The CIBSE Students Blog

Now What?

2008-11-05T14:25:00.005Z

So now you've read all about Building Service Engineering...and you're still here reading this article! You must be thinking how do I get started?

Read on...

How to get startedSpecifically you will need at least grade C in GCSE science and maths. Design Technology is also useful. Successful building services engineers also tend to have a talent for

making things work be able to think outside the box have enthusiasm and creativity show ambition and determination be able to meet deadlines be a good team players be excellent communicators Career development.

Careers in building services engineering include Installation, Maintenance or Repair Electrician, Controls and Instrumentation Expert, Heating Ventilation and Refrigeration Engineer, Ductwork Installer, Plumber, Gas Fitter and Sanitation Engineer.

For these, look for an Apprenticeship, where you can earn while you learn, or go to college for a level 3 qualification such as BTEC National or A levels. You can then gain professional recognition, and letters after your name as an Engineering Technician (EngTech LCIBSE).

If you plan to get a degree, you could aim to become an Energy Manager, a Contract or Project Manager, Commissioning Engineer or Estimator, for example.

There's no limit to what you can achieve in this profession. With further study to Masters' level and post-graduation experience, you can become a Chartered Engineer. Many top building services engineers are responsible for leading and directing multi-million pound projects worldwide. Take a look at some examples in CIBSE's

Project Case Studies fact sheet.

2008-11-04T14:51:00.010Z

Stuck on what careers you can get into with a Building Services Engineering degree or quailfication?

Want more information on where to look for jobs, advice and career paths in Building Services?

Check out this link and see what CIBSE help we have to offer you!

http://www.cibse.org/index.cfm?go=page.view&item=527

CIBSE Career fact sheets...very useful stuff in these I can tell you!

2008-11-04T15:18:00.039Z

Are you confused like most students about what to do after University or college? Does thinking about after graduation fill you with horror and dread? Do you find yourself wondering what it is that you can do with your degree or quailfication? OR maybe you're a gradaute who has had some time out of education -but now you're after a change in career? Fed up of the office, looking for a job that's more hands on...?

Then fear not! CIBSE have put together 7 really useful career fact sheets that have been specially designed for students and graduates of all ages in Building Services Engineering.

Named 'Make a Difference Factsheets' these fact sheets are to promote the benefits of working within the industry and provide clear guidance on how to get a foot on the building services career ladder. The Factsheets are sponsored by the CIBSE Patrons

Simply click on the title of each fact sheet that interests you and read away...

What is Building Services?

Why choose a career in Buliding Services?

People in Building Services Engineering

Graduate Careers in Buliding Services

The future in Building Services Engineering

Project Case studies

A career change to buliding services?

So why a career in Building Services?

2008-11-04T14:24:00.012Z

There are many reasons why becoming a Building Services Engineer brings unrivalled job satisfaction.

Variety is the spice of life!

No career in the world offers more variety. Sometimes you will be working on a highly sensitive environment like a forensic laboratory or a chemical engineering plant. Another day you'll be designing services for a small nursery school or a vast hypermarket.

Your next project could be in a 900 year old listed building like the Tower of London, where you will need to install efficient but invisible services which leave ancient structures intact.
Building services engineers also work in domestic housing, taking account of psychological aspects to design user-friendly systems which are energy efficient and make people feel at ease. The job can offer a unique combination of technical planning and design work together with hands-on installation and problem solving.

Different every day...it's no office job!

If you don't fancy being stuck in an office all day, consider this typical working week for a building services engineer. It could include
site visits to see how your designs are working in practice
spend time with a manufacturer to learn about new products and components
brief a new client about how low carbon technologies can benefit their business
a scoping study - early planning with architects at a new site where construction has not yet begun
a presentation to potential clients of what your firm can offer
helping an installation team on site
handover of a completed project, in a brand new building
manage the operation and maintenance of building services in a completed facility
advise the government about new law and regulations to curb carbon emissions
use the latest software packages to solve engineering problems, using design, modelling and visualisation.

CIBSE Student Survey 2008 Prize Winner -- Alan Daly, BEng (Hons) Building Services Engineering 2009

2008-01-23T09:32:00.001Z

Alan Daly, BEng (Hons) Building Services Engineering 2009
Biography

After finishing my Leaving Certificate and graduating from Christian Brothers College (CBC) Cork in 2003, I attended Cork Institute of Technology and studied Building Services Engineering, obtaining my Certificate in 2005 and my BA (Ordinary Level) in 2006. I was accepted to Northumbria University in Newcastle to study BA (Honors) Building Services Engineering. I deferred the course for a year and traveled the globe between June 2006 and August 2007. I traveled to the Middle East, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and the US. I began my studies in September 2007, and I am on course to graduate with my honors degree in May 2009. I would like to work abroad, particularly in Southern California, as the warm climate would be a welcomed change!

