help overcome these issues, high-quality lighting (that delivered sufficient vertical illumination) was an essential component of the design.
Finally, our team incorporated an extra switchboard and data rack for the warehouse — should the developer wish to expand the facility in the future. This addition will help circumvent having to run additional cabling in years to come.
Client praises our approach
EVERETT Property Development Management Director Dan Everett was pleased to have engaged Ashburner Francis during the concept design phase, prior to lodging a Development Application (DA). “Toby and the team were very quick to understand the spatial parameters of the site and their multi-disciplinary approach helped us achieve a good outcome,” Dan says. “Ultimately, no changes to the DA were required so that’s a good measure of success!”
Dan also valued the team’s future-focussed approach to the services’ design. “For Developers and Landlords, it’s important to provide a solution that suits both current and future tenants. The team at Ashburner Francis is skilled at taking that long-term view and they are all genuine professionals.”
Want to find out more about our strategies for engineering services for warehouses? We welcome your enquiry at hello@ashburnerfrancis.com.au
Architects, are you polluting the night sky?
Architects, are you polluting the night sky?
In recent years, the ‘dark-sky’ movement has gathered momentum as a possible panacea for the detrimental impacts of illuminating the night sky with too much artificial light. The dangerous repercussions of light pollution are many and varied.
Nocturnal animals’ breeding and migratory habits are being gravely disrupted. For humans, the physiological impacts of light pollution can lead to insufficient melatonin — the hormone that helps us sleep and regulate cortisol levels. Meanwhile, researchers are struggling to observe and study the night sky.
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Scientist Dr Kellie Pendoley, founder of Pendoley Environmental, has spent 30 years studying the impacts of light pollution and helped draft the federal government’s National Light Pollution Guidelines for Wildlife. Thanks to recent updates, the guidelines now aim to protect all species, not just those referenced in the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. “Light pollution is having really serious impacts on wildlife and on human health,” Dr Pendoley says. “Technically, light is a form of radiation but it’s never been recognised or managed that way.”
According to Dr Pendoley, there are countless reasons to contain and control light. “Light pollution also impacts our heritage,” she explains. “First Nations people are the oldest astronomers on earth and they tell their stories through the stars.
“Limiting the visibility of stars, limits the ability of First Nations people to share their stories — that’s an important cultural connection we need to preserve.”
According to our electrical engineer Toby Murdoch, everyone working in the built environment has a part to play in minimising light pollution. “Regulators, clients, architects, lighting designers, and contractors should all be working in unison to bring about real change,” Toby says. Meanwhile, he’s put together a list of four simple yet effective ways to reduce light pollution.
1. Select the right light fittings
For lighting large outdoor areas, like sporting stadiums, Toby recommends ‘flat-tilt’ asymmetric floodlights to ensure the light lands where it’s most needed.
“Traditional floodlights only provide symmetrical lighting so the fitting has to be tilted to target the area you wish to light,” Toby explains. “A significant portion of that light will go above the horizontal plane — directly into the sky.” The result? Wasting energy and unnecessarily polluting the night sky.
Closely monitoring ‘light spill’ (ie sending light to locations where it’s not needed) and ‘light glare’ (ie light that causes discomfort or impedes people’s ability to navigate a site) is, of course, essential.
2. Minimise blue-spectrum lighting
Toby reflects on the emergence of LED lighting and laments its impact on light pollution. “When LED lighting was first introduced, the energy efficiency of bright-white light was considered far greater than warmer colours,” he says. Unsurprisingly, that efficiency/affordability led to increased popularity for white-coloured LEDs.
But white light is problematic because it has a degree of blue spectrum within it. “Any light source that contains an element of blue will likely be more reflective than warmer colours,” Toby says. The result? White LEDs create significant “sky glow”.
Dark-sky advocates, and Toby too, would prefer designers opt for LEDs with amber and/or warm-white colours that are less reflective and cast less “sky glow”.
3. Adjust illumination
Toby encourages architects to stay abreast of emerging technologies designed to help minimise wasteful lighting. He points to street lighting to illustrate the power of advancing tech.
