Construction output is forecast to fall by 3.9% in 2023 following a rise of 2.0% in 2022, as activity currently continues at a high level.
The fall for 2023 is a sharp downward revision from -0.4% in the Lower Scenario of the CPA’s Summer Forecasts. This is mainly due to the impact of a wider economic recession, exacerbated by the effect of the ‘Mini Budget’, and the consequent fallout from recent political uncertainty.
With an annual turnover of £37 billion, private housing is the largest sector in the construction industry. Activity is currently strong with most major house builders sold through to 2023 Q1. However, after the ‘Mini Budget’ announced in October 2022 and the resulting financial market chaos, interest rates are expected to peak at 4%. Activity was already expected to slow due to rising interest rates to 3% but the announcement worsened this forecast.
The repercussions of this on mortgage rates will dampen potential demand and house prices for new homeowners.
Overall, given that construction output is expected to fall significantly over the next 12 months, it is critical that new government is focused on delivering its targets including 300,000 net additional homes per year, levelling up, and bringing forward infrastructure activity. Additionally, as part of its movement towards Net Zero, the UK must prioritise the energyefficiency of its new and existing homes.
Professor Noble Francis: “With the UK economy expected to fall into recession, the construction industry will also fall into a recession. It is worth keeping in mind that activity in the industry currently remains at a historically high level, but it will not be immune to the effects of falling real wages and spending at the same time as the cost of construction continues to rise at double-digit rates.
“The largest effects will unsurprisingly be on private housing and private housing rm&i, given that they are reliant on households’ willingness and ability to spend. Activity in both sectors will fall significantly, albeit from a high point.”
Paul Groves Group Editor
paul.groves@tspmedia.co.uk
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In our approach to building refurbishment, it is crucial to recognise that we cannot simply upgrade thermal insulation without addressing the balance of moisture movement and air leakage.
In doing so,
can ensure that the most optimal upgrade solutions are achieved. Strategies to upgrade the energy performance of existing buildings must therefore be carefully considered, and considered holistically, as actions affecting one aspect of the building may have unforeseen consequences in another. Read
The housing industry believes it is unlikely to meet the requirements set out in the government’s 2025 Future Homes and Buildings Standards according to research carried out by members of The Housing Forum’s Futures Network.
The Housing Forum consists of more than 150 organisations, from both the public and private sectors, representing the entire housing supply chain. Members represent £24bn turnover in the housing sector.
The research was carried out among senior industry figures attending a number of The Housing Forum’s 2022 events including a series of Decarbonisation Seminars. A total of 91% of the respondents were directly involved in ensuring their organisations meet decarbonisation targets. One out of five say that their own organisation does not have a plan in place that will enable them to deliver homes that will
meet 2025 emissions targets. Three out of four of those questioned think the industry does not have adequate skills and knowledge to meet 2025 targets within the next 10 years.
The research was commissioned in the wake of the changes to Building Regulations which came into force in June 2022 as part of the pathway to meeting Future Homes and Building Standards in 2025 and Carbon Net Zero in 2050.
The Government’s stated aim is a greener built environment and the Future Homes and Buildings Standard in 2025 will mean all future homes are net zero ready.
Prior to the 2022 changes coming into force The Federation of Master Builders had stated that less than half of their members were ready for the new regulations. Daniel Love, from Polypipe
A 10-year assessment of the performance of the UK’s first rural affordable Passivhaus scheme has found that it continues to meet expectations and perform as designed.
The assessment of the 14 Passivhaus homes built in 2011 by Hastoe Housing Association in Wimbish, Essex, is the first to consider Passivhaus performance over such a long period of time in the UK.
The in-depth assessment has determined the homes, a mix of houses and flats for shared ownership and affordable rent, continue to be comfortable, healthy and economic to run. The assessment which included a resident survey found the heating bills of some residents were only £30 a quarter.
The findings are published in a recent report written by Martin Ingham, a Passivhaus Designer and independent consultant specialising in energy efficiency in the built environment. This latest assessment builds on the Innovate UK (formerly the Technology Strategy Board) funded Building Performance Evaluation
study that covered the period from 1 April 2011 to 30 September 2013, and on assessments in 2016 and 2018.
Building Products - a member of The Housing Forum’s Futures Network - who carried out the research said: “We were alarmed to see that so many senior figures do not think that the industry will meet the net zero challenge within the Government’s time frame.
“The results of the survey also show a fundamental lack of understanding of the technologies that developers can adopt to meet their targets. There also seems to be a lack of urgency to increase that understanding and to begin preparations in earnest.
