58 BUILDING FABRIC; LONDON BUILD SHOW PREVIEW
Proctor Group’s supports Irish developer to implement Passivhaus standards at Piper Square
P
ipers Square in Charlestown, Dublin is one of four projects currently under construction by Cairn, Ireland’s largest
house builder. Pipers Square represents the company’s fi rst foray into delivering residential accommodation to the Passivhaus standard. Over 1700 units are expected to be delivered by the fi rst half of 2026, with some 600 units of those ready to occupy at Pipers Square by the end of 2025. The Proctor Group’s external air barrier,
Wraptite®, is part of the external wall specifi cation at Pipers Square. In addition, the Group’s technical services team assisted Cairn with U-value calculations, and a condensation risk analysis to explore the eff ect of vapour permeable insulation.
ADAPTING EXISTING SPECIFICATIONS TO MEET THE PASSIVHAUS STANDARD The site was acquired with planning permission for a scheme that was never designed with the standard in mind. A feasibility study carried out by Cairn,
looking at what they would need to do over and above a ‘nearly zero energy’ specifi cation, allowed them to make the commitment to Passivhaus. As reported in Passive House+ magazine, the study found that “Cairn’s quality assurance focus and approach to meeting the nearly zero energy building standard required
under Irish building regulations made passive house surprisingly attainable.” “The building regulations in Ireland are
already quite onerous,” adds Tony Ruth, Regional Sales Manager for the Proctor Group in Ireland. “The gap between the regulations and Passivhaus is not as signifi cant as it might be elsewhere. Our Wraptite membrane was already part of the Pipers Square specifi cation, playing an important role in delivering weathertightness and as-built performance.” Wraptite is a Passivhaus-certifi ed component,
reinforcing its credentials as a high-quality product suitable for use in Passivhaus buildings. That it was already part of the external wall specifi cation serves to demonstrate the existing ‘quality assurance focus’ of Cairn Homes.
INSTALLING WRAPTITE AT PIPERS SQUARE Installation of Wraptite at Pipers Square was the responsibility of specialist contractors Platt & Reilly Ltd. As a company they have plenty of experience of the product. Wraptite is an airtight and vapour permeable
membrane with a W1 water penetration classifi cation. It played a crucial role at Pipers Square in conjunction with an internal airtightness line. “The external weathertight layer mitigates
airfl ow within the building fabric and avoids ‘thermal looping,’ allowing the insulation to
An innovative off -site construction solution
FP McCann’s Structural Precast Concrete Frame division is delivering an innovative off -site construction solution for the new Overstone Gate Primary School in Northampton. Working alongside Steele & Bray, pHp Architects and West Northamptonshire Council, the project will provide a modern, energy-
effi cient learning environment for 420 pupils. The precast concrete frame system, incorporating hollowcore fl oors, insulated sandwich panels and architectural features, supports the school’s operational carbon reduction targets while accelerating construction. Manufactured off -site using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), the system off ers enhanced quality, programme certainty, reduced waste and improved site safety.
sales@fpmccann.co.uk fpmccann.co.uk
perform at its best,” says Jamie Lacey, Technical Manager at Cairn. “In addition, early application of the Wraptite membrane allowed Cairn to commence internal works sooner, and with confi dence.” The vapour permeability of Wraptite also
allows the passage of moisture vapour and helps to eliminate any condensation risk in the wall. With the decision to adopt the Passivhaus standard, Cairn worked with the Proctor Group’s technical services team to fully assess the external wall build-up for any moisture risks. They chose to explore several options for
internal vapour control layers, including the possible eff ect of using a vapour variable membrane with the vapour permeable mineral wool insulation. A comprehensive condensation risk analysis, carried out using WUFI® software, showed the proposed build-up was not subject to any moisture risk due to condensation.
01250 872 261
proctorgroup.com/products/wraptite Housebuilder & Developer website
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Marmox on display at London Build 2026 Expo HBD PR
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20/03/2026 10:25
Insulation specialist, Marmox, will be displaying its range of products at London Build 2026 Expo at Excel on the 25 and 26 November on Booth B175, including fl ying the fl ag for a NEW Fireproof and sound absorbing product. The UK’s largest construction show involving some 350 exhibitors will be attended this year by an estimated 30,000 visitors, the numbers embracing builders, architects, engineers and developers, many of whom will have the chance to look over its well-respected and highly versatile Multiboard, along with the Marmox Fireboard. Fireboard can be specifi ed for both internal and external wall insulation (IWI/EWI) applications and shares Marmox’s honeycomb surface structure with its XPS forerunner, Multiboard, to create an A1 non-combustible certifi ed render-backer which is weather resistant. It can further be used internally across walls or ceilings to take a plaster fi nish, while providing acoustic absorption properties, as well as thermal insulation. Fireboard has been tested to prove compliance with EN1182 (Efectis,) EN 1716 & EN 13823 (BRE) (Reaction to fi re test) conducted by UKTC, along with other testing completed by the BRE. Multiboard also on display meanwhile, remains a tried and trusted construction material across building sites around the country.
sales@marmox.co.uk www.marmox.co.uk WWW.HBDONLINE.CO.UK LONDON BUILD 2026 BOOTH B175
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