“Motion sensors are now available that can brighten street lighting as you reverse out of your driveway — then incrementally brighten the next sequence of lights before you approach them,” Toby says. That kind of technology can take a light from 20% illumination to 100%, as and when required. “That’s up to an 80% energy saving but also limits unnecessary light pollution from adversely impacting surrounding wildlife,” Toby says.
Streetscapes aside, Toby urges architects to think about simple strategies such as automatic late-night dimming for facades and exterior spaces that may not require full illumination from dusk till dawn.
4. Challenge convention
“We have a primal fear of the dark,” Toby says. He’s not convinced that fully illuminating large outdoor spaces always deters/repels troublemakers. “I’d like to see architects press their lighting designers to look for alternate ways — that don’t rely on excessive light pollution — to provide passive surveillance for their projects.”
Toby acknowledges the reticence of design teams to pull back on lighting. “I think sometimes we are scared of not providing enough light, so we provide too much! We need to be braver and embrace the shadows,” he says.
According to Toby, landscape architects take little convincing when it comes to designing with dark-sky top of mind. “Professionals from within that discipline are well informed and receptive to challenging the status quo when it comes to lighting,” Toby says.
Dr Pendoley works with design teams from around the globe, sharing methods of measuring, monitoring and modelling light — not just on a local level but on a landscape scale up to 100 kilometres away. “I encourage every architect and designer to look beyond their building’s footprint — light scatters into the atmosphere and that is what creates biological implications.”
Restraint is a key theme in Dr Pendoley’s recommendations. “Obviously, the more lights you have, the more energy you burn and the more greenhouse gases you emit,” she says. “That’s a basic principle that’s easily understood when advocating the ‘less is more’ approach.”
Dr Pendoley is hopeful and says she has cause for optimism, especially when she sees lighting-design master plans that limit artificial light. “When it’s well designed, lighting can be both beautiful and muted. I’ve seen exemplars around the globe that prove built structures can be illuminated in subtle ways that make them look and feel elegant. Big, bright lighting comes at a cost, aesthetically and environmentally.”
Want to find out more about our electrical engineering services? We welcome your enquiry at hello@ashburnerfrancis.com.au
Budget boost for energy efficiency
Budget boost for energy efficiency — what architects and property managers need to know about electrification
The Federal Budget for 2024/2025 heralded good news for energy efficiency, nationwide.
The announcement of close to $2.9 billion to support business decarbonisation, energy efficiency and electrification signals a significant step forward. For small businesses, an ‘energy incentive’ is on its way in the form of a bonus tax discount to help with electrification. Now is the time to leverage good design and engineering to ensure the built environment can support and sustain these important transitions. Here, our associate Lara Bailey, shares important insights for architects and property managers making the switch to electrification.
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Why electrify and why now?
The world is rethinking energy in the face of climate change and the urgent need to decarbonise. “Electrification is critical as we transition to renewable energy and cut out fossil fuels,” Lara says. But where does this leave property managers with portfolios full of older building stock that is still reliant on gas?
Energy use and energy source are separated in the new Green Star ratings, including performance ratings. By 2026, buildings will need to be fossil fuel free to achieve a 6-Star rating, with all ratings to be fossil fuel free by 2040 – a little more than 15 years away! It is also likely that the National Construction Code update in 2025 will introduce new electrification requirements.
“Buildings that don’t keep pace with changing codes, ratings and regulations risk becoming prematurely obsolete and ending up as stranded assets,” Lara warns. As a result, investors are increasingly looking for good ESG performance across their property holdings, placing pressure on property managers to phase out gas.
Pressure is also coming from tenants wanting to make the switch away from gas because of its negative impact on health, utility bills and the environment.
For anyone managing property or designing within existing buildings, electrification is not a question of ‘if’, only ‘when’. So, what are the considerations and where should you start? The following is an overview of the key issues and processes.
Getting rid of gas – what technology is needed?
The three main gas systems in buildings are space heating, water heating and cooking. According to Lara, all can be electrified to be cleaner, more efficient and more economical to run.
For space and water heating, gas systems can be replaced by electric heat pumps. Heat pumps work like fridges and air conditioners. They extract heat from another source, amplify it and transfer it to where it is needed. The heat source can be the air, geothermal energy in the ground, or nearby sources of water or waste heat.
