Building News is an information portal for all professional building specifiers. Here you can find all of the latest construction news from around the UK and the rest of the world.

SIMPLIFYING BUYING

Samuel Hunt (left) and Andrew Haehn ( right) Co-founders of Materials Market

 

Post Enquiry  – Compare Offers –  Place Order: Revolutionary new website that simplifies buying

 A new website called Materials Market has launched to help the construction industry make faster, smarter, and more cost-effective decisions when buying materials.

This next-generation platform allows customers to access multiple suppliers from across the UK with the click of a button. When a customer posts an enquiry, it gets sent to dozens of suppliers who have 24 hours to give their best price. Customers can choose from more than 7,000 building products and typically receive at least three offers for each enquiry within the space of an hour or so.

“Materials Market is simple to use and gives you unprecedented access to a huge number of suppliers”, said Samuel Hunt  Co-founder of Materials Market. “Post an enquiry on any of our 7,000 products, compare your offers, place your order – it’s as simple as that.”

 

 

As with many tech innovations, Materials Market was born out of frustration. Its co-founders, who have years of experience working in the construction industry, are all too familiar with the daily struggle of contacting supplier after supplier looking for the best price and lead time.

“Two years ago, after spending another three hours of my morning trying to contact multiple suppliers for quotations, an idea came to me”, Hunt continues. “I knew there had to be a better way of getting quotations quickly, and an online platform, where suppliers made transparent offers on customer enquiries, seemed like the best solution.”

Andrew Haehn co-founder of Materials Market, said: “It takes less than a minute to create a completely free customer account and then you’re ready to go. We have spent years in development to create this unique, custom-made platform. We are delighted to have welcomed many great suppliers on board offering a wide range of heavyside building products. Materials Market is proud to be pioneering a new approach to procurement and leading the way in construction technology”

Materials Market

/0 Comments/by

Dura Products awarded certification from leading construction product body

Green construction innovators Dura Products has once again received Certification to the UK’s leading highways construction certification scheme, HAPAS (Highway Authorities Product Approval Scheme), from the BBA, for its Durakerb product.

The HAPAS scheme, set up by Highways England, the County Surveyors Society (CCS) and the British Board of Agrément (BBA) provides national approval assessment, testing and certification for products and systems for use on highways and roads. Products that are HAPAS approved have undertaken rigorous assessment including laboratory testing, factory audit and site inspections, giving additional assurance for all interested parties.

The sustainable road kerb made from recycled plastic has been BBA HAPAS certified for over 12 years, providing a mark of quality that demonstrates to specifiers, architects and contractors that Durakerb meets the specific and set criteria which may be required for a project.

The journey to certification involves a range of tests, mostly derived from the standard BS EN 1340, such as compression, slip skid and abrasion resistance. However, the recycled plastic-based kerbs also had to undergo further examination to assess the base polymer’s resistance to road salts, petrol, oil and diesel spills all at a range of temperatures, that the product would expect to see during its installed lifetime.

The units passed the demanding criteria which means that Durakerb has been awarded the Certification for Highway Products and Systems. In addition, as part of an ongoing commitment to quality, the product undergoes regular audits that ensure that the factory quality control procedures continue to meet the BBA’s requirements.

Durakerb was first developed in 2003 to help satisfy the rising demand for environmentally friendly construction materials. It provides a sustainable alternative to the traditional concrete road kerb as each unit is comprised of 88% recycled polymer. Waste is diverted from landfill, and the atmosphere is saved from carbon emissions as its production process requires fewer intensive processes in comparison to using raw materials.

 

 

John Albon, Chief Scientific Officer at BBA, commented: “The key to producing a successful sustainable product or system in the construction industry is to ensure that it is fit for its purpose, meeting or contributing to meeting the minimum requirements of the UK’s Overseeing Organisations (Highways England (HE), Transport Scotland, the Welsh Government and the Department for Infrastructure (Northern Ireland)), complying with the construction regulations, and maintaining a rigorous quality control procedure from production to installation. This is confirmed by the award of BBA HAPAS Certification.”

