Building Complexes
Large building complexes are often formed from non-standard geometries, with facades consisting of curtain walling or lightweight cladding. The information in national codes for wind loading is often not sufficient to obtain accurate wind loading information for the safe and efficient design of the main structure and facade. Wind flows at street level, building entrances and recreational areas are also important to ensure that pedestrians and the users of the building experience a wind environment suitable for the intended use of the various areas. Due to the complex nature of wind flows around building 
developments, local wind environment is not covered by codes. In addition, wind flows close to buildings and surface pressure distributions have a significant effect on ventilation, particularly natural ventilation. To reliably assess these effects model tests are normally carried out in a boundary layer wind tunnel.
BMT Fluid Mechanics has significant experience in assessing the effects of wind on building developments. Services range from initial design reviews and appraisals to in-depth model tests in BMT's boundary layer wind tunnel using sophisticated measurement and analysis techniques, and state-of-the-art numerical modelling.
Expertise in relation to wind effects on building complexes include:
- Wind loading on cladding and curtain walling
- Wind loading for structural design
- Wind environment for pedestrian and user comfort and safety
- Internal and external ventilation
- Air quality exposure of users and occupants
- Fire and smoke spread
Environmental Impact Assessments