“Developers need to engage with their supply chain to understand the new technologies and construction methods before the 2025 deadline in order for demand for new products and skills to be ready in time.
“The answer has to be an emphasis on engagement, upskilling and education.”
The fall in private new housing work, which dropped from 0.4% in August to -0.33% in September is a concern, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in response to the latest construction figures from the Office of National Statistics ONS. Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB: “It’s worrying to see a contraction in new work for private housing.
“We know there are long term issues facing SME house builders, with output dropping over the years. Many exited the sector in the last recession and with another one looming as the economy contracts by 0.2% we need to avoid a repeat. The Government needs to act to get small house builders unstuck from the complex planning system and back to delivering high quality, diverse homes, using skilled local workers."
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Social housing residents would have their heating bills reduced by 42%, saving over £700m, if their homes were insulated and draught proofed, according to a new research by the National Housing Federation (NHF).
As the cost of living crisis worsens, this new report demonstrates the significant long term benefits of retrofitting inefficient homes for people on low incomes. These are homes whose Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating is below C.
The research reveals that a family in an energy inefficient social home (EPC D-G) will spend on average £1,343 a year on heating bills, based on the October Price Guarantee and potentially more once this ends in April 2023. If these homes were insulated and brought up to an EPC C rating or above, this would be reduced by 42% to £776, saving them £567 every year. The total saving for residents in all energy inefficient social homes, would be over £700m a year.
Social housing residents are already disproportionately affected by rising bills in relation to their income, but for those in inefficient homes the impact is twofold. England’s housing stock is among the oldest and least efficient in Europe, producing more carbon each year than all of the country’s cars.
Whilst social rented homes are in general the most energy efficient when compared to private rent and owner-occupied homes, and social housing providers are leading the way in retrofitting their homes as quickly as possible, there remains more than 1.2 million energy inefficient social homes across England.
Kate Henderson, Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation, said: “Not only are poorly insulated homes one of the country’s biggest environmental polluters, they have now become a major culprit of the cost of living crisis.
“Whilst the government’s energy price guarantee is welcome support for now,
Saint-Gobain has announced a pioneering partnership with Barratt Developments and Salford University to create a futuristic test house that will play a key role in accelerating progress towards low carbon and net zero housing.
eHome2 is a three-bedroom family home built inside the world-leading Energy House 2.0 facility at Salford University.
Over a period of nine months, the house will undergo rigorous whole-building testing including thermal performance, energy efficiency, running costs and comfort as well as its ability to cope with extreme temperatures and climatic conditions.
The £16m testing facility, which was completed in February this year, is the largest of its kind in the world, with two chambers which can accommodate two detached homes.
The chambers can replicate weather conditions including rain, wind, snow and solar radiation, with temperatures ranging from -20 degrees to +40 degrees centigrade.
The data gathered from eHome2 will help inform how the housebuilding sector will design and build properties to meet the 2025 Future Homes and Building Standard, and deliver low and zero carbon housing at scale, through the use of sustainable building materials and off-site solutions.
it is not enough to protect people living in the least energy efficient homes from astronomic price increases, with some social tenants losing as much as two months’ pay on energy costs and forced to make impossible choices – such as risking getting into debt – to afford basic living costs. Looking ahead to April 2023, without well-targeted means tested support, social housing residents will be facing an even more extraordinary burden.
“Decarbonising social homes is a win win solution, and the faster it can be done, the greater the benefits for residents and the environment. Councils and housing associations have already started retrofitting their homes and the recent announcement of the next wave of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund is certainly welcome, but they need the long-term funding in place so they can ramp up the scale and speed of these programmes. We urge the government to prioritise retrofitting social homes, as a long-term solution to the energy, cost of living and climate crises.”
The NHBC Foundation has published a free guide to help explain and standardise the language used around carbon and energy in the house-building industry. From ‘absolute zero carbon’ to ‘zero carbon ready’, it details common energy terms, explaining what they mean and how they differ. With growing societal awareness of environmental issues, NHBC Foundation, which provides high quality research and practical guidance to support the house-building industry, recoginsed that carbon and energy terminolgy can be confusing and inconsistent. This new guide aims to help standarise the language used by house builders to provide much needed clarity.
New data released by NHBC shows that UK new home registrations increased by 33% in the third quarter of 2022 compared to the same period last year.
A total of 44,729 new homes were registered to be built in Q3 2022 compared to 33,603 in Q3 2021. This is the highest Q3 figure since 2007, despite expectations that property sales
will slow in the coming period due to higher mortgage rates and faltering consumer confidence.