Steve Bennett, Managing Director at Dura Products, commented: “We are delighted to have passed the strict testing process to be recognised once again by BBA HAPAS. Certification has been key to our growing success, as it gives verified assurance of performance to both client and user, resulting in local councils deploying Durakerb units across the UK with confidence.”

Durakerb

/0 Comments/by

MARBLE-MOSAICS WITH MARMOX MULTIBOARDS

, ,

MARMOX MULTIBOARDS CARRY MARBLE-MOSAICS ACROSS CINQUE PORT SELF-BUILD

A strikingly modern residential property in one of Kent’s most famous coastal towns is making articulate use of Marmox Multiboards as part of its cladding solution, around both the inside of an elevated balcony terrace, as well as across the main entrance elevation.

The 3600 sq. ft. four-bedroom self-build on Cliff Road in Hythe – one of the country’s historic Cinque Ports – has been constructed for Gerald Glover using a high performance SIP system to create a series of rectangular elements, stepping down the steeply sloping site; with natural, Multicolour Slate Split Face slips, other cladding materials surrounding the runs of triple glazing.

Following an initial on-line search and consultations with the Marmox technical sales team, he opted to use 35 of their 12.5mm thick boards direct from the manufacturer, together with Marmox 360 adhesive, jointing tape and special metal washers which combine with the fixing screws.

Gerald commented: “We originally gained planning permission for the house in 2015 and then spent a lengthy period in consultation with our engineer, specialist piling company GeMech and Mather & Smith Steelworks in regards to the topography of the site, it’s stability and the best and most economical way to achieve a supporting above ground structure of the OSB faced SIPS panels to work off. Completion is set for early 2021.

We didn’t want the building to look ultra modern in the setting so have gone for a mix of exterior finishes, including multi-coloured stone slips from Marble Mosaics and the dark coloured Rockpanel Uni cladding panels which surround the main balcony. With the guidance of our consultant, OSG Architecture, we started searching for a cement particle or other suitable substrate board, before coming across Marmox Multiboard on the internet.”

“Given the elevated coastal position the boards had to be fully waterproof, while we also needed them to comply with fire regulations for exterior cladding use, but the lightness of Multiboard – enabling you to install large sections without difficulty – as well as the ease of cutting and fixing, were all additional attractions. We are now planning to use up the boards we have left over for fitting out the four en-suites, wherever there are areas of tiling or wet room situations. Multiboard is a very versatile product.”

Externally the Multiboards are being fixed over a breathable membrane and timber battens at 300 mm centres with the use of the special Marmox sealant, jointing tape and washers ensuring the creation of a watertight surface.

 

Marmox Multiboards are manufactured from extruded polystyrene or XPS encapsulated in reinforced polymer concrete, in a range of thicknesses up to 60mm and offer a variety of positive physical characteristics in addition to being fully waterproof. They are both light to handle and easy to cut, while still being able to sustain substantial loadings if required, such as for flooring applications. They further offer good thermal insulation performance, helping to cut condensation risk.

 

 www.marmox.co.uk

/0 Comments/by

FIRE SAFETY FOR MEDICAL FACILITY

,

The roof space to an existing commercial property in the North-West of England has been given the added protection of having its very large roof-space sub-divided using the APOLLO Lite 30:30 system manufactured by TBA FIREFLYTM.

The work within the 30 year old Spa Medica building near Preston was carried out by Northamptonshire based DC Fire Protection Ltd., a long term customer of TBA FIREFLYTM, after the manufacturer had been asked to survey the structure and provide a suitable specification for upgrading the fire performance of the roof. The APOLLO Lite 30:30 was recommended because it has been developed for use in vertical separation or compartmentation situations, offering 30 minutes’ integrity and insulation, thereby exceeding the minimum requirements of the Building Regulations.