Alan Daly entered our CIBSE Student Survey 2008 and was one of the first ten entrants to submit her survey winning the CIBSE Concise Handbook worth £70 and CIBSE Guidance Note GN1 worth £17.

Congratulations Alan and thank you for contributing to improving services for all student members through your feedback!

Home Page

2008-11-03T15:21:00.022Z

STUDENTS...WE NEED YOU!

Calling all Building Services students on an undergraduate and postgraduate course to come forward and volunteer as a student representative for CIBSE within their University or College.

The idea behind this initiative is to have one or two student representatives from each University or College across the country, to get together once a month to discuss issues within the industry, career options and CIBSE membership matters.

This is an excellent and easy way for young engineers to communicate and voice their needs, ideas and advice to CIBSE and to others in their situation. CIBSE's aim is to give young people entering a career in Building Services a chance to gain as much support and information as possible from their professionl institution, and will help to equip them with skills before starting work.

The student/graduate reps will meet once a month in an i-seminar. This is an online seminar room where the student reps will chat live about what matters to the membership body they are representing. The i-seminar works just like MSN live chat, all you need to do is come prepared with something to say. There is no need to travel! You can access the i-seminars from your own computer at home through this blog.

However…

CIBSE realises that as a student you have a lot of work, essays and well…socialising to do! So how about these for an incentive:

One whole year of membership FREE (worth £38 if you’re a full time student and £29 if you’re a part time student)
We will give you a reference to put on your CV to say that you have been a CIBSE student rep...Employers will like to see this as CIBSE is internationally recognised!
Exclusive invitation to our offices in Balham for our Student Champion days, where you will watch presentations from top people in the industry giving you career tips, presentation and communication tips and a Free lunch- A great chance to network and find out how to become successful

Exclusive industry contacts…that no one else will have!! If you have a special interest in a certain area of Building Services and you would like to get some work experience in it…we can help!

THIS IS A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE OPPORTUNITY! so don't delay...Interested? You should be! Take the initiative, take control of your future and career path! Call Chloe Lacey on 0208 772 3692 or e-mail her at clacey@cibse.org.

Aiming for a career in Buliding Services? You might want to attend this event then!

2008-11-04T11:57:00.006Z

The Future of Weather Data

A one day event on
Thursday 27th November 2008
Held at CIBSE's HQ in Balham, London.

Why should you come?

*CIBSE Student members go for £40 (+VAT)-saving yourselves £306.63

You will receive the sort after CIBSE TM48 ( Climate hange data for building simulation) publication absolutely FREE!!
This one-day conference will be of particular interest to anyone wanting a career in Building Services Design.

Build your knowledge and understand of relevant industry issues; and use the event as a great opportunity to network!! What are you waiting for? Read on...

Whats the event about?

Weather data is now an essential component of virtually every new building design and major refurbishment but there have been difference of opinion over which weather data should be used for particular applications. This conference will inform delegates as to what is currently available and about the changes which will occur as a result of the release of UK Climate Impact Programme's 2008 data. Advice will be offered on how to choose and use weather data: on meeting client needs and on future-proofing your designs.

Who will be there?

Senior members of the UKCIP responsible for the development of the new 08 climate change scenarios.
Senior engineers with experience in the use of weather data on real projects
The author of the new CIBSE publication 'The Design Compass'- an online tool to assist professionals involved in building design to incorporate weather and climate related information into design following a clearly defined process.

For a full programme of the event please click on the link below:

http://www.cibse.org/content/Events/National_Events/Weather%20data%20final.pdf

*Please ignore the existing prices on the booking form and in the address details section add student in the organisation field and get your lecturer or adminstrator to sign it.

CIBSE Student Survey 2008 Prize Winner -- Cara Geach, Mechanical Design Engineer

2008-01-15T10:56:00.002Z

Cara Geach, Mechanical Design Engineer

Biography

'With no previous engineering experience or qualifications Cara started working as a trainee Building Services Technician for a large employer in Cambridge nearly five years ago. In this time she has completed an HND in Building Services Engineeering on a part time basis and is now in the final year of BEng (Hons) in the same subject. She has also progressed within her employment by taking up the post of Mechanical Design Engineer.'

Cara Geach entered our CIBSE Student Survey 2008 and was one of the first ten entrants to submit her survey winning the CIBSE Concise Handbook worth £70 and CIBSE Guidance Note GN1 worth £17.

