Brian Moss OBE 1936-2016
6th April 2016
UK: Brian Moss OBE, a hugely influential figure in the building services sector for more than 30 years, passed away at the weekend.
Brian Moss founded ventilation company Nuaire in Caerphilly in 1963 and grew the company to become a leader in fans and smoke ventilation products. A strong supporter of technical standards, he was also an innovator, being one of the first to include energy saving fan speed controls as standard.
In 2004, having grown Nuaire to a £40m business with 350 employees and subsidiaries in France, he sold the business to its management team.
During the 1980s, he was heavily involved with manufacturers’ group HEVAC. In addition to being HEVAC president from 1982 to 1984, he served on HEVAC Council and was chairman of several HEVAC specialist groups.
He went on to become president of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) in 1992 and also served as its treasurer. He was prominent in setting up and running CIBSE’s publications, research output and development committee. He also raised additional finance for the institution by running CIBSE Services, a company that takes advantage of opportunities relating to energy certification, and led the Weather Task Force, researching future data for buildings.
His efforts were rewarded in 2008 when he received CIBSE’s highest honour, the Gold Medal, in recognition of his service to the Institution.
Former FETA director general Cedric Sloan, said “Brian gave so much to our sector during a long career running his family company and yet finding the time to support BSRIA, CIBSE and HEVAC in many volunteer roles – even after his retirement. It was always a pleasure to speak to such a polite and knowledgeable member of our profession and I for one very much regret his passing. He was a devout member of the Jewish faith, generous to communities in Israel, yet without making his religious beliefs in any way a condition of friendship.”
Robert Higgs, former chief executive of the HVCA (now BESA), said: “He involved himself, very effectively, in so many aspects of the industry at very senior levels – and whilst he would be the statesman when it was necessary, he was also able to see the more amusing side of life when it was appropriate to do so. He was always personally supportive of what we in the HVCA tried to achieve, particularly in building relationships throughout the industry.”