For cooking, gas appliances must be replaced by electric ones. Gas has historically been sold as the best energy source for cooking and it’s a common misconception that commercial kitchens can’t operate without it. Chefs around the world are being trained to work in all-electric kitchens, and this will soon be the norm. Induction cooking is the best option – it is healthy, safe and offers very high levels of control. Note that recent research shows a strong link between gas particulates in homes and childhood asthma.
Some buildings have additional gas-powered systems, for example steam sterilisation in hospitals. These systems need to be assessed and electric alternatives explored.
What impact does electrification have on building infrastructure?
“Notably, the two considerations that arise from the removal of gas-powered systems are electrical capacity and space,” Lara points out.
Not surprisingly, an all-electric building will need more electricity. The anticipated peak demand will establish whether the building’s electrical system needs to be upgraded to cope. Bear in mind that adding EV charging will increase the electrical load.
Heat pumps are very efficient but require good ventilation and make additional demands on space. A building assessment is needed to establish where existing plant equipment is located and whether there is sufficient space and ventilation for the replacement technology. Energy storage batteries also require space. Equipment may need to be relocated to a roof or to space reclaimed from somewhere else.
Property managers need to make a plan
Lara highlights the important first step towards electrification — i.e. planning. “Understanding what you need to do and mapping out the journey will quantify the costs and benefits and allow you to budget for the switch,” she says.
For each building, step one is a feasibility study to assess the parameters. What current systems use gas? What are current energy demands and how much space is available on site for alternative technologies? And what stage of its lifecycle is the building at? Generally, the start of the electrification process is triggered by another upgrade. Examples include a gas system reaching the end of its life; tenancy refits; base-build upgrades; the installation of electric vehicle charging or on-site renewable energy.
Once the feasibility study is complete, step two is to commission an engineer to audit the existing gas and electrical infrastructure and prepare a report detailing the options for electrification, aligned to the trigger events described above.
Having quantified what needs to be done and when, you can budget for the switch and, importantly, consult with stakeholders to ensure a smooth, staged changeover. Tenants may need to be educated about why electrification is needed and its benefits. Incentives may help move things along.
A building’s existing gas system may be more carbon-efficient than an electric system now, because of the building’s energy source, but that will quickly turn around as renewable energy is implemented nationally. The sooner the switch to all-electric, the greater the benefits over time.
Architects and design professionals need to stay informed
Architects and design professionals should consult regularly with trusted engineers to stay informed about the most relevant, up-to-date electric technology, and to stay on top of changes to building codes, regulations and ratings. “The opportunity to win more work is there for those who can advise on the best design strategies to deliver healthy, efficient and future-proofed buildings,” Lara says. Conversely, get left behind and you may find it increasingly hard to compete.
Changing people’s perceptions is key to accelerating electrification in the built environment. Property managers, architects and design professionals all play a role in educating the market on the importance of eliminating gas and safeguarding the future for all.
For more detailed information, an excellent and comprehensive reference is the Green Building Council’s ‘A Practical Guide to Electrification for existing buildings’.
Want to find out more about our services? We welcome your enquiry at hello@ashburnerfrancis.com.au
Mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) services — all under one roof
Mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) services — all under one roof
Integrated services are vital for clients wishing to avoid costly clashes during construction or, worse yet, retrofitting work-arounds after building is complete.
Ashburner Francis’s Brisbane team is documenting MEP services for a proposed extension to a three-storey Arcare Aged Care Facility in Springwood (‘Arcare Springwood’), on the city’s southside. Extension plans will increase the accommodation from 110 beds to 172 beds — a significant upgrade that requires careful coordination of mechanical, electrical and plumbing services.
Our project team is led by Paul McKenna (a senior hydraulic design/services manager with 25yrs+ experience), working in close collaboration with our mechanical engineer Phong Pham and our senior electrical designer Michael Heaslip. Collectively, the team brings close to 60 years’ industry experience to the project.
Together, they work closely to ensure all services are well integrated. “Sharing an office enables us to design concepts concurrently,” Paul says. “We can check-in with one another instantly — to understand what’s required for each service and then make design decisions to avoid any clashes.”
