CIBSE Glossary article for RICS Construction Journal

Jargon. All industries have their technical terms, their lingo, that may not be instantly
understandable to those outside the profession. So for all you quantity surveyors or project
managers out there, The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) has
compiled a basic guide to some of the main types of system/technologies you may come
across when looking at a commercial building.
Mechanical
Air conditioning
Chilled water
system

Conventional chiller system where chilled water is produce via a

centralised plant and then circulated to services throughout the
building.

Chiller

Plant equipment to produce chilled water. Heat is removed from an

unwanted area and rejected externally. Packaged chillers include
heat rejection as part of the unit. Other chillers require dedicated heat
rejection plant such as dry air coolers and cooling towers.

Dry air coolers

Warm water is piped across fans within the dry air coolers forcing the
temperature of the water to drop.

Cooling tower

A cooling tower is more efficient than a dry air cooler because it uses
evaporated water to assist the rejection of unwanted heat but
requires greater maintenance.
The system is split into an outdoor heat rejection unit and an indoor
room cooling unit. The refrigerant is pumped directly between the
units and operates with 2-pipe connections.

Split system

VRF system (Also

known as VRV)

Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) and Variable Refrigeration Volume

(VRV) systems circulate refrigerant similar to a split system but have
multiple indoor units and can provide simultaneous heating and
cooling. Systems can operate with a 2- or 3-pipe connection.

Fan coil unit (FCU)

A fan blows air across a heat exchanger coil that will contain hot or
cold water (or refrigerant for VRF/VRV systems).

4-pipe FCU

4-pipe FCUs have dedicated coils for heating and cooling and
therefore 4-pipe connections (hot and cold flow and returns).

2-pipe FCU

2 pipe FCUs have only one coil so they can only provide heating or
cooling at any one time. Their mode can be changed on a seasonal
basis as required.

2- & 3-pipe FCU

using refrigerant

FCUs that use refrigerant will often have 3-pipe connections (hot and
cold flow and a single return) allowing for simultaneous heating and
cooling to separate zones. Some systems achieve simultaneous
heating and cooling with only 2-pipes (flow and return) whereby the
flow pipe contains refrigerant in both vapour (for heating) and liquid
(for cooling) form.

Waterside control
FCU

The flow rates of the hot or chilled water in the coils are modulated
via control valves to deliver the heating or cooling loads required.

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Airside control FCU

Regulating dampers direct the air flow to either the heating or the
cooling exchanger coil.

Chilled beam
(passive)

Long rectangular units located at high level circulate chilled water in

finned pipes and exchange coolth. Convection occurs with warm
rising air being cooled by the chilled beams.

Chilled beam
(active)

Active chilled beams operate in the same principle as the passive

with the exception of having fresh air ducted to it. Rather than air
being drawn into the beam by buoyancy it is induced by the ducted
air.

Air handling unit

(AHU)

AHUs maintain adequate ventilation by providing fresh filtered outside

air and delivering it at the condition required to the internal space.
AHUs can be used to control the temperature and humidity of the air.

Variable air volume

(VAV)

Air is supplied from the AHU at a constant temperature to a number

of VAV units, each VAV unit has a damper which controls the flow of
air through it depending on the cooling or heating loads.
CV systems deliver a constant volume of conditioned air from the
AHU. It is not suited to multi-zoned buildings with varying cooling
requirements, therefore is generally used in single zones such as a
central foyer or as part of a cooling system with the primary cooling
being achieved by other means such as FCUs.

Constant volume
(CV)

Heating
Atmospheric boiler

These operate at atmospheric conditions without a fan or

pressurisation and is one single unit. The air/fuel mix is controlled by
gas flow drawing the air for combustion. Generally, atmospheric
boilers will operate in either on/off or high/low settings and cannot
modulate.

Forced draught
boiler

These consist of two main components; the boiler body and a burner.
The burner contains a fan which forces the air to mix with the fuel
giving more consistent mix ratios. Because the mix can be controlled,
forced draught boilers can also be modulated.

Condensing boiler

Condensing increases boiler efficiencies by removing heat energy

usually wasted in the exhaust. Removing this energy causes the flue
gases to condense resulting in water as a waste by-product..

Modular boiler

These are generally smaller in physical size and heat output than
conventional boilers. Multiple modular boilers are usually coupled
together to make up the total required duty allowing the boilers to fire
separately giving greater flexibility and efficient performance. Other
benefits include ease of installation, lower capital costs, reduced
standby capacity requirement and space saving.

Dual fuel boiler

These can accommodate two fuels types, such as gas and oil.

Biomass boilers

These are considered a low carbon alternative to conventional fuel

boiler as it is fuelled by biomass (wood) or biodiesel. The variety of
fuels and their respective calorific value can give varying outputs.

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Heat pump

Using a vapour compression cycle, a heat pump effectively takes

ambient heat and converts it to a higher and more useful
temperature. Heat pumps can be reversible to also provide cooling.

Air source heat

pump
(ASHP)

These use external ambient air as a heat absorption/rejection

medium for the heat pump. They are cheaper and easier to install
than some other heat pump systems but are subject to outside air
temperature fluctuations and are vulnerable to possible damage.

Ground source heat

pump (GSHP)

These use the ground as a heat absorption/rejection medium for the

heat pump. Below ground temperatures are stable throughout the
year so offer better efficiency than ASHPs. The disadvantages are
the higher capital costs, the requirement for drilling boreholes for
pipework and ground make-up on site.
CHP units are effectively engines, which convert the mechanical
energy into electricity via a generator. The waste heat produced by
the engine is also utilised for heating and/or hot water therefore
increasing the energy utilised and efficiency of the system.
These utilise the heat from a CHP unit to generate chilled water by
using an absorption chiller when cooling is required.
Whereas a conventional chiller uses a compressor to raise the
pressure (and temperature) of refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle, an
absorption chiller uses heat (typically from a CHP system).

