MODERN METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION 71


THE OFFSITE KEYS TO THE FUTURE HOMES STANDARD


Will Frost from Saint-Gobain Off-Site Solutions asserts that the Future Homes Standard offers developers a chance to prioritise long-term benefits over short-term cost savings, while reducing carbon emissions.


O


ne of the best ways to achieve the ambitious aims of the Future Homes Standard is for housebuilders and developers to embrace a fabricfirst approach, using offsite Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) as a catalyst to deliver inherently efficient homes of the future.


As we move towards wholebuilding energy assessments, which by their nature take a more comprehensive view of performance than previous piecemeal measures, we believe that the emphasis should move away from bolton energy saving measures to a comprehensive evaluation of a buildings fabric. he buildings structure should be designed with high performance in mind, giving decades of improved efficiency for a low early investment.


REGULATORY HURDLES OR A CHANCE FOR LASTING CHANGE? It is little surprise that some housebuilders have focused on achieving shortterm gains to achieve compliance with, at times, increasingly comple energy performance requirements. nergy efficiency in new builds has sometimes been treated as an afterthought. hile adding solar panels or heat pumps certainly have their place in any modern housing design, they do not address inefficiencies in buildings created through thermal bridging, low uality insulation or air leakage, which can compromise a buildings overall performance. ithout a solid foundation, there is a risk that technological solutions become window dressing, rather than part of a


well delivered solution.


he uture omes tandard  challenges developers to shift their focus towards the longterm performance of the home, and recent government discussions have indicated that the FHS is the start of a programme of improvement, not the end point. hese standards have the potential to deliver real change in the performance of our housing stock.


A FABRIC-FIRST APPROACH entral to meeting the uture omes tandard is a fabricfirst approach. his strategy prioritises the energy performance of the buildings core elements, including the walls, floors and roofs, before considering additional technologies or systems. ocusing on the building envelope to enhance its thermal performance, such as minimising thermal bridging, ensuring airtightness and thermal efficiency and


limiting the risk of overheating, will all contribute to reduced energy demand. n turn this leads to a lower carbon footprint and helps ensure longterm savings for the homeowner when combined with energy efficient technologies.


THE ROLE OF OFFSITE CONSTRUCTION he benefits of offsite construction are well documented, but when it comes to improving the building envelope, these benefits are wider reaching than simply offering a means to speed up the building process or to reduce waste. o begin, every component can be fabricated to eact specifications, meaning that all parts fit together precisely, ensuring that the building is built as it was designed to be. all panels incorporating highperformance insulation materials can be manufactured under controlled conditions, with pre-installed insulated reveals around


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