 

 

The non-rigid woven material is easy to cut and fix and is chemically treated to improve its cooling properties, and therefore prevent temperatures rising in adjoining areas. The system has been fully tested to BS 476 Parts 6.7, 20 & 22 and is third party certified by IFCC. The six metres long rolls of APOLLO Lite 30:30 have a minimum thickness of 6mm and are installed using special staples as well as heat resistant adhesive.

Director of DC Fire Protection Ltd., Craig Tyrrell, commented: “We carried out the project at Preston for the client in full accordance with TBA’s specification and installation instructions: in this instance wrapping the fabric around the timbers in order to protect them although we will sometimes drop a barrier down both sides of the timber framework and secure them to it.”

“Over a period of a week and a half our two man team erected a total of a dozen fire barriers within the pitched roof space. It all went to schedule and not only meets the needs of this particular property, but exceeds the requirements of the Building Regulations. We have established a very good relationship with TBA over a period of 20 years and always try to utilise their products where the scope of the work permits.”

On some projects, where DC Fire Protection has been consulted or invited to tender on the basis of its outstanding reputation in the industry, it will seek the assistance of TBA FIREFLY’s technical sales team for design guidance, assisting with site surveys or even inspections. This can lead to the use of other products from the manufacturer’s range, including TITAN Lite, PHOENIX and ZEUS: all offering industry leading performance and reliability.

Specifiers seeking to learn more about the TBA FIREFLYTM range of fire barriers can visit the website.

www.tbafirefly.com

/0 Comments/by

Rapid Ramp – Modular Ramps & Steps

, ,

Rapid Ramp, the UK’s leading modular ramp and step manufacturer continue to offer a nationwide supply and installation service.

Their modular products are off the shelf systems, available from stock with fast service and construction.

With a fully reusable and adjustable design, the products can fit various sized spaces and buildings. Plus, they can fully comply with Building Regulations.

Installations remain flexible and organised around the specific needs of each project, and existing wooden ramps can be dismantled and replaced.

An in-house designer creates 3D drawings with each quotation, and site surveys can be arranged.

 

 School Access Ramps & Steps

 

Unlike wooden ramps and steps that will burn if exposed to fire, the Rapid Ramp system is non-combustible and can fully comply with building regulations.

Installations remain flexible with fitters often working during the holidays to accommodate around the teaching timetable. Plus, fitters can dismantle and remove existing wooden ramps.

 

 

Contact details:  E: sales@rapidramp.co.uk  –  T: 01424 714646  –  W: www.rapidramp.co.uk

 

 

 

/0 Comments/by

The increasingly important role of Offsite post-Covid

,

As our wants, needs and behaviours are forced to change with the integration of new considerations into our daily lives, will offsite construction play a greater role in delivering the built environment we need whilst simultaneously keeping a workforce as safe as it can possibly be?  Joe Bradbury discusses:

How many politicians does it take to change a lightbulb? Just one, it seems. All they need do is hold it in place while the world revolves around them. Whilst politicians play with people’s lives and livelihoods, the construction sector attempts to soldier on, accounting for 6% of Britain’s economic output and providing employment for 2.3 million people, according to official figures from the ONS.

However, as CIOB rightly pointed out in a recent research paper entitled ‘The Real Face of Construction 2020’, this figure does not take into account the work of architects, engineers and quantity surveyors as well as manufacturers dedicated to the sector and many other firms that support construction, such as builders’ merchants and plant hire providers.

Needless to say, construction matters… and in a rapidly changing modern world, our construction methods matter more than ever. What role will offsite construction play in Covid world? Let’s take a look:

Social distancing and less time on site

As most offsite construction work is carried out offsite, there is a reduced assembly time on site with fewer tradesmen required. Offsite construction is considerably quicker than traditional on-site methods. As such, sites are measurably quieter than traditional construction sites with fewer people needing to be there to carry out works.

