Impact case study database

The impact case study revolves around a body of work, including both commissioned research and more ‘blue sky’ research, which has had a significant impact on public and private sector policy and practice and from this has impacted society and the economy at large in NI and further afield. The key role has been to provide an evidence base and guidance in developing and maintaining modern, fit for purpose, fair, equitable and efficient property-based taxation systems. Techniques developed have been used to inform wider debates about the effective appraisal of land in developing jurisdictions. The impact of the underpinning research is considerable.

The research has influenced the policy community in the UK, USA, Uganda and India, directed the policy agenda of a major professional body in the field (IAAO), improved the operational efficiency of government departments (Assessing offices in the USA, Office of the Chief Government Valuer, Government of Uganda) and enabled an Indian non-profit organisation (FES) to help rural communities secure their future. Policy informed by the research has had a significant impact on the efficiency, fairness and equity of the tax base of at least two jurisdictions, in so doing materially impacting on the public finances of government bodies (local and regional government in NI, local government in Scotland) and the finances of every household in those jurisdictions via fairer and more equitable taxation. This has led to several specific impacts:

I1: The research was fundamental to the delivery of a modern and fairer domestic property tax system which has continuing economic impact. This benefits every NI household, for each financial year in the REF2021 period, via a more equitable and fairer property tax – the fairer redistribution of approximately GBP400,000,000 in annual revenue. The research has been significant in a regional context and has validated a policy direction decision which moved away from that adopted in the rest of the UK ( C1, C2). It is notable that in each of the other UK jurisdictions, modernisation of the domestic property tax continues to be a matter of considerable concern and political debate ( C1). Aspects of the research informed policy to introduce vacant rating of domestic property (active throughout the REF2021 census period), not to introduce a tax on brownfield development land and to alter the taxation of vacant commercial property ( C1).

I2: The NI research led to advocacy at the Scottish Government Commission on Local Taxation in 2015 (C2). The research and impact contribution was cited in the work of the commission in 2015 & 2016 ( C2, C3). The significance is noted in C2: “ As one of our closest neighbours, the evidence provided to us on Northern Ireland by Dr Davis was extremely valuable and helped to inform the Commission’s thinking on the best design for recurring property taxes”. The Commission findings contributed to the Council Tax reform policy of the Scottish Government in 2016, which advocates amending the banding ratio in the upper bands to reduce regressivity, as recommended by our research ( C4).

I3: The research has informed policy on an international basis, particularly in the context of transitional and developing world jurisdictions, and in so doing has helped to deliver sustainable, fair and equitable taxation systems and better-managed built environments. The underpinning research and demonstrated expertise directly led to work in Uganda on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Lands and Urban Development (MHLUD) in 2015/16. This builds upon the work of Davis in 2005 in authoring the Ugandan Local Government (Rating) Regulations 2006. These Regulations are currently being used to operationalise the Ugandan Rating system, notably in Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), where a major revaluation was ongoing during the REF Impact period.

The research has directly informed and played an enabling role in harnessing essential municipal revenue. The research insights into country specific practical solutions, along with the adoption of modern technological modernisation “ informed and guided” ( C5) the design of an online Valuation Module for installation in the recently developed Land Information System. This “ was invaluable in informing Departmental policy and practice” ( C5) and will be the basis for all future work operations of the Chief Government Valuer’s Office.

This work is directly related to Ulster expertise in valuation and tax policy for developing jurisdictions outlined in Section 2. This application in Uganda demonstrates the international reach of the research, and its ability to reach into the operationalization of policy to inform the day-to-day work of government departments. From 2017, all government valuations, for Stamp Duty, Compulsory Purchase Compensation, Land Charges, Land Reform and Government Estate Asset Management will be undertaken by approaches informed by our research. All Property Rating valuation (amounting to the valuation of most urban and all commercial property, the major source of finance for Ugandan Local Government) is undertaken in accordance with rating regulations that the team authored and which were informed by the underpinning research. Beneficiaries include the professional valuer community in Uganda, individuals and firms involved in transactions and more broadly all the citizens of Uganda via the existence of more accurate and robust public services and improved municipal finance capacity ( C5).

I4: The research has been instrumental in helping the IAAO fulfil its aim to truly be an ‘International’ organisation, and to further its aim of being a research informed organisation. This is a significant impact on a professional organisation with a key role in standard setting in property tax assessment, with over 8,000 members in over 30 countries. To date the research has been accessed by a number of Assessment Authorities in the USA and is being used (in 2020) to inform assessment reform by the Assessor's Office of Mountrail County, North Dakota, Bernalillo County, New Mexico (including Albuquerque) and San Joaquin County, California, improving the annual assessment and thus fairness and equity of USD130,300,000,000(12-2020) of assets producing USD1,170,000,000 (12-2020) per annum income stream. Beneficiaries include the professional staff of the municipalities who have gained professional development and improved access to powerful modern approaches, and their taxpayers who benefit from more accurate, more efficient and fairer methods of raising public finance ( C7).

