Achieving CSH Level 5 and Beyond

What is being heralded as the first affordable eco-home for the mass market, achieved with help from Glidevale Ltd, has been unveiled.

The ‘Aurora’ house, developed in partnership between South Lanarkshire College - Scotland’s largest construction school, Dawn Homes, Oregon Timber and industry suppliers including Glidevale, is claimed to achieve equivalent to Level 5 for energy performance under the Code for Sustainable Homes, and attain similar high levels in additional categories such as wellbeing, yet still be cost-comparable with ‘conventional’ timber frame housing.

Glidevale’s Protect TF200 Thermo highly vapour permeable breather membrane for timber frame panels has been used in conjunction with the company’s VC Foil highly reflective low emissivity vapour control layer to minimise heat loss through the walls of the home whilst optimising warmth. Calculations by Glidevale show that the technique achieves up to 20% increase in thermal efficiency of the walls in the Aurora home as a result.

Complementing the enhanced energy efficiency, inclusion of Glidevale Sunscoop™ tubular rooflights optimise natural daylight in the home, reducing the need for artificial light and improving the occupants’ feeling of wellbeing- an additional consideration under the Code.

James Jamieson, in charge of the project at South Lanarkshire College, elaborates, “The home integrates the principles of the Code for Sustainable Homes and has been designed to achieve the standards of up to Level 5 of the Code, cost-effectively. We have been careful to choose materials that are proven in use as much as possible, such as the Glidevale membranes, to create a low energy building that genuinely can be a commercial proposition in future housebuilding and further makes a positive contribution towards the issue of fuel poverty.”

Airtightness testing at the Aurora House showed an air permeability figure of just 2.11m3/h/m2 compared to good practice guidance of 7m3/h/m2 in Building Regulations Part L.

Glidevale’s Protect TF200 Thermo was purpose developed for the timber frame market, and fully complies with the vapour resistance requirements of TRADA and NHBC. Protect VC Foil provides significant thermal, strength and performance benefits over conventional vapour control layers, enhancing the thermal performance of walls, ceilings and floors. Installed in timber frame walls with a 20mm airspace, Protect VC Foil yields 0.67m2K/W thermal resistance- equivalent to at least 34mm of mineral wool, helping to achieve the required U value with a lesser thickness of insulation.

Glidevale’s Sunscoop™ uses a circular roof mounted clear dome to transmit daylight down a highly reflective tube into rooms and corridors below. Tests at the Silsoe Research Institute showed even the smallest 250mm diameter standard SunscoopSR95 gives up to four times more light than a single 60W bulb/ 13W incandescent lamp.

Protect membranes and Sunscoop are just part of Glidevale’s comprehensive range of roofing and ventilation solutions, detailed at www.glidevale.com, to optimise performance of both domestic and commercial buildings. The company invests in a continuous programme of R&D to bring to market innovative yet practical products in line with changing requirements.