Congratulations Cara and thank you for contributing to improving services for all student members through your feedback!

CIBSE Student Survey 2008 Prize Winner – Jonathan Philip Tallon, Consultant Electrical Services Engineer

2008-02-07T11:44:00.002Z

Jonathan Philip Tallon, Consultant Electrical Services Engineer

Biography

College Attended: Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin Street
Course: Electrical Services Engineering
Qualification: Degree in Electrical Services Engineering
Qualified: 2005
Currently Studying: BSc Electrical Services & Energy Management at Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin St. (Part time) and also training to become a BER (Building Energy Rating) Assessor at Dublin Institute of Technology, Aungier St., studying under Dr. Ken Beattie

After Qualifying in the summer of 2005 I took the summer off to relax and take a brake from studying (best thing I ever did), I then rang some college friends to see where each were working and also to ask did they know of any nice consultancies recruiting at the moment that I could send in my CV, I got great feedback and sent my CV around, a few days later I got a response from one of the consultancies and went for my first interview and was offered the job that evening.

It was a great consultancy called HOH Partnership in Clontarf, Dublin 3, they looked after my every needs and I got great experience during my time there. I left after nearly two years to further my career and gain further experience and I am now working at BDP (Building Design Partnership), Blackhall Place, Dublin 7, this is a International multi-discipline Architecture, Design and Engineering Practice which is dedicated to sustainable developments and one in which I hope to benefit immensely from.

Jonathan Tallon entered our CIBSE Student Survey 2008 and was one of the first ten entrants to submit her survey winning the CIBSE Concise Handbook worth £70 and CIBSE Guidance Note GN1 worth £17.

Congratulations Jonathan and thank you for contributing to improving services for all student members through your feedback!

CIBSE Patrons Sponsor Arkwright High Flyer

2007-12-05T16:32:00.001Z

At an Awards Ceremony held at the IET on 26th October, CIBSE Patrons Chairman Nick Mead FCIBSE met the newest Arkwright Scholar to be Sponsored by the Patrons, Hugh Chapman. Hugh, who lives in Milton, Cambridge attends Framingham College.

Currently he is studying AS levels in Maths, Physics, Geography and Design Technology and plans to study one of the built environment engineering disciplines at university. CIBSE President John Armstrong also attended the awards ceremony which gave Scholars and their parents a chance to meet their Sponsors.

Hugh is the third Arkwright Scholar to have benefited from the generous support of CIBSE Patrons. From the point of view of the Institution, it is good to have the opportunity to raise the profile of building services engineering with young high flyers whilst they are still at school .

CIBSE Ken Dale Travel Bursary Open To All Members

2008-02-07T12:39:00.001Z

CIBSE BURSARY PROFILE OF THE MONTH

Purpose of the Ken Dale Travel Bursary

The Ken Dale Travel Bursary has been established by CIBSE to commemorate Ken Dale's contribution to the Institution and our industry. The bursary will allow CIBSE members to travel and research areas connected with the applicant's field of work and which will benefit CIBSE, their employer, their clients and the professions within the building services engineering industry more widely.

Candidate Criteria

Open to CIBSE members in developmental stage of their career
At least two years' professional experience

Conditions of Award

The successful candidate will spend up to 4 weeks traveling for research connected with the applicant's field of work and which will benefit CIBSE, their employer, their clients and the professions within the building services engineering industry more widely
The Award amount depends on the scope of the project to be undertaken, its length (3-4 weeks), and the country or countries proposed for the particular study
A written report based on the research and travel experience will be produced for the Board within four months of commencing study leave
A presentation will be made to the CIBSE council on the research and findings
A commemorative presentation made at the President's Dinner in October by the successful applicant

2008 Timetable for Applications

The closing date this year for applicants is 17th March 2008
Applications will be acknowledged after 31st March 2008
Interviews will be held in April 2008 (applicants will be notified of specific dates)
A commemorative presentation made at the President's Dinner in October 2008

Download the 2007-2008 Ken Dale Travel Bursary Application Form at www.cibse.org/bursaries

If you have any questions, please contact Fiona Torrance on 0208 7723624 or email ftorrance@cibse.org.

Ken Dale Biography

Kenneth William Dale was born in Birmingham in 1925. He attended the Moseley Grammar School before serving the RAF from 1942 to 1946. Ken joined the National College of Heating, Ventilating, Fan Engineering and Refrigeration as one of their first students. After working in various contracting and consulting engineering firms, Ken started his own practice, K W Dale and Partners, in 1954. Later Ken became Senior Partner, then Chairman and Managing Director, of Dale and Goldfinger Ltd.