I5: Our research is helping rural communities in India to determine the value of the land they use and communicate this to Government, ultimately leading to improved legal, economic and ecological security of the affected communities. Our research findings have provided tools and guidance to rural Indian communities, empowering them to take control of their economic futures. ‘ Knowledge of the true value and potential of one’s land can encourage productive investments, improve management practices and strengthen rural property rights’ ( C8). The research has also facilitated a key supporting organisation, FES, in their work to stabilise rural resource consumption to facilitate sustainable use of land resources.

The research specifically transformed the ability of six rural villages in Rajasthan to understand and assess the value of their natural and social capital, to demonstrate this to government authorities and defend it against challenges and threats. This has helped to provide food and environmental security to hundreds of India’s rural poor, while facilitating similar outcomes for millions more by providing proven tools and approaches that have become part of the toolset of FES across India ( C8).

I6: The combination of simplified and modern spatial approaches has gained significant policy traction with major organisations, including Global Land Tool Network (GLTN) (C6), the Millennium Challenge Corporation, who are using the Malawi Research in their support of municipal finance support for Malawi, and ESRI (a world leading spatial analysis company), who have used the research to support to a number of developing countries in Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa, including Rwanda, Argentina and Turks and Caicos ( C7, C9). The research into mass appraisal approaches has influenced and been cited by PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (the Netherlands national institute for strategic policy analysis in the fields of the environment, nature and spatial planning), in its policy document Fiscal Instruments for Sustainable Development: The Case of Land Taxes, demonstrating the reach and significance of the work (C10).

In conclusion, the underpinning research has had a strong applied context within the policy areas of property valuation, taxation and local government finance, which has impacted upon society and economy on five continents and specifically in the UK, USA, Uganda, India, the Netherlands, South America, the Caribbean and Sub-Saharan Africa in the REF2021 census period.

The commercialisation of the SolaCatcher solar water heater through Solaform Ltd (2013), an Ulster spin-out company (Directors: Smyth and McLarnon) ( C1), has supported research in the development of innovative solar technologies and producing IP centred on the thermal diode ( C2). These technologies have gained international awareness and pre-commercial success, both in the UK and SSA, through their successful deployment ( G3), impacting end user and community energy use, and providing social, economic and environmental benefits.

Working with our partners in Northern Ireland (Grove Housing Association), the SolaCatcher was successfully installed into social housing in the Greater Belfast area, providing solar pre-heated water to low-income families, achieving significance by alleviating fuel poverty. In Botswana, through regional stakeholders (Empowered Pty, Botswana Housing Corp, Botswana Institute for Technology Research and Innovation (BITRE), Ministry of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology (TERST) and Francistown Council), SolaForm Ltd (with Ulster and dpSun Ltd) and Innovate UK Grants (SolaFin2Go and SolaNetwork) ( G3-G4), the SolaCatcher (and SolaFin2Go technology) was installed in the village of Jamataka. This innovative integrated PV/thermal approach provides a wider reach through addressing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) associated with environmental sustainability, delivery of public services and poverty eradication related to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and specifically SDG 7.

I1 Impact on end user energy use and economic savings, pollution and GHG emissions in the Belfast (a) and Botswana (b) regions

(a) The SolaCatcher concept developed by the CST team was installed into social housing in North Belfast (2014 and 2015) to supplement domestic hot water production. The near commercial units deployed were borne out of years of underpinning research, specifically evaluating the merits of vertical vessel designs and associated feature/component development for mass production ( R2). The units were designed to improve solar collection, thermal stratification and storage in order to maximise the solar saving fraction (SSF) for domestic dwellings with traditional hot water infrastructures to specifically help alleviate fuel poverty ( C3). Through energy metering it was shown that each unit provided up to 15% (measured average of 291 kWhrs equivalent to 0.14 tonnes of CO₂ pa per dwelling) saving on the domestic hot water needs for these families, leading to reduced economic and environmental costs. This work led to the SolaCatcher technology being deployed in Botswana.