A recent study carried out by the Steel Construction Institute on a 4-storey residential building estimated that the total amount of site labour could be reduced by as much as 75% through the use of offsite construction – an obvious benefit to the local residents in terms of the general level of site activity and the number of vehicles travelling to and from the site, but also a clear advantage to anybody trying to navigate the ever-changing Covid restrictions and guidelines that serve to prevent us from delivering the homes this country so sorely needs.

Controlled build environment

Even before we awoke from the Brexit dream into a Coronavirus nightmare, transferring much of the construction programme from an open site to a controlled factory environment was proven to reduce on-site time for workers and reduces the potential for site-based accidents and ill health. Now, at a time when it is widely considered necessary to keep people apart, this seems more advantageous to any builder attempting to run a business at this complicated time.

Factory controlled conditions mean a better quality of build; better finish; fewer defects; all snagging complete and all services tested. These advantages are matched by those for the skilled workforce who are carrying out the work – a warm, controlled and enclosed workplace where their health and safety can be observed properly, significantly reducing the risk of accidents, ill-health or exposure to a flu virus.

Housing shortage

The UK finds itself in the midst of an acute housing crisis. Current annual construction levels are typically less than half of the estimated 250,000 new homes this country needs built every year through to at least the 2030s. With only 63% of projects delivered on time and only 49% delivered to budget, it’s clear to see that traditional building practices, whilst still integral, are falling short of meeting major challenges on their own.

There is an urgent need for a mass volume of houses to be constructed in a limited time scale and whether the state takes on housebuilding, or if it is left to private house builders, the benefits of offsite construction could be crucial to meeting targets that have repeatedly been missed. Offsite construction provides housebuilders with programme certainty and quality though simplification of site operations and reduced weather dependencies due to the controlled factory-based assembly process. Houses delivered through offsite construction offer enhanced specification standards and build quality which reduces occupancy costs related to energy use, defects and repairs. There is significant evidence that suggests that the use of offsite construction has been successful when applied to meet the needs of significant housing developments at scale with consequential opportunities for standardisation of design details – particularly to meet the need of government led programmes.

Offsite housing construction looks set to grow in a post-pandemic world. Demand is expected to be driven by several contributing factors; mainly by the ongoing shortage of homes across Britain and the declining numbers of key skilled tradesmen and professionals, which in turn increases demand in offsite housing manufacturing and output capacity.

Key areas of demand are likely to be where there is an urgency to increase the rate of completions, such as affordable housing and Build-to-Rent.

The environment still matters… more than ever!

Covid-aside, we need to reduce our impact on the planet as a species fast… otherwise, there will not be a platform for all of our opinions, actions and debates to take place upon. I would argue that this is the one truth that we can all agree on.

The built environment contributes around 40% of the UK’s total carbon footprint. Despite erratic annual variations, the carbon footprint of the built environment has reduced since 1990, but we still have a considerable way to go. Newly constructed buildings are more energy efficient, but 80% of buildings that will be in use in the year 2050 have already been built today, so a major priority will be decarbonising our existing stock through modern construction technology.

Builders are now rightly expected to create sustainable and energy efficient buildings as part of the greater effort to reduce CO2 emissions, energy consumption and waste as an industry. As such, environmental considerations will transform how our buildings are constructed, what materials are used and which methods are employed.

Offsite construction is far less energy intensive than traditional housebuilding methods. The carbon footprint left by the many construction vehicles and machinery on the site of a traditional construction project alone is considerably larger than that of modular construction. Put simply, fewer vehicles involved and less time spent on site results in less greenhouse gases being released into our environment.

In summary

Although Covid-19 and the subsequent clumsy government responses around the globe has caused untold devastation to our mental health, our lives and our economies, it also hit pause for a brief few moments on an unsustainable model, affording us an offset perspective on our habits as a species.

It would be a shame if all that was taken from it was pain and destruction. Times of difficulty are also times of great learning.

We all heard beautiful stories in the beginning of city smog clearing to reveal clear blue skies over capital cities around the world. The pandemic shone a light on our need for change.

