BSRIA
Encyclopedia
BSRIA is a test, instrumentation, research and consultancy organisation, providing specialist services in construction
and building services engineering
.
It is a not-for-profit, member-based association. Any profits made are invested in its research programme, producing best practice guidance.
BSRIA is a full member of the Construction Industry Council
(UK) as well as regionally based engineers in the UK and offices in France, Spain, Germany and China.
BSRIA's mission is
In 1975 the building services scope was adopted both by BSRIA and by the professional institution (now CIBSE
) and became the Building Services Research and Information Association. Over the next twenty years more people came to know it by the shorthand, BSRIA.
It now has a trading company, BSRIA Limited, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Building Services Research and Information Association, which is a company limited by guarantee.
Although membership is of The Building Services Research and Information Association, the services are provided by BSRIA Limited.
BSRIA now has over 650 corporate members.
Construction
In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking...
and building services engineering
Building services engineering
Building services engineering, technical building services, architectural engineering, or building engineering is the engineering of the internal environment and environmental impact of a building...
.
It is a not-for-profit, member-based association. Any profits made are invested in its research programme, producing best practice guidance.
BSRIA is a full member of the Construction Industry Council
Construction Industry Council
The Construction Industry Council is the representative body for the professional bodies, research organizations and specialist business associations in the construction industry in the United Kingdom...
Structure
BSRIA (owned by The Building Services Research and Information Association) was founded in 1955 and had a turnover of £10 million in 2007/08. It employs over 150 people, at its head office in BracknellBracknell
Bracknell is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Bracknell Forest in Berkshire, England. It lies to the south-east of Reading, southwest of Windsor and west of central London...
(UK) as well as regionally based engineers in the UK and offices in France, Spain, Germany and China.
BSRIA's mission is
"to enable the building services and construction industries and their clients to enhance the value of the built environment, by improving the quality of their products and services, the efficiency of their provision and the effectiveness of their operation."
Foundation
BSRIA was formed in 1955 as the Heating and Ventilating Research Council, later to become the Heating and Ventilating Research Association. As the industry became increasingly linked with other aspects of building services so the professional institution and the research association saw the need to widen their remit.In 1975 the building services scope was adopted both by BSRIA and by the professional institution (now CIBSE
Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers
The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers is a British professional engineering body based in London, England that represents building services engineers...
) and became the Building Services Research and Information Association. Over the next twenty years more people came to know it by the shorthand, BSRIA.
Activities
As the activities of the Association were developed to meet the needs of an integrated construction industry and to provide a much wider package of services than just research and information, the full name became less and less relevant. Therefore when new government rules required it to split research and other activities into two companies, BSRIA started using the short name as a formal name.It now has a trading company, BSRIA Limited, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Building Services Research and Information Association, which is a company limited by guarantee.
Although membership is of The Building Services Research and Information Association, the services are provided by BSRIA Limited.
Timeline history
- 1955 (29 Dec) - The inaugural General Meeting of the Heating and Ventilating Research Council held at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. The Chairman (C.S.K. Benham) summed up the proceedings by " Thank you, Gentlemen. Now we exist "
- 1956 - With almost 200 members, 3 research staff are appointed to work in rented premises at British Coal Utilisation Research Association, Leatherhead.
- 1959 - The Heating and Ventilating Research Association (HVRA) was incorporated to take over the assets, liabilities and undertaking of the Heating and Ventilating Research Council, which was dissolved
- 1964 - Laboratories double in size.
- 1967 - Test Division established.
- 1973 - Establishment of Member Services and Technical Division to reflect 'customer / contractor ' ethos. The 'Application Guide' is launched to reflect members interest in the application of research.
- 1975 - 'Building Services Research and Information Association' name formally adopted. Instrument Hire service established with 120 hirings. First Statistics Bulletin published.
- 1986-87 - "Research Clubs" established to match DoE funds for projects. BEMS (Building Energy Management Systems) Centre established as autonomous centre of expertise. Air Infiltration Centre renamed to Air Infiltration and Ventilation Centre to reflect widening role.
- 1989 - EuroCentre established to help industry take advantage of the single European market.
- 1993 - Second site established at Crowthorne giving 50% more space. New radiator test room for testing to new European standard.
- 2000 - The Association establishes a trading company - BSRIA Ltd - to undertake all the trading activities, including research.
- 2003 - Acquisition of new offices adjacent to existing laboratories to accommodate staff relocated from CrowthorneCrowthorneCrowthorne is also a suburb of Johannesburg, South AfricaCrowthorne is a village and civil parish in the Bracknell Forest district of south-eastern Berkshire. It has a population of 6,711...
. - 2006 - Offices set up in France, Spain and Germany.
- 2008 - New subsidiary, BSRIA Construction Consulting (Beijing), established. Acquisition of market research business 'Proplan' to develop market intelligence in controls, fire protection and security.
Founding members
The following companies were the founding members of BSRIA who remain as members now (original company names updated to current):- BREBuilding Research EstablishmentThe Building Research Establishment is a former UK government establishment that carries out research, consultancy and testing for the construction and built environment sectors in the United Kingdom...
- Chartered Institution of Building Services EngineersChartered Institution of Building Services EngineersThe Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers is a British professional engineering body based in London, England that represents building services engineers...
(CIBSE) - Comyn Ching & Co. (Solray) Ltd
- Crown House Technologies LtdLaing O'RourkeLaing O'Rourke is a multinational construction company headquartered in Dartford, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1978....
- EMCOR Group (UK) Plc
- Faber Maunsell
- Flakt Woods Ltd
- Gratte Brothers Ltd
- Haden Young (part of Balfour BeattyBalfour BeattyBalfour Beatty plc is a British construction, engineering, military housing, rail and investment services company. It is one of the largest construction companies in the UK, and the 15th largest in the world...
) - Harry Taylor
- Hoare LeaHoare LeaHoare Lea is a firm of consulting engineers specialising in mechanical, electrical and environmental engineering...
- Honeywell Control Systems LtdHoneywellHoneywell International, Inc. is a major conglomerate company that produces a variety of consumer products, engineering services, and aerospace systems for a wide variety of customers, from private consumers to major corporations and governments....
- Inviron Ltd
- Jacobs BabtieJacobs Engineering GroupJacobs Engineering Group Inc., a publicly traded company with over 50,000 employees and 2010 revenues of nearly $10 billion, provides technical, professional, and construction services globally. Headquartered in Pasadena, California, it was founded in 1947 by Dr. Joseph J. Jacobs. Jacobs offers...
- Lennox EuropeLennox InternationalLennox International Inc. is an American company. Through its subsidiaries, it is a provider of climate control products for the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration markets around the world...
- C H Lindsey & Son
- London South Bank UniversityLondon South Bank UniversityLondon South Bank University is a university in south London. With over 25,000 students and 1,700 staff, it is based in the London Borough of Southwark, near the South Bank of the River Thames, from which it takes its name...
- MJN Colston Ltd
- Pearce Buckle (Design Engineers) Ltd
- R W Gregory LLPRPS GroupRPS Group plc is a major UK-based environmental and planning consultancy. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-History:...
- Roger Preson & Partners
- Rosser & Russell Building Services Ltd
- SkanskaSkanskaSkanska AB, is a multinational construction and development company based in Sweden, where it also is the largest construction company. The company's head office is in Solna, north of Stockholm.-History:...
- TPS
- WSP Group plcWSP GroupWSP Group plc is a British-based business providing management and consultancy services to the built and natural environment. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a former constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-History:...
BSRIA now has over 650 corporate members.