The WPJ blog

Did you know…

26% of the warmth inside an office is lost via the windows

22% of heat escapes through the roof

9% of the temperature is going to waste through the walls

8% of hot air is leaked via the floor

If your workplace is feeling a little chilly, follow our top tips on how to prevent heat loss in an office building.

Windows

• Do the one pence test. Can you fit a penny between the window and its frame? It’s time to fit some draught proofing, such as self-adhesive draught stripping or weighted wind excluders.
• Schedule maintenance surveys and replace any broken frames or panes.
• In new buildings, double gazing is now fitted as standard, but you may wish to consider triple glazing if certain sides of the office are exposed to frequently high winds.
• Install high performance glass, which has a coating or a film applied to it to improve its insulation properties by allowing solar energy into a building whilst preventing the heat from your central heating leaving.

The roof

• Insulate the roof – it could reduce heat loss by a substantial 25%.
• In fact, insulate all pipework and the water storage tank too, as this will lower the chance of them freezing in the winter.
• Regular roof inspections should be carried out to check for early signs of damp and damage.
• Hot air rises, thus top floors of high-rise buildings can be up to 10% warmer than the rest of your workplace. Have your central heating looked at by a professional as it may be possible to adjust it, otherwise you can install ceiling circulation fans to direct warm air to colder areas.

Walls

• Every winter, inspect walls for signs of damp and condensation as cold, damp weather can cause such problems. Any damage should be repaired immediately so it doesn’t get worse.
• Feel draughts around the skirting boards, roof joins or doors? Seal them with draught excluders.
• A sheet of heat reflective foil strategically placed behind radiators will do wonders to bounce heat back into a room.
• There are a number of wall insulation methods that can be implemented with minimal disruption to employees, from cavity wall insulation to externally insulated rendered systems.

Floors

• Routinely check for and seal any floor gaps and cracks.
• Fit underlay and carpet to keep heat loss at bay.
• If you’re undergoing an extensive refurbishment, it’s worth working floor insulation in to the budget. It can simply be added between the joists or can be layered across the entire concrete space before your flooring is added.

All statistics from Carbon Trust, 2014. Buildings energy efficiency. [Online] Available at: http://www.carbontrust.com/resources/guides/energy-efficiency/buildings-energy-efficiency. [Accessed 5th January 2015].