With this in mind, a transition to a low-carbon economy presents our industry with great opportunities for growth, something we will need to focus on to recuperate some of the economic damages inflicted upon us by rash decisions and a coronavirus bill.

Environmental considerations, will transform how our buildings are constructed, what materials are used and the methods employed. The world is changing and the time is right for the construction industry to embrace innovative technology and offsite techniques to develop better buildings at a rapid rate to enhance lives, minimise the environmental impact and reduce energy costs for occupants for many years to come.

 

/0 Comments/by

Introducing SMARTPLY MAX FR B

,

 

MEDITE SMARTPLY has now launched SMARTPLY MAX FR B, the brand new Euroclass B OSB3, a market innovation bringing increased safety and reliability to an industry contingent on safety and predictability.

 

SMARTPLY MAX FR B is the first Euroclass B board—the maximum Euroclass rating for a timber panel—manufactured in the UK and Ireland to feature wood flakes treated with flame retardant solution before pressing. This ensures its flame retardance is integral and maintains its structural integrity, unlike many post-treated alternatives, making it the safer choice for use within timber frame construction, or projects that will require a large amount of timber product.

“We are extremely excited to introduce SMARTPLY MAX FR B to the marketplace, expanding our already extensive SMARTPLY OSB range,” comments Richard Allen, Sales Director at MEDITE SMARTPLY.

 

 

“In SMARTPLY MAX FR B, customers can expect all the fantastic benefits of a SMARTPLY OSB board, with the addition of ZeroIgnition® solution, a water based and environmentally friendly flame retardant which is added during panel production.

“This is a solution that has potential in a huge range of applications and industries, encompassing many modern methods of construction such as offsite and timber frame construction, light gauge steel and modular construction systems, as well as temporary structures.

“Whatever the sector, all customers can rest assured that this board’s flame retardance will hold to Euroclass B standard, even when cut to size, which makes it different to other FR boards out there.”

Manufactured using advanced resin technology that results in a high performance, no added formaldehyde panel, SMARTPLY MAX FR B can help specifying architects, contractors and fabricators contribute to the creation of safer, healthier environments.

This includes not only the built environments actively created but the natural environments left behind: SMARTPLY MAX FR B is sustainably produced using timber from sustainably managed Irish forests.

 

 

“At MEDITE SMARTPLY, we want to support a safer, wider future for timber buildings, that will enable the wider construction industry to work more sustainably and more efficiently, truly building for the future. This has been one of our main motivations in developing SMARTPLY MAX FR B.”

SMARTPLY MAX FR B also complies with the performance requirements in the Structural Timber Association’s (or the STA’s) FR BUILD “Design guide to separating distances during construction” for timber frame buildings above 600m² total floor area. We refer to this product as SMARTPLY MAX FR/FR BUILD within our range.

SMARTPLY MAX FR/FR BUILD can be used in a timber frame building when mitigation measures are required due to the distance from neighbouring buildings. There are wall and floor systems outlined within the guide which give points towards the overall building, this satisfies any mitigation that may be required. Please refer to the STA guide for more information.

Finally, SMARTPLY MAX FR B meets with the requirements of European Standards EN 300 and EN 13986, while also complying with the European reaction to fire class B-s2,d0 and Bfl-s1. Boards can be manufactured in largescale formats of up to 2.8m wide by 7.5m long, making it ideal for offsite manufacturing, alongside traditional building.

 

For more information of the new SMARTPLY MAX FR B, click here:

/0 Comments/by

Property Development – The Global Trend

Developers in flux as COVID-19 confuses the way forward

#globalproperty #developers #pandemic #construction

Software provider Altus has released its annual Altus Group Global Property Development Trends Report, which provides a picture of the property development industry navigating through the disruption from the current global pandemic and the actions developers are taking to build resilience.

Intensifying cost escalation, trade and labour shortages, and occupiers in flux are causing investment risks that have put the shakes into the global property development industry.