A complex project like the Arcare Springwood extension includes, but is not limited to:
- Plumbing (updgrading water, sewerage, trade waste and stormwater services to accommodate the new build)
- Mechanical (relocating/coordinating with existing services, and integrating additional air-conditioning and ventilation to the extension)
- Electrical (assessing the power of the existing boards and increasing capacity as required)
Paul describes his team as a “tight-knit” unit. And it shows. Their track record of very few problems developing during the construction phase is testament to their proficiency and well-coordinated documentation. When services they’ve designed/documented are being installed, on-site variations are generally limited.
For Arcare Springwood, our MEP team is staging the services’ design to ensure vital parts of the facility (including the kitchen and laundry) can remain operational during construction.
Our team also works hand-in-glove with Elevation Architecture — who are responsible for designing the architecture for Arcare Springwood’s extension. We are mindful that services be appropriately concealed, to help maintain the integrity of the interior and exterior design (without compromising the performance of the pipework, ducts and other vital service infrastructure).
Elevation Architecture Director Sascha Christensen describes the cohesion that Paul, Phong and Michael bring to the project as being “seamless”.
“For upgrades of large existing buildings like Arcare Springwood, an integrated approach is essential,” Sascha says. “Having the Ashburner Francis team literally sitting adjacent to each other, and trouble-shooting throughout the design phase, circumvents me having to manage communications between three different consultants for mechanical, electrical and plumbing services.”
Additionally, Sascha says our proactive approach is an important time-saver. “They are great communicators — always updating me about any potential issues like placements for piping or ducts. That early intel allows us to modify the design accordingly, rather than receiving drawings that require me to backtrack to remedy issues on site.”
The Arcare Springwood extension marks the 14th year Sascha has worked with us. She sums up the relationship as follows: “They’re competent, knowledgeable people who are always willing to work together to achieve the best outcome for every project on which they’re engaged.”
Want to find out more about our integrated MEP services? We welcome your enquiry at hello@ashburnerfrancis.com.au
Seven centuries of combined experience
Seven centuries of combined experience
Industry insiders will likely know we have been in business for more than 45 years. But a deep dive into the tenure of Ashburner Francis’s team has unlocked some phenomenal facts and figures.
When combined, our team of 43 has more than 700 years of building services’ experience. And 25% of our engineers and designers have, individually, clocked up over 25 years in the industry.
Above average tenure
According to 2023 findings of the Australian Bureau of Statistics, more than half of the country’s employees stay with an employer for less than five years. However, our retention rate sits at around eight years. In fact, ten percent of our team have been with us for more than 25 years. And 30 percent of staff have clocked up more than a decade at Ashburner Francis.
Over a century ‘on the tools’
Our team has significant trade contracting experience — including roles in estimating and project management. In total, 30 percent of our employees have this hands-on experience. When combined, they’re drawing upon 130 years’ experience ‘on the tools’!
Want to find out more about our team’s credentials or capabilities? We welcome your enquiry on hello@ashburnerfrancis.com.au
New leadership at Ashburner Francis in Brisbane reflects a positive industry-wide shift
New leadership at Ashburner Francis in Brisbane reflects a positive industry-wide shift
We have promoted two of our long-term employees to take on the dual management of our Brisbane HQ.
The newly appointed Senior Associates are Toby Murdoch, Electrical Engineering Manager, and Lara Bailey, Mechanical Engineer/ESD Manager. Together, they will jointly lead Ashburner Francis’ Brisbane office.
Lara joined Ashburner Francis more than ten years ago and, since then, she’s been buoyed to see more women entering the engineering profession. “I always encourage young women to pursue careers in engineering,” Lara says. “My advice is never to be fearful of being the only woman in the office, or on site, because that is changing and there is now a lot more support available for female engineers.”
Toby agrees and describes the industry’s evolution as vital. “Buildings are populated by broad demographics so it makes sense that building services be designed by teams made up of talented professionals of diverse genders.”
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Toby began his career as an apprentice electrician before embarking on further studies and moving on to roles in estimating and project management. “Having trade and on-site experience equips me with the practical skills required to trouble-shoot designs in the documentation phase — always looking for where improvements and/or efficiencies can be made.”
