stairs, balustrades & balconies
and Wales or Section 6 (Energy) in Scotland. Insulating below the balcony deck may not adequately solve the issue either as unless the thicknesses of insulation are carefully calculated it can result in problems of interstitial condensation. This can in turn lead to mould growth, damage to the fabric of the building and an unhealthy environment for the occupants. Clearly, this is an even more important factor for those whose health may already be compromised by a chronic condition or disability, or by their economic circumstances. From a purely aesthetic point of view, this approach may also affect the
internal appearance of the construction, resulting in a lower ceiling in the room below, with subsequent loss of headroom and feeling of space, as well as unsightly discrepancies in room height.
The solution
One very effective solution is to install Vacuum Insulation Panels (VIPs) above the balcony deck, a solution which has become increasingly popular on the Continent and in particular Germany, Switzerland and Scandinavia. VIPs are ideal for applications where a lack of construction depth or space is an issue. The minimal thickness of the insulation allows consistency of ceiling height and avoids the need for a step-up between room and terrace. With an aged thermal conductivity as low as 0.007 W/m.K, VIPs can offer the same thermal performance as the next best alternative, at a fraction of the thickness. For example, a 40 mm VIP with a 25 mm overlay of rigid thermoset insulation can achieve a U-value of 0.18 W/m2
K on either a
timber deck with plasterboard ceiling or a dense concrete deck with suspended ceiling – almost half the thickness that would be required using rigid thermoset insulation alone. This allows a high level of thermal performance to be achieved, whilst keeping thresholds manageable from both a design and an accessibility point of view.
Case study
Amblecote Gardens, a new sheltered housing development in Salford provides a good example of how VIPs can be used to maintain thermal
performance and accessibility for vulnerable tenants. The complex is owned by the City West Housing Trust and features 66 apartments designed to allow residents to live independent lives whilst still receiving care. In order to allow easy access to three outdoor roof balconies, a VIP system was specified. Michael Platt, who is managing director of Monoroof, the roofing
contractors on the Amblecote Gardens project, commented: “Accessibility was obviously a major consideration for this project and by laying the VIPs system we were able to achieve a compliant U-value on the balcony areas with a total insulation build-up of just 85 mm. This ensured there was an even transition between the internal and external spaces, meeting the requirements of the Lifetime Homes Standard as well as Approved Document M.” Two layers of 30 mm thick VIPs were laid on the balcony along with rigid
insulation infill strips of a matching thickness. A further 25 mm layer of high-performance rigid PIR insulation was then overlaid by Monoroof to receive the single-ply waterproof membrane.
Creating a brighter future
The disparity between what the most disadvantaged in our society need and what we can offer them may seem too great to be bridged easily, but thoughtful specification can help to create a more level playing field, providing healthy environments that are easy to keep warm and provide easy to access for all. By installing VIPs within areas previously considered too difficult to insulate, it is possible to reduce heat loss without affecting accessibility. There is an opportunity for any social housing provider, whether constructing new or refurbishing existing buildings, to make that difference, and at the same time futureproof their property.
Verifi able performance. Thermal break technology you can trust.
No need to compromise on performance, quality or service. Schöck products meet full compliance with relevant UK building regulations, are BBA approved and LABC registered. Thermal performance is independently verifi ed by the Oxford Brookes University and the Passivhouse Institute. For more information on our range of products visit
www.schoeck.co.uk
Schöck Ltd.| Staniford House | 4 Wedgwood Road | Bicester | Oxfordshire | OX26 4UL | Tel: 0845 241 3390 |
www.schoeck.co.uk
www.housingmmonline.co.uk | HMM May 2016 | 49
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