According to the report, which is based on a global survey of over 400 property development executives along with in-depth interviews with industry leaders, the pandemic has been a catalyst for change in the development industry by accelerating trends, intensifying challenges and renewing the urgency for digital transformation and technology adoption.

Wait and see

  • 67% of development executives said tenant/occupier expectations and preferences have a major influence on development planning. This is compounded by the role the pandemic is currently playing in the built environment as occupancy use and building design now have the potential to significantly evolve and impact the market
  • 74% said public sector infrastructure investment (such as transit hubs) has a major influence on development planning. While shorter-term pandemic support is a current priority in many regions around the world, this suggests future economic recovery plans stemming from new government investment in public infrastructure will continue to be a major factor in development planning
  • 68% said that the risk of a cycle downturn has a significant impact on their decisions regarding new construction investments, with distressed asset acquisitions (57%) and change in asset/portfolio mix (66%) viewed as more of a risk than an opportunity during a cycle downturn. These factors are all contributing to many development leaders taking a wait-and-see approach.

“It’s evident from the report that the global development sector is facing a complex set of challenges due to market pressures, many of which are exacerbated by the pandemic and its evolving impacts,” said Scott Morey, executive director at Altus Group. “However, the industry is recognising both risks and opportunities and is balancing a cautious approach while embracing digital transformation strategies to build sustainable resiliency that will carry it through this period of uncertainty and well into the recovery stage.”

 

 

In addition, many executive respondents expressed surprise that significant distressed asset opportunities have not yet emerged, despite the heightened level of economic disruption caused by the pandemic. While this could be a signal that the worst is yet to come as signs of a COVID-19 second wave emerge, development executives appear to be continuously evaluating conditions and waiting for more opportunities to arise.

Pandemic intensifies challenges 

  • 73% of development executives said project cost escalation is a significant challenge facing development firms, followed by environmental regulations (70%), government policies and processes (65%), and trade and labour shortages (65%)
  • COVID-19 has amplified existing challenges with increased trade and labour shortages, physical distancing requirements on construction sites impacting productivity, construction site halts in certain regions, and the complexity of government policies and processes.

Digital transformation must be fast-tracked

With so much unknown due to the pandemic, there has been a shift in recognition among development industry leaders that the adoption of technology can help development firms stay agile and navigate what lies ahead. The findings suggest that development executives are broadly acknowledging that digital transformation strategies and tools are the key to building resiliency for the industry in a prolonged and sustained development crisis.

  • 52% of development executives are considering or planning on using digital transformation strategies to mitigate business challenges, and 37% are already doing so
  • 56% are considering or planning to use data analytics to mitigate business challenges, and 28% are already doing so.

The Altus Group Global Property Development Trends Report is based on a global quantitative survey of 404 property development C-level and senior executives in both front and back office positions at property development firms and owner operators and owner investors with property development divisions in North America, Europe, Middle-East, Asia-Pacific and Latin America. The survey research was supplemented by a series of in-depth interviews with senior development executives. All participating firms had a development pipeline equivalent to at least $200m under development at the time of the survey.

 

Source: PlaceTech

 

/0 Comments/by

£25m Spend on Blackpool project

One of England’s most iconic venues is undergoing a huge £25m rebuild

#constructionindustry #architects #localauthorities #contractors #developers #innovation #buildingtechnology #offsite #housing #drainage @polypipe

 

One of England’s most iconic venues is undergoing a huge £25m rebuild with help from Polypipe Building Services.

The Grade II Listed Blackpool Winter Gardens is set to open a new conference centre this year in what is the first major development at the site since the construction of the Opera House in 1939.

This was a challenging project – with both a refurbishment of the existing building and a new-build as part of the complex – so Polypipe Building Services, the commercial building specialists, was called in to offer expertise on a drainage solution.

Contractors McLaughlin and Harvey, and CMB Fylde Engineering needed an adaptable solution that would not reduce the available space in the two-storey, 3,890 square metre conference centre.

Polypipe Building Services provided on-site support and their high performance Terrain Fuze drainage system. The HDPE system was used in the large commercial spaces such as the halls and theatre space due to the homogenous weld giving it maximum joint integrity.