(b) The SolaCatcher units installed in Jamataka village, Botswana evolved from many years of underpinning research that evaluated the merits of different vessel designs for operation in the SSA climate ( R6). Furthermore, the SolaCatcher was integrated and incorporated into a more inclusive ‘entry level’ solar system: the SolaFin2Go technology. The combination of PV and electrical storage with the solar thermal SolaCatcher, developed by the CST team in 2018, enabled a more complete provision of energy for village users than what might be supplied through other competing, traditional solar technologies. Jamataka, Botswana is a socio-economically diverse rural village where electricity and hot water consumption is limited by a combination of unavailability and unaffordability. Prior to installing the SolaFin2Go prototypes, the primary school relied entirely on natural lighting, passive ventilation, and a 4kW petrol generator used occasionally to power a photocopier. While the school has several computers, these were rarely used owing to excessive fuel costs. Household electricity consumption in Jamataka typically relates to mobile phones (charged at local shops by solar PV or petrol generator - the nearest fuel supply is over 20km away), torches and radios (powered by disposable batteries) and solar lanterns. Outdoor wood fires are used for cooking and hot water production throughout the village, with some LPG use.

Ulster’s SolaFin2Go technology and its real-life application in Jamataka has been improving the day to day lives of the villagers while having commercial implications for the solar supply chain and professionals involved in their deployment, along with policy/regulation, operations and management. On-site measurement had shown that the typical total consumption for the school office is 1400 Wh/day, which was met by running the 4kW petrol generator. Integrating the solar system offset 0.98 litres of petrol, equivalent to £0.67 and 2.3kg CO₂ per day. The households use ~650Wh/day (equivalent to 0.45 litres of petrol, equivalent to £0.31 and 1.06kg CO₂) and typically 30L/day hot water consumption (equivalent to burning 0.48kg of local wood).

I2 Impact on education by supporting Jamataka Primary School through solar energy to power laptops and connect to the internet

The activities of the CST team and the deployment of the SolaFin2Go technology have resulted in end user energy behaviour change and has improved community access. The school (C4) was able to participate for the first time in Africa Code Week (Oct 2018), using solar energy to power laptops and the technology’s communication network to connect to the internet (C5). Prior to the installation, the school had no internet and electricity used to power the school laptops needed the 4kW petrol generator with related fuelling, noise and safety risk issues. The head teacher stated, “the impact upon the school and pupils has been transformative, providing reliable, sustainable and modern energy, introducing coding skills and digital literacy to the pupils through power and communications delivered by the SolaFin2Go technology” ( C4) . Most of the children had previously not seen the laptops working and certainly had never experienced programming.

I3 Impact on local government decisions and the choice of energy resource deployed by local council (Botswana)

The British High Commissioner for Botswana ( C10) who officially gave the opening address at the SolaFin2Go commissioning event, recognised the impact that the SolaFin2Go project has had on the village of Jamataka in providing clean and affordable modern energy access (a key pillar of SDG 7) and transforming the quality of life for the Jamataka community. The support of such a high-profile dignitary has impact and the follow up coverage on the SolaFin2Go project and the work done in Jamataka was widely published and disseminated. The SolaFin2Go project also had the full backing of Botswanan Minister of Basic Education (and local MP), Botswana Government and local Tonota Sub District Council, Francistown, Botswana. With such a notable body of support, the activities of the team have been acknowledged by the local council ( C6) to have helped build the case for the council to secure government funding (2019) though the Revised National Policy on Education, to enable the installation of a much larger standalone PV installation in the school campus (installed in 2020).

I4 Impact on entrepreneurial activity by providing surplus power to local villagers to provide charging facilities

The Jamataka project has had significant media/government interest ( C7) and has high level acceptance by the local community, from the Kgosi (chief) ( C8) to individual villagers ( C9). The Kgosi acknowledges his close working relationship with the CST team and the impact of the project on his village, providing the possibility of extensive access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy. This has led to a series of social/gender inclusion and entrepreneurial activities. ‘Powered’ villagers have developed battery charging services for other villagers using surplus power from the installed solar systems. One female head of a household is charging 2 or 3 mobile phones, augmenting her family income by a few Pula ( C9). The installation and its social benefits were nationally recognised and the British High Commissioner for Botswana ( C10) commented on the project having an immediate and transformative impact on the quality of life, access to basic services and livelihoods in the village.

I5 Impact on health, social and gender inclusion – delayed by COVID 19

SolaNetwork (2020) (G4), a follow-on project from SolaFin2Go, is curating an integrated set of affordable solar energy access solutions for socio-economically diverse SSA rural communities and scaling-up deployments of SolaFin2Go technologies interconnected to form virtual and physical node-to-node networks. A DESCO will operate and maintain the stand-alone units and grid network; manage and administer electricity trading between community prosumers; and deliver targeted training to promote off-grid solutions and develop local capacity in the sector. The ongoing work of the SolaNetwork project with Jamataka has led to the establishment of the village’s first DESCO. The project has encouraged village participation in the operations and management of the solar infrastructure, with subsequent influence in the creation and content of a development strategy and training programme. A village-wide survey (2020) with project partners has helped the team identify DESCO champions who will be trained on a social- and gender-inclusive basis. Impact is still ongoing through creating villager awareness, understanding/learning and participation. COVID-19 has adversely influenced the project and significantly curtailed progress towards the anticipated social and gender impacts.

