Two of the UK's main building services engineering organisations, the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) and the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), have agreed to collaborate more closely on key initiatives, including achieving net zero in the built environment and implementing the Building Safety Act. Given the increasing urgency to transform the built environment in line with the UK's decarbonisation and healthcare goals, they have outlined a series of joint projects to enhance their integrated approach. They will focus mainly on the Building Safety Act, developments linked to indoor air quality (IAQ), retrofitting and refurbishment of the existing building stock to advance decarbonisation. They will also work together to understand the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) for the industry and its potential to improve productivity.

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The British Standards Institution (BSI), the UK's National Standards Body, is leading a global project to improve clarity around net zero, emissions, and carbon reduction. This initiative aims to expedite and enhance the effectiveness of climate action. Thousands of experts from national standards bodies in over 170 countries are involved in the project. Public consultation will begin next year to include diverse perspectives.

The project will transform the ISO Net Zero Guidelines, set by BSI and an international network at COP27, into an independently verifiable net zero standard. This standard will help organisations develop comprehensive net zero plans, increasing public trust and reducing greenwashing through stringent assessments.

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CIBSE has launched Building Performance Reimagined a forward thinking project developed to offer a holistic and future oriented perspective on building performance, pushing beyond traditional engineering practices and emphasising future challenges.

The report introduces four key performance metrics: Variety, Readiness, Connectedness, and Emergence. These metrics aim to enhance space optimisation, risk reduction, integration with broader systems, and sustainable growth.

The project redefines the role of building services engineers, urging them to focus on biodiversity, social equity, and broader urban interactions. CIBSE is encouraging professionals to adopt futures and systems thinking methodologies to anticipate and shape future needs and opportunities, thereby redefining high performance in buildings to include collective social value and multi-species interests. This initiative sets a new standard for sustainable, inclusive, and resilient building practices.

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The manifesto outlines six key policies:

• Mandate sprinkler systems in all new and significantly refurbished schools and care homes.
• Ensure fire risk assessors are qualified, certified under UKAS-accredited schemes, and maintain ongoing professional development.
• Support the continued implementation of the Building Safety Act 2022 and the role of the Building Safety Regulator.
• Urgently implement recommendations from the Morrell/Day Report on construction product safety.
• Develop policies and guidance for new energy technologies and low carbon construction techniques that impact fire safety and property resilience.
• Use data-driven fire protection measures to support planning system reforms, especially in high-risk buildings and those far from fire and rescue services.

The FPA aims to collaborate with stakeholders to advance these policies using existing powers, emphasising that prioritising fire safety will protect lives, enhance the economy, and improve societal well-being.

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