The Building Envelope

The Problem
Armed with the latest U-value testing equipment, and excited by the improved thermal performance data shown by the next generation SprayCork material in the lab, Corksol set out to assess the product’s thermal insulation performance as a Thin Internal Wall Insulation in a real-life situation.

The background to the testing was the UK Government’s March 2021 report on Thin Internal Wall Insulation (TIWI), which highlighted the potentially very large nationwide benefits for both energy efficiency and fuel poverty from high performance TIWI systems. The chosen test property was an 1890’s solid walled Yorkshire stone detached cottage in Halifax.

As we enter the second part of the year, we invite Ellie Pool, Marketing Manager at leading composite door manufacturer, DoorCo, to share the latest entrance door trends. From styles to colours to glass, Ellie shares the insights of what the sector is expecting to see over the next few months.

DoorCo is the brand behind 10’s of 1000’s of composite doors residing in social housing homes across the UK, delivered via a network of expert fabricators and installers. Collaboratively, we have been delivering on large partnering and framework agreements with many RSLs for over a decade. Our aim is to provide a robust supply chain of the best doors for residents in term of stability, security and aesthetics.  As we press forward into the second half of the year, we’re presented with the perfect time to take stock of what has been trending throughout 2023 so far and use this knowledge to help us predict what is going to be big for the remainder of the year.

Façade systems, and especially the cladding of high-rise buildings, have been, and continue to be, the topic of increased discussion and scrutiny in the construction industry and beyond. Due to recent changes in building regulations, the main driver for recladding projects has been the improvement of fire performance, although new, modern cladding can also improve other aspects of the environment for the users of the building like the thermal and acoustic performance with the added benefit of an updated, aesthetically pleasing design.

ISO Chemie’s UK sales and operations manager Andy Swift, who has been speaking at a new Air-tightness in Construction CPD event,* explains why keeping a tight seal on things is so important.

As every housebuilder and developer in the UK knows, designing homes is as much about designing an efficient heating system as it is about anything else. In a country where heating bills constitute one of the largest outgoing expenses in the average home, it is paramount that new homes offer the conditions to maximise the comfort level achieved per pound. Indeed, comfort is king when it comes to housing.

Providing high-quality PVCu windows and fire doors to housing association building projects has meant social housing has always been at the forefront at Shelforce, alongside the social aims of the company.

Shelforce has worked on a huge number of housing association and local authority projects; from high rises to new builds, the company has experience with all types of social housing refurbishment and maintenance and has developed a first-class reputation for providing the highest quality products and finishing each project on time and within budget.

The increased cost of living continues to highlight the need for energy-efficient social housing, leading to greater scrutiny of the thermal performance of building components in new and existing buildings. With legislation also continuing to tighten in the wake of the Future Homes Standard, Russell Hand, Head of Product Management and Technical at REHAU Windows, explains how implementing Passivhaus-informed performance criteria in window specification can ensure properties remain sustainable and efficient.

The state of UK housing is in a profound sense of flux. Rising energy costs are further underlining the need for thermally efficient homes, especially for older properties. This is especially a concern in social housing, as the majority was built between 1945 and 1980 . Consequently, pressure is on building specifiers to select thermally efficient components when retrofitting existing homes or building new developments.

To further support the availability of sustainable roofing solutions, Marley has extended its SolarTile® range, with the launch of a new panel.
 
Larger than Marley’s existing 335Wp system, the new M10 Solar Photovoltaic Panel delivers a peak power of 405Wp to increase total power from a roof area, while allowing for the installation of fewer solar panels to achieve the desired power output.
 
Building on the ease of installation found in Marley’s SolarTile® range, the new M10 also offers simple roof integration with a clean, low-profile aesthetic making it a sustainable solution for new builds and retrofit projects.