I1: In terms of policy , the NIHE which is the strategic housing authority for NI, has drawn extensively upon the research undertaken by Ulster ( G1, R1-R6) with reach extending across all sectors of the regional housing market as evidenced by successive issues of the Northern Ireland Housing Market Review & Perspectives, which acts as the fundamental reference for NIHE’s Corporate Plan guiding intervention in the housing market and monitoring strategic impact. For example, the 2014 to 2017 document (C1) highlights the significance of Ulster's research in influencing policy in relation to the owner-occupied sector (Chapter 2, C1) and the private rented sector (Chapter 3, C1). This policy impact extends to the understanding of local housing markets with Ulster’s research directly feeding into housing investment plans for local authority areas for promoting mixed-tenure sustainable communities and reducing housing stress and need ( R3, R4, R6; C2). As stated by the Head of Research and Equality, NIHE ( C2): “The research has had significant impact on the Executive’s role in the analysis of housing intelligence and statistics for Northern Ireland and on enhancing the Executive’s strategic focus and the implementation of housing and social policy development”.

Furthermore, Ulster’s research provides evidence for determining Local Housing Allowance, a key component in aligning public sector capital for setting housing benefit thresholds. As stated, “ this portfolio of research and vital data provision has enabled the Executive to revise and align capital and grant funding towards specific policy needs and has been integral to the Executive’s overall Corporate Plan, guiding intervention in the housing market, monitoring strategic impact and for informing policy for directing social housing investment and development”. Further, “ the reports produced by Ulster University have directly influenced the Executive’s role in the provision of mixed-tenure policy and provided a robust, transparent evidence base for informing social housing investment plans” ( C2). Ulster’s research has also resulted in the adoption of a new approach for measuring housing market affordability ( C3). As stated, “ this research directly led to the composite measure being adopted by the Executive for informing housing strategy at the Local Government District level and also in line with the Executive’s strategically focused Housing Market Areas” ( C2). Ulster’s research has also informed the revision of social housing standards procurement cost model and informed local government departments as to the efficiencies in current housing delivery for improving housing supply. As stated, “ the recommendations of the research are being adopted by the Department for Communities and the Executive to help improve social housing standards and delivery” ( C2).

Research developed by Ulster for revaluing the public housing asset register has had several key impacts. The initial impact of this research verified that the operational social housing sector stock was overvalued by circa 25% (GBP1,300,000,000). This impacted upon NIHE financial resources and was used as evidence provided to the NI Assembly and NI Auditing Office / Public Accounts Committee relating to the auditing of revenue, expenditure and value for money. The impact of the research also led to the NIHE adoption of the valuation approach for calculating the adjustment factors ( C3). As stated, “ In response to Ulster’s findings, the Executive adopted the valuation approach developed by Ulster” ( C2).

The data and price indices developed by Ulster ( G1) are used in the development of macro-economic indicators for NI (used by regional government) and directly contributes to the UK official statistics produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The indices ( G1) inform the determination of gross family expenditure statistics, purchasing power parities (PPPs), and feed directly into official publications such as the Consumer Price Inflation statistical bulletin and annual estimates of housing service cost levels for Eurostat based on improved estimates of private rental costs. As stated by the Assistant Deputy Director of housing market indices at ONS: “ the research into housing markets and underpinning data development and provision undertaken by Ulster University directly supports the Office for National Statistics with the production of official governmental gross family expenditure statistics and rental price statistics for Northern Ireland ( C4). More specifically, “ the data supplied by Ulster is directly used by the ONS to improve the quality of Northern Ireland data and inform the production of an Index of Private Housing Rental Prices (IPHRP) by geographical classification”. Ulster’s research is further supporting the ONS to develop and improve existing measures. As stated, “ as per our CPIH development plan, we are also using the data to investigate whether it could be used to improve the production of the owner occupiers’ housing cost index used in the CPIH” ( C4).

