- Quiz – win drinks + dumplings at Blue Breeze
- 3D coordination – its covert
- H1’s – not just a tick in a box
- Defensive driving at Hampton Downs – bloody amazing!
Can you name the above? Click here to enter! The first five entries will win a bag of fabulous macadamias from our MD’s orchard and one lucky person, drawn from the hat, will win drinks and dumplings at Blue Breeze Inn (Ponsonby) for themselves and two of their workmates.
Mind the Clash – 3D Coordination with Chris
Coordination “rules” according to our Services Coordinator, Chris Dews. Originally from the UK he comes from an architectural and design background. His mission is to save everyone time, money and angst. We thought we would introduce him and ask him some penetrating questions.
What does a Services Coordinator actually do?
Ideally, if i do my job right no one realises I have done anything. I review each job at each stage and identify any clashes, help avoid penetrations and suggest smart alternatives when space is a bit tight.
Let’s say for an architect – how do you make a difference?
I’ll look at things like penetrations and RCPs and review service designs throughout the process. So what they get from us is fully coordinated. This lightens their load. If they know we get it right 99% of the time then their coordination should be much easier and they can focus on everything else they have to do.
What 3D modelling tools do you use and how do they help?
We primarily use Revit (modelling) and Navisworks (clash detection) for our 3D design. Revit has had big uptake and many of our clients only want Revit now. It’s a great tool for visualising in 3D so we can ensure everything works in space. It takes more time up front but saves a lot of time in construction. It allows the design team to eliminate nearly all issues on site. Even a minor mistake in design can cost thousands of dollars to fix during construction and it wastes time. AutoCAD is still a practical tool for many, including Archicad clients so definitely has its place also.
How do you present models?
Some clients like to come in and we will literally walk them through the building on the big screen or even use VR (virtual reality). This then becomes quite collaborative as we can examine aspects of the design in 3D and discuss any issues or changes.
H1 reports – not just a tick in a box
We have been producing H1 reports for the last decade – both for our projects and for busy clients. Architects tell us it’s a great time saver and cost effective. We asked our H1 Guru, Jedd Henderson for the low down on why an H1 is not just a tick in the box.
What exactly is an H1 in a nutshell?
An H1 report deals with compliance with the H1 Clause of the NZ Building Code which looks at Energy Efficiency in Buildings.
Why is it used – is it mandatory?
It has to be used in every space deemed “habitable” or “conditioned” – like housing, offices, schools and retirements homes. It excludes large open spaces such as warehouses. Always mandatory, but different building types have different criteria they have to comply with depending on size and use.
The basic premise of an H1 is to ensure new buildings are efficient in their design both thermally and electrically. Thermal efficiency is handled by ensuring sufficient insulation and glazing values/types are used, and electrical efficiency focuses more on lighting density and type. There are a few different ways to achieve this within the code, but the sole focus is to ensure that buildings are naturally thermally efficient so as not to require large HVAC systems to maintain thermal comfort as well as control moisture build up.
Why use 22 Degrees rather than do it yourself?
As building services engineers, we spend a lot of time looking at how buildings react to their environment and how best to maintain a comfortable internal environment. This is paramount to understanding the implications of H1 and how it affects the building as a whole and how the smallest of changes can yield the greatest result. H1 can’t just be seen as a box ticking exercise as we move towards a more efficient built environment.
Steering Clear of Danger – Driving at Hampton Downs
“Terrific – learned heaps”. “Now I know how to stop suddenly without killing anyone”. “First time on a race track – incredible”. Just three comments from our team after a day’s driver training at Hampton Downs with professional race car drivers from TrackTime Driving Academy.
We met at Hampton Downs on a fresh Thursday morning – greeted by a shiny fleet of cars and a team of driving gurus. After a brief intro and theory lesson we were onto the race track to take part in a high speed braking exercise. Initially from 50km/h, we increased it to 70 and then finally 100km/h. Talk about neck straining, tyre screeching, brake melting glory. We moved onto high speed manoeuvres including a pretty fierce timed slalom which may have turned into a rather close competition. We finished the day with some coached laps and finally hot laps with our instructors pushing the sound barrier. Well, it felt like it.
