News

In March 2021, Koen Van Canneyt - our Expert Cleanrooms & Laboratories - was one of the key players at the Egnaton Forum on laboratories. He explained the Virtual Lab Tour in the newly built labs O&N1bis and O&N5 of the KU Leuven and participated in an international panel on energy reduction in lab buildings.

The intuitive BIMvisible app that Ingenium developed together with Savaco and In The Pocket puts full-size BIM models 'on' the real situation. By pointing your smartphone at a false ceiling, for example, you can 'see' which technical components are in that spot (without having to open up the ceiling). The information linked to each component - real-time info from sensors, the installer's contact information, etc. - is centralized in the app and can be easily consulted. The test case at Vandemoortele's Food Experience Center in Ghent was already a success. BIMvisible is now ready to solve comfort and technical problems quickly and efficiently in other buildings as well. The digital vault in turn makes the management of as-built files much easier. Plans, BIM models, technical sheets, contracts, inspections and other relevant information about the property are stored and organized on a central web platform. The advantage? Important information doesn't get lost (anymore) and can be consulted quickly and efficiently over and over again. The digital vault also makes the step to a BIM organization more obvious. For example, no additional licenses or training for BIM software are required. Via the online platform, the building manager can always consult the necessary information. Interested? Give us a call! Call us on 050 40 45 30 or at info@ingenium.be and ask for our expert Niels Vercaemst!

The recent harsh winter period was a good stress test for heating systems and especially for heat pumps. From some customers with a geothermal heat pump we received questions about the (seemingly) low temperature in the BTES. For example, on Friday, Feb. 12, 2 customers signaled regimes of 4 degrees Celsius at the inlet of the heat pump and 0.5 and 0 degrees return temperature, respectively. For another customer, the BTES indicated a regime of 4.2°C/0.7°C on Saturday, Feb. 13 - after a week with only frost days.

ELISE makes the job of patrimony managers a lot easier from now on. The digital management tool was developed jointly by Ingenium, Freestone and the Flemish government with VLISOG as the driving force. It brings together all documents, possible and necessary actions, the urgency of those actions and the associated costs in one visually attractive dashboard. It makes efficient reporting and thoughtful decision-making much easier.

That humans exhale CO2 is a simple law of nature. However, independent studies show that excessive concentrations of CO2 in indoor spaces negatively affect employee productivity and can increase absenteeism. For those renting or leasing offices, however, temporary or continuous air quality monitoring can provide rapid problem detection and permanent quality work comfort.

As part of the "Redesign of Health Care Administrations" process, one of the objectives is to create better cooperation between administrations. In order to improve cooperation, the Federal Public Service for Public Health, Safety of the Food Chain and the Environment (FPS), the National Institute for Sickness and Disability Insurance (NIHDI) and the Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAMHP), in short the Health Administrations, are moving together to one new location, the Galilée Building in Etterbeek.

Between Zenne and Zeekanaal, on the 4 Fonteinen site in Vilvoorde, Matexi is building a unique landmark consisting of 70 spacious apartments with generous terraces with splashing water views spread over 7 floors. The timeless and refined architecture of the Waterzicht building was designed by the renowned architectural firm Kempe Thill from Rotterdam. Characteristic features include high ceilings and large expanses of glass that bring in abundant daylight.

Cities and municipalities are thinking hard about how they can help realize European, federal and Flemish climate ambitions locally. One of the issues here is how buildings will be heated in the future. In order to write well thought-out transition scenarios, heat zoning plans are a particularly useful tool.

City of Bruges has the ambition to be climate neutral for its entire territory by 2050. For Bruges' historic city center, this is a very challenging task: the many historic and protected buildings are not easy to insulate, so typical renewable heating technologies such as heat pumps are not suitable everywhere

Close to the water and a stone's throw from the historic Tour and Taxis site, the Riva apartment building was completed in 2020. This apartment complex of approximately 15,000m² above ground includes 139 apartments and 5 hull spaces divided into 3 blocks. These 3 blocks are on a common underground level of a 5,500m² consisting of: parking, storage rooms and technical premises. Between the 3 blocks, the City of Brussels is currently building the new Suzan Daniel bridge which will connect the Havenlaan with the Willebroekkaai for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport.

At the Noordkasteel in Antwerp, where city and port meet, are the historic silos of the SA des Magasins à Grains d'Anvers (SAMGA). These relics from the old port landscape are industrial heritage.

For the Province of East Flanders and the Municipality of Zelzate, Ingenium investigated the feasibility of a heat network in Zelzate. After all, a lot of industry is active in the wider vicinity that has a large amount of residual heat.

On the former Waterschei mine site in Genk, the Thorpark science park will in the future accommodate eleven technology and research-related buildings. The renovated Thor Central mine building and three recent buildings are already in use today.

The construction of our power grid has evolved in the last 10 years from centrally controlled generation plants to more decentralized generation. Solar panels became common among both individuals and companies, and wind turbines were integrated into the landscape and at sea. This trend started not only in Belgium but also worldwide. Renewable energy is thus becoming cheaper and cheaper. An even greater challenge is the transformation of our heating system. This now operates largely on gas distributed centrally through the gas grid to our homes.

The large-scale, multi-phase renovation of the Ledeganck campus has been completed. The entire campus was renewed, and partially refurbished. The building complex consisted mainly of research laboratories, offices and auditoriums, and was enriched with open study landscapes and a museum.

Plan for Local Action for the Use of Energy Establish an action plan to achieve a quantified energy savings target within the next 3 years (36 months). The minimum energy savings target is set based on the current consumption of the building stock in kWhPE/m²/year (PE = Primary Energy). Monitoring of energy savings target through IPMVP (International Performance Monitoring & Verification Protocol). Mandatory in the Brussels Capital Region. Transposition of European Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency into Brussels Law in Decree of June 14, 2018 of the Brussels Capital Government on the PLAGE.

When we are too hot, we do not feel comfortable. We start sweating, get thirsty, stressed and feel low on energy. This causes us to be a lot less productive. This is precisely why reducing overheating is a must in a new construction, as well as in major renovations.

Ingenium, like other European study bureaus within the international First Q Network, notices that large real estate groups are asking for strong commitment to smart buildings in addition to the energy aspect of buildings. Keeping comfort for the user at the highest level, today and (over)tomorrow, - and thus building a sustainable relationship with that user - turns out to be crucial in this. What role does the building management system play and what must it meet?

Several years ago, Ingenium became a member of EGNATON, the European association that aims to be the reference for the development of sustainable laboratories.

The City of Antwerp has set itself the ambition of becoming climate neutral by 2050. Heat networks are a key measure within the city's Climate Plan to green the city's heat demand. When designing a heat network, the temperature regime is a crucial parameter. Ingenium investigated what modifications are needed to connect existing buildings to a low-temperature heat grid.

VIB (Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie) and UGent are rushing to move into the new A3/BSL3 lab at their new research center in Ghent. They want to continue research there in the fight against the COVID-19 virus.

As you may have already heard, the new AREI (General Regulations on Electrical Installations) is coming. From June 1, 2020, the adjustments are already applicable and installations will be inspected according to the new AREI.