Ulster’s research and price data ( G1) has also directly provided evidence on the high-level strategic viability testing of the latest Belfast local Development Plan draft strategy 2035. As stated by the Director for the Department for Infrastructure, “ the ongoing portfolio of housing market research and transaction-based house price data produced by Ulster University has directly informed the high-level strategic viability testing of the Local Development Plan proposals within NI” ( C5). A clear impact was that no guidance on viability assessments existed in NI, and the Ulster research “ *set out how viability testing on an area-wide basis should be undertaken” ( C6) and* “ fostered the creation of a bespoke viability assessment framework for area-based local development plans within NI” ( C5). The high strategic importance of Ulster's research is corroborated by the Director of Planning at Belfast City Council who states that the research “ was innovative in that it culminated in the creation and application of a robust, data driven approach to viability testing” ( C6). The research is also integral to planning policy development and “ serves as key evidence that the revision of new planning policies proposed, most notably in relation to the delivery of affordable housing within future development schemes are both realistic and deliverable. The research will not only support the future planning decision making framework, but also provides policy insights to support growth” ( C6).

I2: The reach and impact of Ulster’s research extends beyond policy by contributing directly to societal betterment through the redress of housing inequality and poverty alleviation via evidence-based targeted interventions and financial product innovation. This has aided strategic decision-making in relation to build-to-rent products, with reach relating to unmet housing need, tenure choice, supported housing and shared neighbourhoods. As stated by the Chief Executive of Co-Ownership: “ the research projects undertaken by Ulster have been of strategic importance and supported the continued growth and evolution of Co-Ownership within Northern Ireland” ( C7). Further, Ulster’s data is used to guide the Co-Ownership lending model which has facilitated 29,536 property purchases with total funding commitments of approximately GBP877,000,000. As stated, “the housing research at Ulster has provided key insights and robust data evidence for policy development particularly into enhancing access to the housing market”. More specifically, “ the objective analysis produced by Ulster University is used extensively by Co-Ownership to monitor housing and rental market dynamics and to ensure that the Co-Ownership range of products are fully aligned to market circumstances and customer needs across the housing cycle” ( C7).

Ulster’s research has provided the evidence base for the initial design and development, as well as informing and verifying the roll-out, of a new financial product (Rent-to-Own). The impact of Ulster’s research has, to date, witnessed GBP8,940,000 of funding allocated to Rent-to-Own resulting in 62 households accessing the housing market. As stated, “ the viability of introducing a Rent-to-Own product within Northern Ireland was completed by Ulster University in 2015. This research provided an evidence base to determine the level of need for an intermediary product of this nature within the Northern Ireland housing market. The house price and rental market analysis compiled by Ulster University informed the design and financial parameters of the RTO model as well as underpinning the economic appraisal” ( C7). Accordingly, the research undertaken by Ulster demonstrates strong civic engagement in formulating and improving benefits to citizens in terms of tenure choice options by enabling low-income families to transition to home ownership, improve their social mobility and realised the health and economic benefits attributable to affordable, quality housing provision.

I3: The price indices developed by Ulster ( G1) are also adopted into the provisioning and stress-testing models used by financial institutions in NI, with reach and implications for the financial sector and the wider well-being of society. Lenders continue to use the NIQHPI for commercial decision making, utilising the price inputs and volume data in stress-testing models, for the automatic indexation for lending and the elimination/reduction of risk. As stated by the Deputy Chief Executive & Finance Director of Progressive Building Society, “We have used the quarterly NIQHPI statistics for over 20 years as a key input to our loan loss provisioning model” and “the research into housing markets and underpinning data provision undertaken by Ulster University directly supports the Progressive Building Society for commercial decision making and lending and helps form the basis of the provisioning model approved by HMRC for modelling bad debt and possession cases” ( C8). In this capacity the direct reach of the research is to key financial institutions lending on mortgages with extended research to potential households/borrowers with significance relating to the financial capacity/risk exposure to the housing market.

I4: With regard to directly influencing regional valuation arbitration and jurisdiction case law on land and property valuation disputes, the NIQHPI has been the authoritative evidence base guiding such disputes. As stated, “ the Northern Ireland Quarterly House Price Index has been extensively used and cited as evidence by RICS members, including agents and valuers in regional practice and has significant impact in land and property valuation litigation and arbitration proceedings. Ulster University’s research on property value has also informed and been extensively relied upon and referenced in the precedential case law on legal principle and expert valuation in Northern Ireland” ( C9). Equally, “ the NIQHPI played a central role in the decision by professional indemnity insurers to reach negotiated settlements. The Index provided the hard evidence which was vital in demonstrating the actual state of the market at the time the valuations were undertaken” ( C10). In addition, the NIQHPI is consistently presented as evidence in High Court litigation (for example McAteer v Lismore [2012] NI Ch7; Bank of Ireland (UK) PLC v Patterson Miller [2014] NIQB 140; and Helm Housing Limited v Myles Danker Associates Limited [2015] NIQB 73) and has informed the jurisdiction’s leading case law on legal principle and expert valuation which extensively references Ulster University ( C11). Thus, impact is in a professional/legal context, the reach of court decisions impact on participants in the housing sector with significance informing a body of case-law.