Ken designed the engineering for notable UK and overseas buildings - such as Chatsworth House, Sheffield's Crucible Theatre, the Royal Opera House, Westminster Hospital, Trellick Tower in West London, the Mecca and Riyadh Hotels and Conference Centres, the British Embassy in Riyadh, and the British and Indian Antarctic Survey Bases. He was also on the EEC team seeking solutions to the heating problems of Romanian orphanages.

In 1974, Ken served as President of the Institution of Heating and Ventilating Engineers (IHVE) when negotiating for a grant of a Royal Charter as part of the formation of the Chartered Institution of Building Services (CIBS). CIBS was formed in 1976 with Ken as Chairman of the Charter Panel. Working with the Secretary and Past-Presidents, Ken contributed to the Institution gaining recognition as the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) where corporate members could submit registration to the Engineering Council as Chartered Engineers.

Ken was Honorary Fellow of CIBSE, a Life Fellow of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers, and President of the Federation of European Heating and Air Conditioning Associations (REHVA) in 1993. He also served on the Building Regulations Advisory Committee for nine years, the Building Services Advisory Panel as Chairman, and as a tax commissioner. In 1982, Ken received appointment as officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) after serving as a Colonel in T&VR and Aide de Camp to the Queen from 1977-1979. He became Commander of the Royal Engineer Specialist Pool Officers T&VR and Specialist Teams, and Colonel in the Engineer and Transport Staff Corps.

Ken contributed to teaching fellow engineers with academic appointments as Lecturer for Regent Street and South Bank Polytechnics, and as External Examiner for UMIST MSc Building Services Technology. Ken also published numerous technical papers.

Ken Dale Model for Development within Building Services Engineering

Working closely with clients and industry colleagues across disciplines
Striving for engineering services to be in harmony with buildings - functional, efficient, easily operated and maintained
Designing engineering with rigorous research into the requirements of each building and its occupants
Achieving intuitive and elegant engineering solutions
Avoiding inappropriate solutions - whether fashionable or traditional
Sustaining highest professional standards
Being a ‘hands-on' member of the Institution
Persisting to further goals
Participating internationally in building services engineering
Making time for hobbies, community, and public service

Exclusive CIBSE Student reading package for 2008/9

2008-05-19T10:22:00.004+01:00

Exclusive CIBSE Student reading package for 2008/9

Available to order NOW

* Also available to non-members at rates mentioned below

CIBSE is pleased to offer the following subsidised reading packages for your students. Our publications set out industry good practice and can help students familiarise themselves with new technologies as well as providing some of the underpinning building services detail it may not be possible to address in lectures. The publications offer information at a range of different levels from technical publications and guides through to bite-sized information.

We believe the reading packages below will benefit your students throughout their academic career and they are offered at a significant discount in order to make them affordable for students. In return, we hope they will introduce CIBSE as the professional membership body for the building services profession.

Packs of information:

Calculations and underpinning data

§ Guide A - Environmental Design

§ Guide B - Heating, ventilating, air-conditioning and refrigeration

§ Guide F - Energy efficiency in buildings*

§ A Guide to HVAC Building Services Calculations

Normal CIBSE member price: £169

Special Student package: £78.00 (+ £10 postage)

Guidance on sustainable energy efficient building design

§ Introduction to Sustainability

§ AM10: Natural ventilation in non-domestic buildings

§ AM13: Mixed mode ventilation

§ Guide F- Energy efficiency in buildings*

§ TM37: Design for improved solar shading

§ KS07: Variable flow pipework systems

Normal CIBSE member price: £150

Special Student package: £75.00 (+ £10 postage)

Guidance on renewables:

§ KS: Solar energy

§ KS10: Biomass

§ KS01: Reclaimed water

Normal CIBSE member price: £60.00

Special Student package: £48.00 (+ £10 postage)

The above packages are open to both CIBSE and non CIBSE Member students but *CIBSE Member students only will also receive a free Guide F with every order courtesy of the CIBSE Education Fund. To order please contact CIBSE Publication Sales on 0208 772 3618 or visit www.cibse.org/publications.

In addition

All CIBSE students will receive one free Knowledge Series title per year (up to a maximum of 4 over the course of study) in September. This will be sent out electronically to all those students who have an up-to-date email address. All students will receive a copy of GN01: CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs and halons (whilst stocks last).

We look forward to hearing from you.

The CIBSE Publications Department

Tel: 020 8772 3618

PS: For all queries on CIBSE Student membership, please contact Fiona Torrance, Membership Communications Officer, on Tel: 020 8772 3624 or E-mail: ftorrance@cibse.org