BSRIA has launched its new Soft Landings & Government Soft Landings (GSL) guide which is available to download from its website. Soft Landings is increasingly being recognised as an important step in helping to ensure the actual building performance in terms of energy consumption and occupant comfort closely matches the design intent. The free PDF summarises this process.

This is particularly relevant in the public sector where it is usual to have long leases or ownership of property and where the benefits of Soft Landings through the building process and life cycle analysis can be demonstrated.

In September 2012 the Cabinet Office formally announced the policy that by 2016 all centrally funded projects should be delivered in accordance with GSL, as part of the Government’s expectations for the public sector adoption of BIM.

There are some crucial differences between BSRIA’s Soft Landings and those of GSL. This guide compares the attributes of BSRIA’s Soft Landings framework and GSL and reviews both methodologies to ensure that the lessons learnt will result in improvements, not just in the process, but also in building performance and occupant comfort.

Mitch Layng, Portfolio Energy Manager, M&G Real Estate, said: “This should assist in achieving the seismic shift which is required in the industry to achieve what a lot of experts believe is the industry’s Holy Grail: demonstrating how well-designed energy efficient and well-managed buildings can result in improved occupant health and wellbeing and, potentially, productivity.”

This guide is available at: www.bsria.co.uk/goto/soft-landings-guides