The significance of the research is through informing RCS including UN ECE GTR#13, ISO and EU standards and pan-European guidance documents. The research also underpinned the development of the e-Laboratory of Hydrogen Safety, composed mainly of Ulster’s models/tools, impacted upon funding priorities in hydrogen safety research.

I1: Informed international science-based RCS

CEN/CENELEC/JTC6 Hydrogen in Energy Systems (WG3 Hydrogen Safety) suggested in June 2020 a New Work Item Proposal “Safe use of hydrogen in built constructions” based on HyIndoor ( G1) and HyTunnel-CS ( G5) project outcomes. The importance of Ulster’s work is evidenced by the CEN/CENELEC/JTC6 secretariat ( C1) who confirms they “have seen the clear impact of the pre-normative research (PNR) work carried out at HySAFER of Ulster University on standard development” … “The PNR outputs of the HySAFER-led project HyTunnel-CS are directly informing standard development”.

International standard ISO 19880-1 “Gaseous hydrogen - Fuelling stations - Part 1: General requirements” uses the HySAFER’s term “hazard distance” which is deterministic and can be calculated by Ulster’s tools. This standard recommends “thermal shielding” for storage vessels based on the underpinning research at HySAFER on vehicle tanks ( G2 2013-18 , G3 2017-19). ISO 19882 “Gaseous hydrogen land vehicle fuel tanks and TPRDs” has drastically changed requirements for ventilation systems. It now requires accounting for the PPP discovered at Ulster. ISO/TR 15916:2015 “Basic considerations for the safety of hydrogen systems” cites the seminal book by Molkov ( R2) as a key reference. The “ strong” impact of HySAFER research on ISO standards, and development of inherently safer hydrogen systems, is acknowledged by the Chairperson of ISO/TC197 ( C3) who notes the “outstanding research work carried out at HySAFER, in particular on models and tools for assessment of hazard distances, the pressure peaking phenomenon, and safety of storage tanks has been incorporated into publicly accessible safety documentation”. This is echoed by the Chair of Hydrogen Europe RCS Strategy Coordination Group who confirms the impact HySAFER research has had on RCS globally (C2).

The GTR#13 (Phase 2) accounts for Ulster’s contributions to the fire test protocol. The control of specific heat release rate in a fire source (HRR/A) has led to drastically improved fire test reproducibility. HySAFER research on the significance of HRR/A is publicly accessible through the GTR Informal Working Group, Sub-Group Safety (C4). The significance of the GTR#13 stems from its EU-wide legally binding status.

These documents facilitate the safer deployment of hydrogen vehicles and refuelling infrastructure, improve testing procedures, and impact OEMs worldwide. They are used by the hydrogen industry with a global reach and its significance is in setting the benchmark for the safety of hydrogen-powered vehicles.

I2: Industry-relevant guidance

HySAFER has provided technical safety requirements through industry-relevant guidance: European Guidelines on Fuel Cell Indoor Installation and Use; European Model Evaluation Protocol; and European Emergency Response Guide.

Collaboration with Air Liquide (France) and partners within the HyIndoor project ( G1 2012-2015) resulted in industry-led European Guidelines ( C5). Ulster’s engineering models/tools are presented in the Guidelines including: design of ventilation systems, mitigation of deflagrations in enclosures by limitation of hydrogen inventory, recommendations for vent sizing of enclosures fully and partially filled in by hydrogen-air mixtures, and effect of flow restrictors. The Guidelines’ importance is highlighted by a senior scientist at Air Liquide ( C6) who notes the “industry-led guidelines have impact upon hydrogen safety engineering worldwide and assist in underpinning the safe deployment of hydrogen infrastructure”. The significance of the guidance is in providing a compendium of information with a reach across a variety of stakeholders.

Ulster made a substantial technical contribution to the “European Emergency Response Guide (EERG)” led by the French Fire Academy (ENSOSP). It incorporates HySAFER’s tools for the prediction of hazard distances of unignited release, flame length, blast wave and fireball. This guide is used by emergency response personnel globally, its value is corroborated by the Lead of Training at ENSOSP ( C7) who states how “ through HyResponse ENSOSP are recognised as the leading providers of hydrogen safety training for responders in Europe, our unique operational training is complemented by the research-led educational training provided by Ulster University. The current Ulster led HyResponder project is enabling us to maximise the reach and impact of our training and update EERG by new research findings and use of the online e-Laboratory of Hydrogen Safety created mainly on the basis of models developed and validated at HySAFER”.

