BCO Guide

Specification
2019
 Key Criteria Comparison
BCO Guide Specification 2019

Exigere’s Quick View to the BCO’s 2019 Specification for Offices

Exigere’s quick view of the BCO’s new 2019 Specification for Offices compares the
key changes against the specifications set in the 2009 and 2014 guides.

The BCO’s latest specification acknowledges the value derived from designing a
modern workplace focused on people, productivity and well-being.

We highly recommend familiarising yourselves with the full report available

at www.bco.org.uk which provides more context and greater detail around the key
drivers for change and their impacts for offices.

For further information please contact:

Dan Fryer, Partner

+44 (0) 207 920 3401
dan.fryer@exigere.co.uk

Morelands
5-23 Old Street,
London
EC1V 9HL

www.exigere.co.uk
exigere Key Criteria Comparison
BCO Guide Specification 2019

2009 2014 2019 Change

Occupancy
Workplace density (NIA per workspace) 8 – 13 m² 8 – 13 m² 8 – 10 m2 (3 m²)
80% Utilisation to be applied

Means of escape (NIA per person) 6 m² 6 m² 6 m2 (Part B Building

Regulations)
5 m2 (BS 9999 – with
discounted provision)

Core elements (NIA per person) 12 m² 10 - 12 m² 10 - 12.5 m²

On floor services (NIA per workspace) 10 m² 8 - 10 m² 8 - 10 m²

Plan efficiency
Low rise buildings (up to 9 floors) 80 - 85% 80 - 85% 80-85%

Target wall to floor ratio < 0.4 new item

Plan depth and ceiling height

Deep plan:
Window to window or atrium 15 – 21m 15 – 21m 15 – 21m
Window to core 6 – 12m 6 – 12m 6 – 13.5m 1.5m

Shallow plan:
Window to window or atrium 12 – 15m 12 – 15m 12 – 15m
Window to core 6 – 7.5m 6 – 7.5m 6 – 7.5m

Floor to ceiling/clear height

New build: 2.6 – 2.75m 2.6 – 2.75m 2.6 – 2.8m 0.5m
New build deep plan: 2.6 – 2.75m 2.6 – 2.75m 2.8 – 3.2m 0.2m - 0.45m
Refurbishment: 2.45m min. 2.45 – 2.8m 0.35m
Grids
Planning grid 1.5 m x 1.5 m 1.5 m x 1.5 m 1.5 m x 1.5 m
Column grid 7.5m, 9.0m and 12.0m 7.5m, 9.0m, 12.0m and 9.0m, 10.5m, > 9.0m
15.0m 12.0m and 15.0m

Circulation
Percentage of primary circulation to NIA 15% to 22% 15% to 22% 15% to 22%
Toilet provision
NIA per person (high density) 12.0 m² 10 m² 10 m²
Male/ female ratio -
Conventional 60% M / 60% F 60% M / 60% F 60% M / 60% F
Unisex 100% 100% 100% of population
Distance of travel to toilet < 100m new item
< 40m wheelchair
users
Raised Floors

Typical floors - new build 150mm (overall) 150mm (overall) 150mm (overall)

Typical floors - refurbishment 100mm (overall min) 100mm (overall min)

Trading floors 300 - 500mm 300 - 500mm 300 - 500mm

(overall) (overall) (overall)

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exigere Key Criteria Comparison
BCO Guide Specification 2019

2009 2014 2019 Change

Cycling provision and showers

Secure cycling spaces 1 cycle per 10 staff 1 cycle per 10 staff –

with the ability to ability to extend
-
extend to
1.5 cycle spaces per
Shower facilities 10per
1 shower per 100 staff 1 shower staff
100 staff
– or per 10 cycle
spaces.
Male / Female ratio 60% male / 40% 50% male / 50% (10%) / 10%
female female.
Secure lockers 1 locker per cycle 1 locker per 10 staff –
space or per cycle space.

Lifts

Performance requirements:

Car loading 80% (60-70%) 80% 0.21 m² per person

with a car loading
factor of 80%
Waiting time < 25 seconds < 25 seconds < 25 seconds.
< 30 seconds where
average time to
destination is < 80
seconds.
Handling capacity (up-peak) 15% 12% (85/10/5) 12% (85% up / 10%
down / 5% inter-floor)

Waiting time (two way lunchtime) < 40 seconds < 40 seconds

Handling capacity (two-way lunchtime) 12% 13% (45/45/10) 12% (45% up / 45%
down / 10% inter-
floor)
NIA per person 12m² 10 -12m² 12.5m²

Depth of landing: > 1500mm

Single passenger 1.5 x car depth and
Passenger lift bank >2100mm; Sum of
Passenger lift group facing car depth
Goods Lift <4500mm; car depth

Time to destination < 90 seconds (up to < 90 seconds (up to < 90 seconds.
15 floors) 15 floors) 110 s is acceptable
where the associated
average waiting time is
less than 25 s.