Meanwhile, Lara specialises in mechanical engineering and also leads our Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) work. Her experience with Green-Star rated projects, combined with her expertise in building modelling, equip her to identify and/or devise strategies aimed at bolstering energy efficiencies.
Clients can look forward to Lara and Toby leveraging their complementary skill sets to full effect. “Our leadership will provide strong cohesion across the disciplines of both electrical and mechanical services — so clients can be assured of rigorous and well-coordinated design solutions,” Lara says.
Praise for outgoing Director
Managing Director Brian Kenny has acknowledged the contribution of the firm’s outgoing Brisbane Director, Darren Cardy (who is vacating the building services industry after an impressive tenure).
“Darren joined Ashburner Francis back in 2007 — initially as a technical officer, before moving into office management roles and, later, Directorship,” Brian says. “His contribution to the success of our firm cannot be underestimated. We have long valued his professional insights, enthusiasm and entrepreneurial spirit.”
Most recently, Darren initiated the firm’s introduction of an in-house hydraulics division: A move that was universally welcomed by both long-term and new clients.
Darren has applauded the announcement of Toby and Lara as his successors. “They are both consummate professionals with the expertise and dedication required to continue to deliver outstanding service to our clients.”
Want to find out more? We welcome your enquiry at hello@ashburnerfrancis.com.au
Workplace/retail designers team up with Ashburner Francis
Workplace/retail designers team up with Ashburner Francis
Our team has delivered the design and documentation of all mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) services for the base build of Toowoomba’s new NAB banking hub.
The new building, spread across two storeys, accommodates more than 80 banking personnel as well as delivering on-site customer service.
Our engineering helped secure NAB a Five Star Green Star – Performance Portfolio rating (an internationally recognised sustainability certification). In close collaboration with local architects Sims White, civil structural engineers ADG, Built, and Green Star specialists, E-LAB Consulting, we designed and documented a series of energy-efficient services for the base build. These include an air-conditioning and ventilation system designed to be responsive to Toowoomba’s specific climatic conditions.
Additional energy-efficient MEP initiatives include:
- Roof-top solar panels
- Energy-efficient glazing
- Energy-efficient hydraulic piping
- Smart meters to monitor energy usage
Drawing upon our extensive experience with hydraulics infrastructure, we were well placed to manage the complexities of designing the building’s fire protection systems. Our solution helped circumvent the need for the costly installation of additional under-ground water tanks. Similarly, we assisted with locating the building’s fire hydrant on an easement — so as not to impair the visual appeal of the NAB facade, nor encroach on the site’s laneway where retail outlets are soon to be established.
Whilst our MEP design/documentation remit for NAB’s base build was extensive, some key elements include:
- Passenger lifts
- End-of-trip facilities (including showers and changing rooms)
- Common area lighting and power
- An upgraded site electrical supply, and distribution infrastructure throughout the building
- A new high capacity NBN link and site communications infrastructure
Architecture Graduate Keith Starr, from Sims White, worked closely with us on this project. “The Ashburner Francis team communicates really well and is always responsive and agile,” Keith says. “Their knowledge of energy-efficient engineering was invaluable on this project, as was their seamless integration of MEP services.
“Despite Ashburner Francis working solely on the base build, they took great care to consider how placement of switchboards, and the like, would likely impact the interior design — that foresight and generosity is also to be applauded.”
Planning a new workplace, retail hub or refurbishment of an existing building? We welcome your enquiry on hello@ashburnerfrancis.com.au
The fight against mould: Could your building’s engineering be the first line of defence?
The fight against mould: Could your building’s engineering be the first line of defence?
For many building facility managers and homeowners across Australia’s East Coast, soaring summer humidity has left a dangerous legacy — mould. Respiratory infections and irritation to the eyes and skin are just some of a long list of potentially serious side effects from exposure to mould.
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According to our mechanical engineer and environmentally sustainable design (ESD) expert, Lara Bailey, last summer’s conditions created a perfect storm. “For a prolonged period, we experienced 24/7 humidity,” she explains. Back in January 2024, Sydney endured record-breaking humidity and other states too rang in the new year with sweltering conditions.
A high percentage of moisture in the air at a specific temperature is known as ‘relative’ humidity. During Australia’s summer, relative humidity did not dip sufficiently to inhibit mould growth.