I3: Unique engineering tools

The e-Laboratory of Hydrogen Safety incorporates numerous engineering tools based on Ulster’s publications. The e-Laboratory developed within the NET-Tools project beginning in 2017 ( G4) is freely available online to stakeholders around the globe. Specific examples of how the tools have impact include: prevention of destruction of civil structures through limitation of the PPP, and calculation of hazard distances. The e-Laboratory has been recognised by the EC's Innovation Radar as a Key Innovation, “ addressing the needs of existing markets” (C8). The e-Laboratory is used across a range of sectors. Industrial gas company Air Liquide uses Ulster’s blast wave decay nomograms along with other tools to inform their safe design of hydrogen systems and infrastructure. The PPP and vehicle tank design and safety requirements have been important in influencing safety considerations in applications of electrolyzer manufacturer ITM Power, and the e-Laboratory is being used to maximise the reach and impact of training at ENSOSP ( C7).

I4: Design of novel test protocols, patented breakthrough safety technologies

HySAFER research demonstrated that the risk of hydrogen-powered vehicles is acceptable on London roads if the onboard tank fire resistance is above 50 minutes or tank rupture in a fire is excluded. Ulster’s breakthrough safety technology of explosion free in a fire TPRD-less tank fully excludes tank rupture in a fire and thus eliminates its devastating consequences. The work has been funded through a series of grants from 2017 onwards with examples given in Section 3 (e.g. G3, G5). This technology allows the use of hydrogen vehicles in tunnels and underground parking at risk below of that for fossil fuel vehicles. This IP solution is licenced, most recently by US based Optimum Composite Technologies LLC. Optimum specialises in the design, fabrication and production of alternative fuel cylinders and is focused on the development of compressed gas tanks for aftermarket automotive and OEM applications ( C9).

I5: European funding priorities

The European hydrogen industry (Hydrogen Europe) formulates requirements for industry-driven safety research through the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) calls. The European Hydrogen Safety Panel (EHSP), including Molkov, advises FCH JU and the International Association for Hydrogen Safety (IA HySafe), including Ulster as a founding member and Molkov as Chair of Education Committee, and publishes Reference Reports on Research Priorities that influence the EC’s funding priorities. The importance of Ulster’s research in informing funding priorities is corroborated by the Chair of EHSP and IA HySafe Executive Committee member ( C10), who states “research at HySAFER, particularly on use of hydrogen indoors, CFD protocols and best practices, safety of liquefied hydrogen, and safety of hydrogen in confined spaces have been reflected in our research priority discussions and reports and have been used to inform the FCH JU Multi-Annual Implementation Plan 2016-2019 and related funding calls”.

Overall, the work at HySAFER has contributed directly to the inherently safer engineering of hydrogen and fuel cell systems and infrastructure through tools, innovations, and RCS.

I1 Impact on Industry

FireSERT research has led to the manufacture of new fire wall partitions for compartments, the development of intumescent coatings with improved fire performance, and high fire resistance wall and floor insulation for new lightweight dry wall construction elements used in prefabricated steel buildings. The significance of the research lies in the impact it has had on production systems in these areas and ultimately their incorporation into products used in a range of circumstances embracing domestic and commercial environments. Thus, the reach of the impact while initially with specific companies has, through incorporation into products, been extended to other applications.

The methodologies underpinning the research have been applied by companies beyond the UK and Ireland. In addition to Efectis (France), Iris Vernici Ltd ( R4, C1), an Italian based SME specialising in the production of coatings for the building and manufacturing industry, has used FireSERT’s research in improving the fire resistance of intumescent coatings by the inclusion of nanoclays. The underpinning research has played an important role in the development of several commercial intumescent coatings and an unsaturated polyester intumescent system. As an example it has been stated by the CEO of Iris Vernici that “ These new developments have assisted in surpassing the regulation requirements and in increasing our sales” ( C1).

Other examples of impact on industry include CrossFire, a UK company specialising in fire protection for building materials such as varnishes, paints, coatings and thinners, who have confirmed that “ As an industrial leader in this field, CrossFire Specialist Contracts Ltd have utilized this research and took the lead role in implementing this knowledge as part of the design process in several prestigious projects in the UK & Ireland and overseas including the Middle East” ( C2). The research conducted in the ELISSA project ( G3) contributed to the development of a new nano-based intumescent coating formulation for steel structures with ArcelorMittal steel manufacturer stating that the “ Steel Industry will certainly gain significant market share of steel columns and beams used in construction around the entire globe with increase of further employment of fire engineers in the industry in the different corners of the world” ( C4). The product meets the standard EN 13381-4, for the protection of metal structures inside plasterboard walls. The significance of this research is the development of a new lightweight dry wall construction element to be used in prefabricated modular construction.

