Skip to content
Search
  • Login
© IHEEM 2025. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
    • History
    • Governance
    • Meet the Team
    • Committees
    • IHEEM Sustainability Policy
    • Knowledge Partners
    • Diversity and Inclusion
  • Branches
    • South West
    • Southern
    • London & South East
    • East Anglia
    • East Midlands
    • West Midlands
    • North-East
    • North West
    • Yorkshire
    • Northern Ireland
    • Republic of Ireland
    • Scotland
    • Wales
    • Hong Kong
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Events
  • News
  • Jobs
  • FAQs
  • Contact us
  • About Us
    • History
    • Governance
    • Meet the Team
    • Committees
    • IHEEM Sustainability Policy
    • Knowledge Partners
    • Diversity and Inclusion
  • Branches
    • South West
    • Southern
    • London & South East
    • East Anglia
    • East Midlands
    • West Midlands
    • North-East
    • North West
    • Yorkshire
    • Northern Ireland
    • Republic of Ireland
    • Scotland
    • Wales
    • Hong Kong
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Events
  • News
  • Jobs
  • FAQs
  • Contact us
  • Membership & Registration
    • Join IHEEM
      • Individual
      • Company
      • Authorising Engineers
      • Free
      • Member Get Member
    • Membership Information
    • Professional Registration
      • Engineering Technician
      • Incorporated Engineer
      • Chartered Engineer
  • Platforms
    • Technical Platforms
      • Decontamination
      • Fire Safety
      • Electrical
      • Mechanical
      • Medical Devices
      • Medical Gas Pipeline Systems
      • Ventilation
      • Water
    • Advisory Platforms
      • Environmental Advisory Platform
      • Health and Safety Advisory Platform
      • Strategic Estates Management Advisory Platform (SEMAP)
    • Ask an expert
  • Authorising Engineers
    • AE Directory
    • AE Applications
  • Affiliates
    • Company
    • NHS
    • University
  • Future Leaders
    • YOUNG ENGINEERS
      • MEET THE ENGINEERS
      • WORK EXPERIENCE
      • CAREER PATHS
      • Skills Hub
    • SCHOOLS AND FURTHER EDUCATION
      • Introduction to STEM
      • IHEEM STEM ACTIVITY
    • Upgrade my membership
  • Knowledge Hub
    • CPD
      • A guide to CPD
      • The MyIHEEM CPD platform
    • Training and Development
      • Courses
      • Health Estate Journal
    •  Knowledge Portal – IHEEM members only
    •  Access to Latest news in Full
  • Mentoring
  • Membership & Registration
    • Join IHEEM
      • Individual
      • Company
      • Authorising Engineers
      • Free
      • Member Get Member
    • Membership Information
    • Professional Registration
      • Engineering Technician
      • Incorporated Engineer
      • Chartered Engineer
  • Platforms
    • Technical Platforms
      • Decontamination
      • Fire Safety
      • Electrical
      • Mechanical
      • Medical Devices
      • Medical Gas Pipeline Systems
      • Ventilation
      • Water
    • Advisory Platforms
      • Environmental Advisory Platform
      • Health and Safety Advisory Platform
      • Strategic Estates Management Advisory Platform (SEMAP)
    • Ask an expert
  • Authorising Engineers
    • AE Directory
    • AE Applications
  • Affiliates
    • Company
    • NHS
    • University
  • Future Leaders
    • YOUNG ENGINEERS
      • MEET THE ENGINEERS
      • WORK EXPERIENCE
      • CAREER PATHS
      • Skills Hub
    • SCHOOLS AND FURTHER EDUCATION
      • Introduction to STEM
      • IHEEM STEM ACTIVITY
    • Upgrade my membership
  • Knowledge Hub
    • CPD
      • A guide to CPD
      • The MyIHEEM CPD platform
    • Training and Development
      • Courses
      • Health Estate Journal
    •  Knowledge Portal – IHEEM members only
    •  Access to Latest news in Full
  • Mentoring
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Events
  • Membership & Registration
    • Join IHEEM
      • Individual
      • Company
      • Authorising Engineers
      • Free
      • Member Get Member
    • Membership Information
    • Professional Registration
      • Engineering Technician
      • Incorporated Engineer
      • Chartered Engineer
  • Platforms
    • Technical Platforms
      • Decontamination
      • Fire Safety
      • Electrical
      • Mechanical
      • Medical Devices
      • Medical Gas Pipeline Systems
      • Ventilation
      • Water
    • Advisory Platforms
      • Environmental Advisory Platform
      • Strategic Estates Management Advisory Platform (SEMAP)
    • Ask an expert
  • Authorising Engineers
    • AE Directory
    • AE Applications
  • Affiliates
    • Company
    • NHS
    • University
  • Future Leaders
    • YOUNG ENGINEERS
      • MEET THE ENGINEERS
      • WORK EXPERIENCE
      • CAREER PATHS
      • Skills Hub
    • SCHOOLS AND FURTHER EDUCATION
      • Introduction to STEM
      • IHEEM STEM ACTIVITY
    • Upgrade my membership
  • Knowledge Hub
    • CPD
      • A guide to CPD
      • The MyIHEEM CPD platform
    • Training and Development
      • Courses
      • Health Estate Journal
    •  Knowledge Portal – IHEEM members only
    •  Access to Latest news in Full
  • Mentoring
  • About Us
    • History
    • Governance
    • Meet the Team
    • Committees
    • IHEEM Sustainability Policy
    • Knowledge Partners
    • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Branches
    • South West
    • Southern
    • London & South East
    • East Anglia
    • East Midlands
    • West Midlands
    • North-East
    • North West
    • Yorkshire
    • Northern Ireland
    • Republic of Ireland
    • Scotland
    • Wales
    • Hong Kong
  • News
  • Jobs
  • FAQs
  • Contact us
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Events
  • Membership & Registration
    • Join IHEEM
      • Individual
      • Company
      • Authorising Engineers
      • Free
      • Member Get Member
    • Membership Information
    • Professional Registration
      • Engineering Technician
      • Incorporated Engineer
      • Chartered Engineer
  • Platforms
    • Technical Platforms
      • Decontamination
      • Fire Safety
      • Electrical
      • Mechanical
      • Medical Devices
      • Medical Gas Pipeline Systems
      • Ventilation
      • Water
    • Advisory Platforms
      • Environmental Advisory Platform
      • Strategic Estates Management Advisory Platform (SEMAP)
    • Ask an expert
  • Authorising Engineers
    • AE Directory
    • AE Applications
  • Affiliates
    • Company
    • NHS
    • University
  • Future Leaders
    • YOUNG ENGINEERS
      • MEET THE ENGINEERS
      • WORK EXPERIENCE
      • CAREER PATHS
      • Skills Hub
    • SCHOOLS AND FURTHER EDUCATION
      • Introduction to STEM
      • IHEEM STEM ACTIVITY
    • Upgrade my membership
  • Knowledge Hub
    • CPD
      • A guide to CPD
      • The MyIHEEM CPD platform
    • Training and Development
      • Courses
      • Health Estate Journal
    •  Knowledge Portal – IHEEM members only
    •  Access to Latest news in Full
  • Mentoring
  • About Us
    • History
    • Governance
    • Meet the Team
    • Committees
    • IHEEM Sustainability Policy
    • Knowledge Partners
    • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Branches
    • South West
    • Southern
    • London & South East
    • East Anglia
    • East Midlands
    • West Midlands
    • North-East
    • North West
    • Yorkshire
    • Northern Ireland
    • Republic of Ireland
    • Scotland
    • Wales
    • Hong Kong
  • News
  • Jobs
  • FAQs
  • Contact us

