Leeds physics engineering specialist predicts construction sector trends for 2022

One of the UK’s leading building physics engineers, based in Leeds, has predicted a series of major challenges will see his specialism become mainstream in Yorkshire’s construction sector during 2022.

Rob Gill, managing director of dedicated consultancy Yonder, whose headquarters are in the city’s Sovereign Street, proclaimed that upcoming influences acting on the sector would include intensified pressure to reduce or eliminate carbon emissions.

The construction sector is also set to embrace soaring prices, “fierce competition” among occupant organisations to attract and retain quality staff, and “radically changed” Building Regulations being introduced on June 15.

Rob explained: “Building physics engineers offer professionals such as developers, development managers and investors substantial improvements to vital aspects of constructions’ internal and external performances, compared to their base concepts or previous results.

“These upgrades include in air movement, moisture control, thermal performance, ambient energy, light, and acoustics. We work on buildings being planned, under construction or experiencing refurbishment, irrespective of whether they’re used in the public, commercial, third or residential sectors.”

Rob also noted that the ultimate benefits building physics engineers delivered included: reduced or abolished carbon emissions, embodied and operational; lower capital and operating costs, via routes such as minimised power consumption; greater internal comfort for occupants; and enhanced compliance with industry standards or regulation.

He said: “At Yonder, we summarise these key benefits as the four Cs: carbon, cost, comfort and compliance. I believe 2022 will provide powerful inducements under each heading for more Yorkshire property professionals to call on the services of ourselves and our competitors.

“Outcomes from COP 26 included that all UK publicly listed companies and financial institutions must by next year have published plans detailing how they’ll achieve net zero carbon emissions before 2050, which two-thirds of them currently lack.

“This is bound to cause a ripple effect, with the organisations concerned increasing pressure to cut emissions on companies in their supply chains, including in the construction sector.”

On the subject of the upcoming building regulations, Rob concluded: “The regulations raise the bar significantly, setting much higher standards in areas such as energy efficiency, ventilation and overheating, exactly the areas in which building physics engineers specialise.

“I therefore expect this change too will cause more Yorkshire construction industry professionals to explore the benefits of calling-in ourselves and our competitors during 2022.”

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