I2 Impact on Regulations

The impact of the underpinning research from FireSERT on localised (LOCAFI) ( G1) and travelling fire (TRAFIR) ( G5) in large compartment structures such as airports, large railway stations, and other complex buildings such as multi-storey car parks is apparent within modern architecture and the associated built environment. In particular, there have been a number of significant contributions to fire safety regulations via committee membership of British Standards FSH/22 - Fire resistance tests and cost savings, as noted in various contributions to corroborating evidence from industry ( C1, C2). The reach of this impact extends beyond industry with benefits to wider society in terms of safer energy efficiency within steel construction as well as better recyclability and durability of infrastructure in the event of fire. These contributions to the regulatory environment are further evidenced by the implementation and development of a new design method for compartment localised fires in the National annexes of EN 1991-1-2 ( C5) based on FireSERT research and updated with the development of user-friendly tool O-zone software ( R5) .

The significance of the impact of the research is evident in the design guidance provided to industry as highlighted by the corroborating statement from Cundall Ltd who state that “ We utilise the cutting-edge techniques developed by the FireSERT research centre at the University of Ulster to optimise the building response to fire conditions and improve the structure performance” ( C3) and from ArcelorMittal which highlights benefits such as cost savings and increased employment opportunities in design and building construction. This latter contribution was made at an international workshop (November 2018) organised by Ulster University in conjunction with Engineers Ireland and chaired by Nadjai, to disseminate recent research and developments in the area of structural fire engineering, giving consultants the tools to provide clients with the most cost-effective design solutions ( C4).

The findings emanating from FireSERT are also directly applicable to industry and the impact of the research is providing the construction industry with more economic and safer solutions that meet structural performance criteria as illustrated by the corroborating letters from ArcelorMittal: “ This collaborative, European research project should supplement the structural Eurocodes and provide guidance on travelling fire missing from those codes” ( C4). An official invitation from the Northern Ireland Assembly for Nadjai to present oral evidence about Building Regulation in Northern Ireland is of note as the session was scheduled to be televised live throughout Parliament Buildings and on the BBC Democracy Live website ( C6).

I3 Impact on the Environment

In modern buildings and infrastructure, a major environmental consideration is the embedded energy and CO₂ burden that is included in the construction of the structure itself. FireSERT experimentation and subsequent modelling has identified the level of protection required for the entire structure while maintaining optimal safety. This is linked to less consumption of protection materials in a manner that also decreases the energy and carbon footprint of the structure itself.

An example is found in the opinion offered by Iris Vernici where it is stated that “ These and further developments are the result of advancing the use of nano-particles (silica, nanoclays, and fibres), phosphorous (phosphates, phosphinates), environmentally safe fire retardants and intumescent coatings” ( C1). Additional impacts in this regard are evident in the provision of structures that have better recyclability and durability. Nobody is able to predict how fire protection materials such as intumescing paint will react after 20 years and hence research on how these materials may affect the recyclability of the structural elements in a negative manner is thus important to optimise their effective application ( C7, C8).

The international nature of the research published by Nadjai and colleagues in FireSERT has continued to result in new collaborations with, for example, a Knowledge Transfer Partnership established with FP McCann Ltd to develop new fire protection materials for precast sandwich panels used in high rise buildings ( C8, C9). The outcome of the KTP is challenging the new industry standards needed to develop the next generation of Fire-Rated Precast Concrete Sandwich Panels (PCSPs). This is introducing advanced construction materials that are scientifically tested with proven fire rated performance measures. This enables FP McCann to change the perception of precast concrete panels within the industry and is allowing the company to go to market to promote the new ‘fire rated’ system as best in class ( I1, C9).

Evidence of the importance of this industrial development was recorded by the BBC News (2019), ‘Fire tests in Fermanagh, all about the science of safety’ ( C7). The study focused on updating knowledge and enhancing public safety with particular attention to ‘transient heating’ which has huge implications for the safety of those in the building, those tackling the fire and of the actual building itself.

I4 Partnership

The establishment of Efectis UK/Ireland into the FireSERT facilities with subsequent UKAS accreditation builds directly on FireSERT research and expertise, particularly in the area cladding/façade fires testing evaluation ( G4).

The impact of this development has resulted in an additional FireSERT annual income of approximately GBP100,000 per annum. In addition, Efectis currently employs 20 people which includes 3x Master, 2x Research Associates and 4x PhDs who have been trained at FireSERT ( C10). Efectis (France) has stated that “ We have seen Efectis UK/Ireland become a company of approaching 20 employees and with an annual turnover of over £1M”.