Special Interest Groups

CIBSE's Special Interest Groups encompass topics that cut across our building services engineering disciplines to provide up-to-date information and resources.

Each group offers a programme of events each year from which you can participate to fulfil your CPD, as well as communicate with their members about the relevant policy and guidance updates for their chosen area of interest. 

Our Special Interest Groups are run by committees; teams of volunteers that are elected annually at each group's Annual General Meeting. Group members wishing to become a part of the committee can put their name forward for election when the date is announced to the group. The Chairs of each group sit on the CIBSE Council.

Committees can co-opt members at any point throughout the year to assist with special duties. Elected members of group committees do not need to be CIBSE members; they just need to be members of the Special Interest Group. Officer roles (excluding Vice-Chair) do have membership requirements for election. You can find out more about the requirements in the Groups Manual.

To join a Special Interest Group, log in or create a MyCIBSE account and tick the relevant boxes. Make sure to also edit your preferences to receive tailored marketing communications.

Join a Committee

Joining a Special Interest Group Committee helps you:

• Increase your global network of like-minded professionals
• Find a mentor specialised in the same discipline as you
• Grow your technical knowledge and achieve your CPD goals
• Develop your soft skills including, event organisation; professional writing skills; presentation skills; networking skills, and more.

Special Interest Group Committees are elected at each Group's Annual General Meeting by the members of the Group, that are also CIBSE members. Learn more about CIBSE membership.

The Committees collaborate to produce a programme of events and technical knowledge for their members.

The Group has a seat on the CIBSE Council, which meets three times a year. The Group Chair usually attends, but another officer of the Group may deputise. The Council is an advisory body, which serves to inform and advise the CIBSE Board of Trustees. This is a fantastic networking opportunity for the Chairs.

The Committee shall have the power to co-opt additional Committee members, who don't have to be members of the Institution, to assist in special duties. There is a presumption that willing volunteers who offer to serve on a Group committee will be co-opted.