Goods passenger lifts:

Travel time from main goods access to
highest floor: 50 – 60 seconds.
Rated load 1600 – 3000 kg

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exigere Key Criteria Comparison
BCO Guide Specification 2019

2009 2014 2019 Change

Structural Loading

Live:
Ground floor and below ground office 3.0 kN/m² 3.0 kN/m² 3.0 kN/m²
floors
Above ground 2.5 kN/m² 2.5 kN/m² 2.5 kN/m²

High load areas (over approx 5% of floor 7.5 kN/m² 7.5 kN/m² 7.5 kN/m²
area)

Dead:

Partitions 0.5 - 1.2 kN/m² 0.5 - 1.2 kN/m² 0.5 - 1.2 kN/m²

Car parking 2.5 kN/m² 2.5 kN/m²

Loading bays 5.0 - 10.0 kN/m² 5.0 - 10.0 kN/m²

Plant room 7.5 kN/m² 7.5 kN/m²

Retail space 4.0 kN/m² 4.0 kN/m²

Cafes/restaurants/lounges 2.5 kN/m² to 4.0 kN/m²

– depending on
flexibility of use

Balconies/terraces Same as rooms to

which they give access
but with a minimum of
4.0 kN/m²

Floors, ceilings and services equipment 0.85 kN/m² 0.85 kN/m² 0.85 kN/m²
Floor vibration
General office response factor 6–8
Dealing floor response factor 4
Small Power

On floor distribution (based on 1 25W/m² 20 - 25W/m² 20 - 23W/m² (2W/m²)

workspace per 10m²)
Diversified load (over 1000m²) 15W/m² 13 - 15W/m² 13 - 15W/m²

Lighting

Daylighting (target) 2% average, 0.8% min 2% - 5% 2% - 5%

Average maintained illuminance

VDU use 300 - 500 lux 300 - 500 lux 300 - 500 lux

Task uniformity > 0.7 > 0.4 > 0.6

Unified glare rating (UGR) 19 19 19

Electrical load allowance 12 W/m² (incl task 10 W/m² (incl task 8 W/m2 for Cat A & B (2W/m²)
lighting and Cat B lighting and Cat B (assuming daylight
allowance) allowance) dimming)

Lighting energy use 15-30 kWhr/m²/yr - 8 – 18 kWh/m²/year

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exigere Key Criteria Comparison
BCO Guide Specification 2019

2009 2014 2019 Change

Comfort

Airtightness Not more than Not more than Not more than
3.5m³/hr/m² for 3.5m³/hr/m² for 3.5m³/hr/m² for
building at 50pa building at 50pa building at 50pa

Airtightness - naturally ventilated Not more than 7 m³/hr/m² for

buildings 7m³/hr/m² for building naturally ventilated
at 50pa buildings – at 50pa

Outdoor air 12 - 16l/s per person 12 - 16l/s per person Minimum of 12 l per
person + 10% spare.
1.6 to 1.8 l per m² for a
range of solutions.

Occupancy 1 workspace per 10m² 1 workspace per 10m² 1 workspace per 10m²

Air conditioned space:

Summer 24°C ± 2°C 24°C ± 2°C 24°C ± 2°C

Winter 20°C ± 2°C 20°C ± 2°C 20°C ± 2°C

Mixed Mode/natural vent:

Summer Not to exceed 25°C for Not to exceed 25°C for Not to exceed 25°C for
more than 5% of more than 5% of more than 5% of
occupied hours. Not occupied hours. Not occupied hours. Not
to exceed 28°C for to exceed 28°C for to exceed 28°C for
more than 1% of more than 1% of more than 1% of
occupied hours occupied hours occupied hours
Winter 20°C ± 2°C 20°C ± 2°C 20°C +/- 2°C
Public Health
Water storage 15 l/per person per 15 l/per person per
day – based on day – based on
effective density. effective density.
+ 5 l/per person per + 5 l/per person per
day where a kitchen is day where a kitchen is
expected. expected.
Noise Criteria

External noise intrusion:

Open plan NR40 (Leq) NR40 (Leq) NR40 (Leq)

Speculative NR38 (Leq) NR38 (Leq) NR38 (Leq)
Cellular offices NR35 (Leq) NR35 (Leq) NR35 (Leq)
Building Services:

Open plan NR40 (Leq) NR40 (Leq) NR40 (Leq)

Speculative NR38 (Leq) NR38 (Leq) NR38 (Leq)
Cellular offices NR35 (Leq) NR35 (Leq) NR35 (Leq)
Sustainability
BREEAM rating for new and refurbished Minimum: 'Very Good'. Minimum: 'Excellent' Excellent
offices Best Practice: or 'Very Good'. Best (minimum Very Good)
'Excellent' Practice: 'Outstanding'

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 Dan Fryer
Partner

5-23 Old Street,

London
EC1V 9HL

www.exigere.co.uk