Private-for-sale registrations were up by 26% to 32,702 (Q3 2021 25,862), whilst the affordable and build to rent sector grew by 55% overall, up from 7,741 in Q3 2021 to 12,027 in Q3 2022.
New home registrations rose for every house-type in Q3 2022 with a shift in mix back towards apartments with 9,006 registered in Q3 2022, up 114% on Q3 2021. 45% of all new apartments registered in Q3 2022 were in London.
Ten out of 12 regions experienced growth in registrations in Q3 2022 vs Q3 2021 with London, Scotland, Wales and West Midlands experiencing significant rises, due to lower levels in the previous year and the timing impact of some large site registrations.
There were small dips in the South West and Northern Ireland with developers in
these areas reporting a slight cooling of the market.
New home completions also increased from 32,100 in Q3 2021 to 34,977 in Q3 2022, despite some ongoing disruption in the supply chain.
NHBC Chief Executive Steve Wood said: “Despite prevailing conditions, the third quarter was a strong one for new home registrations. In part this is the ‘bounceback’ post the pandemic, but it also reflects a confidence that the underlying demand for new homes is holding across a range of tenures.
“That said, housebuilders and new home buyers are becoming more cautious, especially in the face of higher costs of living and open questions about the nature and length of any recession in the UK.
"It seems likely that a slowdown is coming which will at least help ensure that homes continue to be built to the quality required.”
A new report into Scotland’s 20-minute neighbourhoods reveals several findings about the scale and type of developments needed to deliver successful sustainable communities. The ‘20-Minute Neighbourhoods for Scotland’ Insight report from planning and development consultancy Lichfields, sheds fresh light on plans for places designed and built specifically to allow residents to meet their daily requirements within only a few minutes’ walk of their front doors.
Indeed, the features of these neighbourhoods, with their emphasis on reducing emissions and encouraging more
active travel, include a mix of safe pathways and cycle routes, door-step health facilities and services, local schools, parks and open spaces, and affordable housing. They are also focus-points for employment, creating new jobs in construction, leisure and retail as more developments across Scotland are brought forward.
The report says the Scottish Government is ‘committed to delivering’ 20-minute neighbourhoods, which are gaining traction among the nation’s planning and policy decision makers. It also identifies the need for far more balance between development types and the needs of local people.
The UK housing market continues to weaken, with last month bringing another decrease in buyer demand and agreed sales, alongside a halt in house price growth, according to the October 2022 RICS Residential Market Survey. New buyer enquiries fell for a sixth successive month in the sales market, as the latest headline net balance weakened further to -55% in October (from -36% last time).
Moreover, the survey feedback on buyer demand is negative across all parts of the UK, the second report running where this has been the case. In keeping with the general pattern of a weakening market, the average time to complete a sale from its initial listing has edged upwards, now taking close to 18 weeks.
At this point last year, the average completion time was closer to 16 weeks. In the lettings market, tenant demand continues to rise at a solid pace, with a net balance of +46% of survey participants noting an increase in October (part of the seasonally adjusted quarterly lettings dataset).
Given in honour of social housing pioneer, Neave Brown (1926-2018), the annual award recognises the UK’s best new affordable housing.
Located on London’s Kingsland Road, this hybrid scheme skilfully combines a community-led school with 68 apartments on a compact urban site.
The deliberately dense housing – which includes 68 rented homes, 50% of which are offered below market rates – frees up the maximum footprint for the school, whilst also providing a substantial baffle from noise and emissions from the neighbouring busy road.
The development is owned by an affordable housing charity which primarily focuses on housing key workers. 333 Kingsland Road operates a tenure blind arrangement, whereby 50% of apartments are available below the average market rent.
Orientation, natural ventilation and light have been carefully considered and prioritised to create spacious, bright apartments. On each of the main floors, eight homes are clustered around a central octagonal stair. Windows are deliberately large to optimise views across the capital, and all residents have access to a communal roof terrace. Below, as the building meets the ground, a welcoming colonnade generously extends the pavement and provides access to the new commercial units, completing an impressive, multi-faceted urban complex.
Chair of the Neave Brown Award for Housing jury, Kaye Stout, said: “This is a notable architectural response, demonstrating how to effectively combine multiple functions without diminishing the strength of either the educational or residential aspect. Here, Henley Halebrown deliver high-quality affordable housing that stimulates and delights residents, visitors and passers-by.