Guidance on ‘technical challenges’ of designing risers issued

Home » News » Guidance on ‘technical challenges’ of designing risers issued

The second in a series planned by the Association’s specialist Offsite Group, BESA Technical Bulletin TB56/1.2 provides a snapshot of guidelines, principles, and rules of thumb to be considered as early as possible in the design process for the spatial fit of services inside risers. The group’s first, released in March, covered service voids and horizontal distribution/modules.

Emphasising the importance of allowing adequate spatial fit for building services, the free-to-download riser guide provides specific advice for engineers using traditional approaches or Modern Methods of Construction (MMC)/design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA).  Highlighting the importance of planning the layout and spatial provision within risers as early as possible in the design process, it also shows how well-designed risers allow for more flexibility in building design by enabling architects and engineers to plan the layout of utilities more efficiently.

BESA’s guide covers types, sizes, positions, and co-ordination of riser turnouts on to floor plates, all of which need to be established no later than the end of RIBA Stage 3, as the building form and fabric will be largely set and hard to change after this point. It also emphasises the important part risers play in achieving regulatory compliance and life safety

“A well-planned riser strategy is vital for the efficient distribution of services, and to ensure that systems can be accessed easily for future maintenance and safety work,” said BESA Offsite Group chair, Mark Snell.  “A sensible and coherent riser strategy also helps avoid the problems we often encounter with complex crossovers between services and congested ceiling voids.”

The MMC and Digital director at Dalkia Engineering added: “Risers are essential components – providing a vertical pathway for the efficient distribution of utilities, ensuring safety, facilitating maintenance, and allowing for adaptability to changing needs and technologies. “Poor provision, and inadequate riser sizes, will almost certainly lead to serious problems with spatial fit, compliance, and access.”

The BESA guide covers the main distribution strategies used for riser design, stressing the importance of early and detailed collaboration with the architect, structural engineering team, and fire engineers, to ensure that the riser strategy is compatible with ‘the wider vision’ for the building.

PrevPreviousTool ‘provides accurate picture’ of CHP performance
NextStriking poppies and life-side wooden horse feature at Birmingham HospitalNext

Posted on

  • November 17, 2023

IHEEM

Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management,
2 Abingdon House,
Cumberland Business Centre Northumberland Road,
Portsmouth Hants,
PO5 1DS

  • 02392 823 186
  • office@iheem.org.uk
  • Membership
  • Registration
  • Learning Hub
  • Events
  • Branches
  • IHEEM Experts
  • Company Affiliates
  • About us
  • News
  • FAQs
  • Contact us
  • My IHEEM
  • Terms & conditions
  • Privacy policy

Sign up to hear from us

This website and its contents is copyright of IHEEM - © IHEEM 2025. All rights reserved.

Facebook-f Linkedin Instagram Twitter Youtube Vimeo
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT