Insulation specialist Actis has upgraded its library of construction details to help architects and builders ensure their projects perform thermally in real life just as planned at the design stage
Using the company’s updated suite of construction details offers a foolproof way to minimise heat loss to achieve as-built performance.
The augmented library now covers all the most commonly used junctions, which can help specifiers ensure maximum energy efficiency of the construction envelope.
The construction details offer a combination of specific detail, together with a range of modelled psi-values using different build-ups which meet current industry standards.
The drawings and documents can be used in specifications and SAP calculations for new projects. Actis also has a range of installation videos on YouTube to support correct installation while out on site.
Actis regional specification manager Jason Docherty explained:
“With more stringent building regulations even more focus must be is placed on thermal bridging, and it’s increasingly important to look at the thermal properties of construction junctions in a well-insulated building. Heat loss through junctions is significant and has a big impact on the overall energy efficiency of a building.
“Making the fabric of the building as thermally efficient as possible and limiting thermal bridging can have an impact on SAP as high as 15%.”
The thermally modelled psi values, which measure heat loss at junctions, otherwise known as linear thermal bridges, are used in conjunction with U-values and airtightness levels in energy efficiency calculations of buildings (such as SAP – Standard Assessment Procedure and HEM – Home Energy Modelling) to determine the overall fabric efficiency of a building. This helps architects, engineers and builders comply with more stringent Future Homes Standard building regulations.
Among the 45 junctions and psi values available are those showing the lintel and ground floor to external wall, intermediate floor to external wall and the eaves detail – key junction details which have the biggest influence on the overall junction heat loss of a building.
Junction detailing is a key component of thermal efficiency
Jason added: “Psi-values quantify heat loss through the length of any given construction junction, such as the connection between a wall and floor, while U-values measure heat loss through a specific building element.
“There are negative consequences for the overall energy performance of the building if thermal bridging or junction detailing is not addressed. If the junction detailing doesn’t improve, the proportion of heat lost through the junctions will increase and the building will not meet the required fabric energy efficiency. And without careful attention to the construction, junctions may not perform as predicted, resulting in a performance gap.”
The use of construction details is covered in one of Actis’ RIBA-approved CPD modules Tomorrow’s Insulation Solutions for Future Homes Standards, a free training seminar popular with architects, specifiers, builders and building control officers, and available on-line and face-to-face on request.
The augmented suite of construction details can be found here.
For more information or to book a CPD session contact solutions@insulation-actis.com.
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