Combined heat and

power (CHP) /
cogeneration
Trigeneration
Absorption chiller

Electrical
Low voltage
Three phase

Single phase

High voltage
Transformer

Sub Station
Switch gear
Distribution board
Electric shock

Typically 400V three phase and 230V single phase

For larger buildings three phase electrical systems are used. It delivers a
400V supply which can be separated to three 230V circuits. The
alternating current in these circuits are out of sync between one another
giving three phases of current. Large equipment will require a large
electrical load, whereas most other electrical equipment will use one of
the three 230V circuits
The grid creates three phases of electricity, named because their
alternating currents (AC) are out of phase with each other. A low voltage
supply will be at 400V, with each of the 3 phases at 230V. 3 phase
supply is required for larger buildings or equipment.
Most domestic and small commercial buildings are only supplied one of
the 3 phases. Other buildings in the immediate area may use one of the
other 2 phases, this is because the 3 phases from the substation are
divided as evenly as possible to balance the overall load.
Typically 11kV
These change the voltage of the supply. There are two types: liquid filled
(transformers containing oil that cools and electrically insulates the
internal coils (or windings)) or dry transformers which have windings that
are either encapsulated in resin or in direct contact with air).
Typically a room or small building that houses the High Voltage (HV)
supply, transformer and switch gear.
An assembly of main and auxiliary switching apparatus for operation,
regulation, protection or other control of an electrical installation.
An assembly containing switching or protective devices.
This can occur by contact between a live component and earth or

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Earthing

Bonding

Kilowatthour(kWh)
Power factor

Fuse
Circuit breaker

Miniature circuit
breaker (MCB)
Residual current
device (RCD)
IP (Ingress
Protection) rating

Busbar

Passive infrared
sensor (PIR)
Illuminance

Diode

Light-emitting
diode (LED)
T12, T8 and T5

Incandescent

contact between two live components. The live contact may be direct
(e.g. an un-insulated cable) or indirect (e.g. an object that has become
live due to a fault).
Earth protection is a conductive element between an object and the
earth so that if the object were to become live due to a fault the current
will pass directly to earth through the earth conductor (as it offers the
path of least resistance) rather than through the body of a person if they
were to touch the live object.
If a person touches a live object at the same time as another earthed
conductive material (typically plumbing) there is still a chance that the
path of least resistance could travel through the person even if the live
object was earthed. Therefore these extraneous conductive parts
(plumbing, etc) are linked by bonding conductors which are connected to
the buildings main earthing terminal.
Unit of energy equivalent to 1 kW of power expended for 1 hour
Therefore 1 kWh = 3600 KJ. Electricity usage is typically measured in
kWhs
This is a result of inductive loading from equipment such as electric
motors and is the ratio of power supplied to the installation and the
power output. The value is typically between 0.7 and 0.95. The closer
the value is to 1 the less energy is wasted.
This acts as a weak link in a circuit. If the current in the circuit rises
above the rating of the fuse it will break.
Circuit breakers can be manually switched to interrupt a circuit. They are
also capable of automatically breaking when an abnormally high current
is detected.
These are common in domestic and small commercial buildings.
When an earth fault occurs, the device senses a disparity of current flow
in the live and neutral and breaks the circuit.
Level of protection afforded by an electrical enclosure by foreign bodies.
e.g. IP44. The first number is level of protection from solid objects
(hands, small tools, wires, etc), the second number is level of protection
against liquids (rain, spray, pressure jets)
Used in large commercial buildings, busbars provide an alternative
means of power distribution to cables and offer greater flexibility. The
busbar is a copper bar in a casing. Cables can then be connected to the
busbar, which can be found vertically (in risers) or horizontally (in floor or
ceiling voids).
The is the most common type of motion sensor. It detects the heat given
off by a person in the form of infrared radiation.
The amount of light reaching a surface. It is measured in lux (lumens per
m). CIBSE has recommended illuminance levels for different tasks. For
example a typical office would require 300-500Lux and a hotel bedroom
would require 50-100Lux
An electrical component, consisting of a semi-conductor material which
conducts electrical current. Usages include; voltage regulators, signal
limiters and switches
These are becoming more popular types of light fittings as they can use
less energy than other types.
Types of tubular fluorescent lamp. T12 was the first to be manufactured
with the later T8 being more efficient. T5 is more efficient still, and is
flicker-free and shorter in length.
The incandescent lamp (also known as a tungsten filament lamp), has in

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lamp

Compact
fluorescent lamp
(CFL)
Uninterruptible
power supply
(UPS)
Photovoltaic
panel
LAN
Luminaire

the past been the most common available lamp. An electrical current
passes through the filament emitting light. It is highly inefficient and is
being phase out of use
. A low-energy alternative to the incandescent lamp similar to the tubular
fluorescent lamps but reduced in size
A device or group of devices that ensure the continuity of power supply
irrespective of fluctuations or interruptions in the mains supply.
These create electricity from solar power. They contain a semiconductor material (typically silicon) that releases electrons when
exposed to light.
Local Area Network. A data connection between equipment. A LAN can
be wired or wireless.
A fitting which houses one or more lamps.

Further information is available;

From various CIBSE publications and from the CIBSE website - www.cibse.org and from the
CIBSE bookshop http://www.cibse.org/index.cfm?go=page.view&item=63
REHVA - Federation of European Heating, Ventilating and Air-conditioning Associations is
the european equivalent of CIBSE - http://www.rehva.eu/
There is also a useful dictionary produced by REHVA for translation of technical terminology
into other European languages - http://www.rehvadictionary.org/

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