Setting high standards for social housing

Latest News Tue, Mar 22, 2016 4:56 PM

Setting high standards for social housing

The UK’s first social housing development to achieve the European PassivHaus standard, effectively offering near-to-zero carbon living, features a triple-glazed system from Internorm.

The scheme at Wimbish near Saffron Walden in Essex has been built for Hastoe Housing Association by Bramall Construction. Parsons + Whittley was the architectural practice responsible for bringing together a series of compatible technologies to achieve the required maximum space heating consumption figure of 15 kW hours per square metre per year. Tenants are paying gas bills as low as £5 per month.

In addition, while building regulations allow an air leakage level of 10 cubic metres per square metre of building envelope per hour, tests on the 14 new homes at Wimbish measured just 0.45 m3/m2/hr on average. The air tightness of the Internorm frames themselves, and the way they are sealed into the SIM (super-insulated aircrete masonry) walls using Tremco illbruck tapes and foam, was therefore critical.

The Project Architect, Chris Parsons, reports: “A value engineering exercise enabled us to switch the specification to the Internorm windows. The result was the U-values we required at an affordable price. In terms of air leakage, the final figure we achieved was just 0.45 air changes an hour, which is even better than the 0.6 m3/m2/hr set as the minimum for PassivHaus.”

The installer, Dynamight Products, has also been involved on the creation of several other PassivHaus structures around the country, including a community centre in Powys, a commercial office building in Kent, and two of the self-build projects featured on Grand Designs.

Thomas Froehlich, who founded Dynamight Products, comments: “We are an Internorm Partner. Internorm is well known across Europe as a PassivHaus solution. Our success lies in our involvement with most of the UK’s early PassivHaus projects, helping to achieve the U-values needed, and also the outstanding quality. Internorm trains its partners and their fitters to European Standards to ensure that they provide a high quality service.”

Parsons + Whittley is currently involved in the design of 14 more PassivHaus properties for the same social housing provider at Ditchingham in Norfolk where Internorm windows are again expected to be specified.

Featured News

Specification news
Green cement startup secures Made in Britain...

Underscoring its commitment to bolstering domestic manufacturing, sustainable...

Read More >>

Specification news
Retailers create work at top shopping centres

One of the few growth areas seen in the retail sector this year has been in projects...

Read More >>

BUILDING PRODUCT LIBRARY - LATEST BROCHURES

Your Specialist Partner in Composite Steel Roof & Floor Decking Brochure

Your Specialist Part...
By RMD Profiles Ltd

Download Now >>

PVC-U System Fully Reversible Windows by Epwin Window Systems Brochure

PVC-U System Fully R...
By Epwin window systems...

Download Now >>

Spectus Bevelled Windows and Doors Brochure

Spectus Bevelled Win...
By Epwin window systems...

Download Now >>

Vertical Sliding Sash Window Brochure

Vertical Sliding Sas...
By Epwin window systems...

Download Now >>

Two-Part Cill System Brochure

Two-Part Cill System
By Epwin window systems...

Download Now >>

BUILDING PRODUCT DIRECTORY - LATEST PRODUCTS

DUOFLEX
DUOFLEX

DUOFLEX is a high quality elastomeric bitumen, hot bonded to the substrate incorporating the fleece...

Read More >>

TECSOUND
TECSOUND

TECSOUND is a polymer based, bitumen-free, high-density synthetic membrane. The combination of its...

Read More >>

ISOLAIR MULTI
ISOLAIR MULTI

ISOLAIR MULTI is a natural and ecological vapour-permeable, windproof and water-repellent thermal...

Read More >>

CONSTRUCTION VIDEOS - LATEST VIDEOS

Discover the Power of Blue Roofs in Urban Flood Management
Discover the Power of Blue Roofs in Urban Flood Management

In this video, we explore how blue roofs are transforming urban landscapes by helping to mitigate...

Watch Now >>

RMD Profiles - UK Experts in Metal Decking, Design Installation
RMD Profiles - UK Experts in Metal Decking, Design Installation

At RMD Profiles, we’re more than just metal decking. From supply-only solutions to full design and...

Watch Now >>

A responsible addition: HIMACS shapes are now SCS-Certified for recycled content
A responsible addition: HIMACS shapes are now SCS-Certified for recycled content

HIMACS has long been the solid surface material of choice for architects and designers looking for a...

Watch Now >>