“The robust design is thoughtfully detailed throughout. Not only does it provide social value to this inner-city neighbourhood, it responds to a complex
brief with architectural ambition and sets an extremely high standard for urban design. When Neave Brown accepted the RIBA Gold Medal, he said ‘… we weren’t so much doing housing, as making part of the city’, and this project does just that.”
RIBA President Simon Allford said: “This is a highly-intelligent response to providing critical social infrastructure – a thoughtful and generous set of spaces for residents and the local community to live, learn and play in. The educational and residential elements are elegantly engaged in a single composition - an architectural essay in designing an important city corner that engages with the public realm.”
The 2022 Neave Brown Award for Housing jury was chaired by Partner at Pollard Thomas Edwards, Kaye Stout; Architect and Development Manager at Meridian Water (Enfield Council), Yemi Aladerun; and Neave Brown family representative, Professor David Porter.
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced Hackney New Primary School and 333 Kingsland road by Henley Halebrown as the winner of the Neave Brown award for Housing 2022.Mainsboost™ systems are the ideal solution for boosting pressure and flow. With both pumped and non-pumped options available and flexible accumulator packages, you can be sure our range will cover your individual requirements.
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The UK is experiencing and increase in its capacity for offsite manufacturing which is providing a rise in the number of pod solutions that now have quality assurance. Combine this with the ongoing shortage of traditional onsite trade skills such as roofing, plumbing and bricklaying.
48% of the market by volume. It is worth noting that this sub-sector of the market is highly influenced by the demand for wetroom solutions from many end-use applications.
Pod materials by type are divided into 3 sections, these being, GRP composite, steel framed & concrete. GRP composite and steel-framed pods account for a combined volume share of almost 90%. These can offer a more practical, lightweight solution than concrete.
After a strong dip in 2020 the bathroom and kitchen PODs industry bounced back in 2021 with around 11% value growth. Going forward this market continues to offer significant growth potential as an offsite building solution.
The drive for bathroom and kitchen pods will come from the increased requirement for faster construction time from the key end use applications; these include student accommodation, hotels, and high-rise apartment buildings, reports AMA Research.
Purpose built student accommodation took up a 32% share by volume of the kitchen & bathroom pods market in 2021. This is slightly surpassed by residential new housing, which accounted for 34%, followed by hotels and care homes.
Abdul Tantouch, the editor of the Kitchen & Bathroom Pods Market Report, said: “It is now recognised that offsite building methods and the use of PODs is key to accelerating the development of new housing in the UK, specifically the construction of build-torent and build-to-sale apartments.
“Bathroom and kitchen PODs are also commonly used in student accommodation. Factors that are driving POD market growth include the urgent need to increase affordable housing supply, the considerable shortage of
skilled construction trades, a rise in UK POD manufacturing capacity and an increase in the number of practical POD solutions to suit many end-use sectors and price-points.” It is shower-room pods that account for the largest share of the bathroom & kitchen pods market with
Quick install showering cubicle AKW, a leading provider of bathroom accessibility solutions, is pleased to announce the launch of the AKW Onyx Care Pod standalone cubicle, that enables safe showering and toileting to be achieved more quickly than a traditional
wet room or level access solution. The It is the ideal option for those looking to clear adaptation backlogs, for hospital discharge and palliative care cases and as a future-proof solution for housing stock.
Designed with both style and functionality in mind, the Onyx Care Pod can be installed within two to three days, making it up to 60% faster to fit than traditional wet room solutions. As well as a stylish standalone showering cubicle, the range includes a Showerloo option that is ideal for those with additional toileting requirements.
Extremely competitive pricing makes DFG a realistic funding option – even though high end products are used throughout the pod. Also, the lifetime guarantee that comes with the Onyx Care Pod enables budget holders to approve installation with confidence.
The care pod is a future-proofed showering and toileting solution, as it can be just as easily removed as it is installed. The cubicle is watertight, and the wall panels are structural, allowing for the fitting of shower seats and grab rails at any time, as required.
As well as offering a high level of slip resistance, the shallow 26mm textured shower tray can be fully recessed if needed for wheelchair users or used with an AKW ramp.
Accessories can also be tailored to suit end user needs, including the addition of high LRV colour contrast grab rails, specifically positioned shower controls and different height shower screens.
Sustainable dual shower launched When designing or planning a bathroom remodel, it is often a balance between creating a stylish room whilst also ensuring the taps, shower and sanitaryware are functional and suitable for the needs of your household; with increasingly more people considering the sustainability of their choices.
The new dual head Aio S Cool Touch Diverter Shower from Methven offers the perfect solution, as not only does it create a statement look with its large 300mm drencher overhead and unique halo design shower handset, but it also helps to effortlessly reduce household water consumption without any compromise on performance.
