QUB Seminar Tackles The True Cost Of Ineffective Insulation

A wide-ranging audience was in attendance at Queen’s University, Belfast, on 21 January 2015 to hear SERC Research Lecturer John Ross discuss the true cost of the ongoing failure to adequately address the issue of failing insulation and the serious fuel poverty situation of many people throughout the Province.

Poor Housing, Fuel Poverty and Ineffective Insulation in Northern Ireland: The Way Ahead saw academics,politicians, residents, insulation installers and manufacturers – plus representatives from housing associations and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive – gather together to share views about the findings of John’s ongoing research.
Introducing the seminar, Councillor and Professor John Barry spoke about the practical, social, political and economic rationale for tackling fuel poverty in Northern Ireland – the worst performing region in terms of energy poverty statistics, with over 30,000 households spending at least a quarter of their income heating their homes.
John then spoke of the findings from his research into the existing landscape. The SERC NIHE Cavity Insulation Report of March 2014 was tasked with looking into the quality of cavity wall insulation in 206 NIHE houses – and found that only 9.2% were assessed as having “appropriate” insulation while 90.8% of the NIHE houses surveyed were in need of remedial action of some degree.
The consequences of insulation not being fit for purpose can be extremely serious, with people reporting increased levels of stress and depression when living in buildings which show high levels of mould growth on ceilings and walls, as well as conditions such as allergies, asthma and other breathing difficulties. A 2001 World Health Organisation (WHO) report classified mould as posing a‘Category 1’ risk, putting it on the same level as asbestos.
Moreover, as Urea Formadehyde Foam Insulation (UFFI) breaks down with age, the residue, in the form of dust, also creates a new set of health challenges,necessitating the introduction of standards for its extraction,removal and disposal, as well as guidance for anyone working on houses where UFFI dust will pose a risk.
Moreover, it isn’t just social housing or older buildings in general that are affected by these issues, as John’s investigation into the condition of relatively new homes in the Mount Eagles estate in Poleglass uncovered gross failures in the installation of the cavity wall insulation, a situation which he described as “a blight to the state of our construction standards”.
So what can be done to tackle these issues, which have been handed down to us through failures on several fronts, ranging from historical practices and a lack of industry skills and inadequate materials, to building defects and insufficient methods of inspection and control?

One consideration raised was the issue of assessing housing on the basis of ‘climate conditions’.
This means looking at the factors affecting a certain geographical area and adapting the energy efficiency measures accordingly.
Such factors include hours of sunshine and rainfall, each affecting a house’s capacity to‘dry out’ and resist damp, and which can differ considerably across the country.
Another issue discussed was the best approach of retrofitting energy efficiency elements to a house, with a recommendation that a whole house survey be carried out before intervention methods are put in place – such as replacement boilers, double glazing, roof insulation – but financial constraints may mean only certain measures are realistically achievable by the householder.
The issue of funding was also touched upon in the seminar,highlighting that Northern Ireland is the least successful region in Europe for accessing European funding opportunities for sustainable and renewable measures.
The Republic of Ireland is seen as being eight times more successful at attaining funds from Europe than recipients in Northern Ireland.
The long-term need for independent performance monitoring was highlighted,moving away from a situation dominated by industry-led recommendations into a future composed of quality-led schemes such as BBA and CIGA, as well as the application of improved training, materials and technology.
Another issue identified was the difficulty in quantifying the economic gains of improving the health of those who have benefited from homes treated by extraction and refill measures. There has been clear evidence that the damp and mould has not returned to nearly every home that has been treated as part of John’s research. There are also many cases of improved health benefits for families who had cold rooms and mould or damp in their homes. However, despite how strong the testimonials are, it can be difficult to prove a direct link between conditions such as asthma and the environment the sufferer is forced to inhabit.
However, what IS clear is that fuel poverty and failure to insulate homes correctly is not just an economic or scientific issue, it’s also an issue of human rights – the right of every person to live in a home that’s affordable to heat,which provides a decent level of comfort, and without threat to their health. If we have a roof over our head and four walls around us, it’s an issue that affects us all.
If you’re interested in finding out about insulation issues or would like further information please contact John Ross at jross@serc.ac.uk