Mould loves moisture. When air conditioners are in operation, inside temperatures are cool. What’s problematic is the infiltration of warmer, moist outdoor air (especially during storm seasons). When this air lands indoors, it can result in condensation on cold surfaces — creating favourable conditions for mould growth.
Lara pinpoints “leaky” buildings and homes as part of the problem. In some cases, buildings and homes in warm climates are designed to be open to the outdoors — to make the most of cool breezes. She’s referring, of course, to large windows, louvres and indoor/outdoor dining areas — not all of which will be 100 percent airtight when closed.
This past summer has pushed even the best insulated homes and/or ‘passive’ buildings to turn to air conditioning. Architect and Architectus Conrad Gargett Principal David Gole says, for the first time, his own South-East Queensland hinterland home (which he himself designed as ‘passive’) now requires air conditioning.
“We always wanted a really sustainable house,” David says. “We generate our own power, have our own waste treatment and collect our own water. Up until now, we never envisaged having to draw on energy to cool the entire house!”
David says after repeated cycles of trying to “manually” combat humidity, the time has come to install air conditioning to help remove moisture from the air. “We’re taking this step not only for our own health but the health of our visitors too.”
So where to from here?
The goal is to remove moisture from interiors (ideally, at the point of creation). Natural ventilation and air conditioning can assist — but not simultaneously. Lara warns “if the air conditioning is running, the place needs to be entirely sealed up.”
Simple? Not quite.
When designing mechanical engineering services such as air conditioning, Lara says communication and education are key. “We need to understand precisely how a building or home operates,” she says. “Don’t be aspirational about how your building or home is going to be used. Be realistic.”
If some occupants routinely open certain parts of the building whilst the air conditioning is running, Lara and her team need to know. Aged care facilities are a good case in point, where large numbers of residents may opt to have their windows and doors open — while the adjacent common areas are air conditioned.
‘Mixed-mode’ services may be a suitable solution for sites like these. Here, both natural ventilation strategies and air conditioning can co-exist. But only if they’re well designed. Lara says getting the balance right is a “very nuanced task”.
At entrances and exits, air locks (that trap air between two doors) may help maintain consistent internal air temperatures. Similarly, air curtains (where air gushes down above entranceways) can assist in countering exposure to warmer outdoor air when people enter or exit a building.
In the case of specialist commercial buildings, Lara points out that high-tech moisture-removal systems can be very effective at prohibiting mould growth. However, the cost of these systems is, of course, prohibitive for the mass market.
“Buildings must be ‘fit-for-purpose’ well into the future,” David says. “We’re dealing with very different climatic conditions now, so we need agile and responsive engineers who can rise to those challenges.”
Sometimes those solutions come with higher upfront costs. “More than ever, engineers need to provide clear communication, risk profiling, and plenty of design options, so building owners and managers can make informed decisions.”
For homeowners & homebuyers
Closer to home, Lara suggests homeowners look closely at rooms where moisture is most likely to be found, year round. Think kitchens, bathrooms and laundries. “Consider ways moisture can be removed from those rooms, otherwise it can be absorbed into surfaces — creating a prime breeding ground for mould.”
Exhaust systems, that extract moisture and release it outside the building, are a good place to start. Ideally, exhaust fans should be connected to light switches that trigger their operation. Lara says the addition of in-built timers can also be beneficial to ensure exhaust systems run long enough to remove any lingering moisture.
For new homebuyers, Lara encourages the market to look for designs that favour natural cross-ventilation (where windows and/or doors are located opposite or adjacent to one another). According to Lara, well-shaded windows (ideally with awnings) are another must-have.
“Large windows are often a big part of architecturally designed homes — they look great and help connect occupants to nature,” Lara says. “But without adequate sun protection, these windows may add to solar heat gain inside the home, increasing the air conditioning load on your property.”
David Gole summarises our current predicament: “It is no longer ‘business as usual’. For the health of occupants, we really need to rethink how we manage our air quality, and focus on building systems that can mobilise to accommodate different weather events.”
Want to find out more about our mechanical engineering and sustainable design services? We welcome your enquiry at hello@ashburnerfrancis.com.au