Johnathan Greenwood, Strategic Project Manager at Polypipe Building Services, said: “As well as being a very prestigious project this was also a complex one. Refurbishing a Grade II Listed building has a lot of complications to overcome.

“One of the key benefits to using Fuze at the Winter Gardens was the malleable nature of the product and the fact that it can be cut and welded into delicate positions and angles to create a bespoke system.
“The malleability allows for extra security against loss of useable space.
“Fuze gives specifiers and installers maximum flexibility in the design process with this system and, as it is light in weight, it can be installed quickly and efficiently.”
Funded by the Blackpool Regeneration project, the conference centre will have an exhibition space on first floor and a conference space with a seating capacity of 2,000 on the second floor.

It will also be possible to use the space in conjunction with the other venues throughout the Winter Gardens giving a capacity of 7,000. The venue will feature state of the art amenities necessary for hosting modern conferences and exhibitions, including the latest audio and visual technology.
Pictures courtesy of Blackpool Council.

www.polypipe.com

/0 Comments/by

Protect Membranes chosen for Passivhaus Scottish Project

A blended design of social housing apartments designed around Passivhaus principles

#constructionindustry #sustainable #architects #localauthorities #contractors #developers #innovation #buildingtechnology #mmc #passivhaus #socialhousing #airtightness

 

Protect BarriAir and reflective VC Foil Ultra, the air and vapour control layers from Protect Membranes, have been specified and installed by specialist design and build contractors Stewart & Shields in Scotland’s first multi-storey Passivhaus building. 

Used as part of a residential conversion project at Old Carntyne Church, a semi-derelict building in Glasgow, the construction involved mixing traditional construction with new, with the church structure being restored alongside a new build extension which was built offsite.  The result was a blended design of social housing apartments designed around Passivhaus principles with the overall aim of contributing to the elimination of fuel poverty, on behalf of client Shettleston Housing Association.

The development, funded through Glasgow’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme and renamed Cunningham House has transformed the building into one of Scotland’s most
energy-efficient affordable housing developments and is the city’s largest Passivhaus development to date, designed to extremely high standards of energy efficiency and airtightness. The development won the Best Affordable Housing Development (Urban) category at the 2019 Inside Housing Development Awards with Stewart & Shields also being nominated as a finalist in the Scottish Home Awards for the project.

Working with Page Park Architects for the main project design and John Gilbert Architects to ensure the Passivhaus Standard was designed into the scheme, Stewart & Shields delivered a total of nineteen apartments. Fourteen of these were modified and conventionally built flats within the existing church structure, incorporating thirteen amenity flats and a semi-detached three bedroom home with five units being constructed within the new build timber frame five-storey tower extension which was built to full Passivhaus Standard and is independently certified by the Passive House Institute. With strict levels of airtightness levels and vapour control required in order to deliver energy efficiency on the project, Stewart & Shields turned to Protect Membranes for a solution.

 

Derek McIlreavy, Business Development and Design Manager at Stewart & Shields Ltd commented, “The specification of materials for this development was based on the need for a high quality end result to meet Passivhaus criteria.  We knew that Protect BarriAir and VC Foil Ultra would be up to the job in terms of airtightness to help us achieve the critical results needed to be independently certified.

We had to beat 0.6 ach-1 @50Pa for airtightness and our tests showed a result of 0.33 which overall gave an added value solution to our
client that helps to future proof these homes going forward.”

Protect’s BarriAir and VC Foil Ultra membranes form part of a comprehensive range of wall, ceiling and floor construction membranes alongside roofing underlays and accessories which are ideal for both traditional and offsite construction, with a portfolio to help ensure the whole building envelope and internal structure can be controlled in terms of moisture management, condensation control and thermal resistance.

For details of how Protect products can be incorporated into both residential and commercial builds, please visit the website, email

 

www.protectmembranes.com

/0 Comments/by