Glidevale – Future-Proofing Homes With A Fabric-First Approach

The importance of producing energy efficient buildings is now at the forefront of modern day construction. Significant changes in Building Regulations over recent years are aimed at the conservation of fuel and power, and the increasing demand for sustainable homes.

As a significant proportion of the homes we will be living by 2050 have not yet been built, we have a duty of care to ensure that these homes do not become “energy inefficient buildings” in the future.

Air leakage from buildings, both new and existing, is a major cause of energy loss and increased emissions. Air-tightness minimises convection-driven heat loss through the structure and needs to be a priority before, during and after construction. Problems with existing airtightness methods present themselves not upon build completion, but as settlement happens, and future alterations to the structure are made. We need to protect the longevity of the buildings and ensure that the materials and techniques we use in the beginning stand the test of time.

One proven solution is to introduce membranes into the structure to act as air barriers (it should be noted that an air-tight barrier will not always perform the dual function of an air and vapour control layer). In order to create an efficient airtight system throughout the building, and for maximum energy efficiency, careful sealing of every construction joint in the building envelope is essential.

The main function of an air barrier is to limit convection-driven heat loss, however, using a reflective air barrier, in conjunction with a still air cavity can also limit infra-red heat loss and improve the thermal performance. This element of construction is becoming increasingly popular as U-values are being driven lower and there are limited ways to achieve them – mainly solutions based upon changing the insulation either by volume or performance, which in either case would result in substantial cost increases.

Reflective membranes can offer significant benefits including:
• Enhanced thermal performance
• Reduced insulation
• Design flexibility
• Can reduce or maintain building footprint

The introduction of membranes can also provide the added benefit of creating service voids and allowing pre-completion Air Pressure Testing to be conducted– thus identifying any air leakage points before the remainder of buildings’ internal fabric is installed. Glidevale offers a comprehensive range of air-tightness solutions, including membranes, reflective membranes, sealing tapes and loft hatches. We also provide expert technical guidance on specification combined with UValue and SAP calculations.

Whist improving air-tightness, which by definition will reduce air leakage, we should not forget the importance of ensuring a controlled flow of air into and out of a building is maintained. Provision of controlled ventilation is therefore imperative. Our sister company Passivent offers a range of high quality, user independent, intelligent automatic ventilation systems to ensure a safe, comfortable living environment for all occupants.
The aim in every case is to ‘Build Tight – Ventilate Right’.

Visit www.glidevale.com