Following the success of the popular Aio handset, Methven has launched the Aio S version, which has been optimised to
just 5.7 litres of water per minute – the lowest flow rate of all Methven showers. The slimline overhead operates at 8 litres per minute, allowing you to not only save money on your water bills but also energy costs too for heating the water.
It is a common misconception that increased sustainability means compromising on performance but the patented Aurajet ® technology gives up to 20% more spray coverage and twice the amount of skin contact –giving your household an immersive showering experience whilst saving water and energy.
The dual head Aio S Cool Touch Diverter Shower has been designed with the whole family in mind and comes with an integrated diverter, allowing you to effortlessly switch between the overhead and handset, and separate temperature and flow controls with easy-to-use lever handles. The large overhead shower
gives a luxurious rainfall experience and is perfect for hair-washing days, but for those showers where you want to keep your hair dry, the Aurajet Aio S handset is a great addition.
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In our approach to building refurbishment, it is crucial to recognise that we cannot simply upgrade thermal insulation without addressing the balance of moisture movement and air leakage. In doing so, we can ensure that the most optimal upgrade solutions are achieved. Strategies to upgrade the energy performance of existing buildings must therefore be carefully considered, and considered holistically, as actions affecting one aspect of the building may have unforeseen consequences in another. Designers must therefore have a good understanding of the materials being used both in the upgrade process and the original construction.
When considering the insulation of buildings, we usually refer to U-Values. A U-Value quantifies the rate of heat loss through a building element such as walls, roof, windows, and doors. The lower the U-Value is, the slower the heat generated by the heating system will escape the building, and the less energy input is required to maintain a comfortable internal temperature.
How can we improve the U-Value of a given element? Using a wall as an example, we add thermal insulation boards or blankets to keep the heat in.
A specific thickness of any material has thermal resistance, and to work out a U-Value, we add all the R-Values in the wall together and take the inverse of the result. This inverse calculation means that the more insulation we add, the greater the improvement to the U-Value.
Not all materials insulate equally well, though, and to determine that, we use a value called the thermal conductivity or Lambda value. For example, materials like bricks or metal have high thermal conductivity, while insulation like mineral wool or rigid foams has far lower conductivity. The thermal conductivity of a material is usually independent of its thickness, making it ideal to use as a comparison tool.
Combining all this information, we take the thicknesses of our materials and divide those by their thermal conductivity to get R-Values. We then add those R-Values together and take an inverse to get the U-Value. Finally, the U-Value is adjusted for any penetrations like structural elements, called repeating thermal bridges, any fixings or air gaps present, and a few other correction factors to give us a final U-Value for the element.
The next step is to take all our U-Values, weight them by area, and derive an overall average for the entire building. Finally, this average is adjusted to account for non-repeating thermal bridges like corner junctions, floor zones, etc., resulting in our complete heat loss model.
Modern new build homes typically have wall U-Values of around 0.2 W/m2K, whilst traditional older properties with solid walls will be more like 2.0 W/m2K, an order of magnitude worse, which will have a significant effect on the heating bills of the property and the quality of life of the occupants. This has substantial impacts where occupants are in fuel poverty or belong to a vulnerable social group such as the elderly. For such groups, poor thermal insulation can lead to health problems, so it’s essential that upgrading such homes is a priority.
In historic buildings, this priority will need to be balanced against retaining architectural features, maintaining the character of the building and aesthetic qualities, and ensuring the internal spaces remain large enough to be fit for purpose.
There are many types of insulations on the market, with a wide ranges of thermal conductivities However, there are some challenges when considering the right choice for refurbishment projects or historic buildings.
Firstly, older buildings typically benefit from highly vapour permeable insulation. The traditional building materials used in these older properties, such as lime-based mortar and plaster,
have very different hygrothermal properties from their modern equivalents. Adding insulation of low permeability, such as rigid foam, can result in damaging moisture problems for two primary reasons.
Adding any insulation will reduce the temperature of the existing wall masonry, making it more likely that condensation will occur to the inside as there will be less heat penetrating from the living spaces to warm up the masonry.
Secondly, some insulation types, such as rigid foams, can prevent the drying out inwards into the building, further compounding the problem. If not adequately accounted for in the design, this moisture accumulation can continue unchecked, increasing issues with dampness and mould over time and, in extreme cases causing the masonry to degrade due to freeze/thaw cycling.
Permeable insulation prevents moisture from being trapped in the construction and does not disrupt the established balance of moisture flows within the building fabric to the same degree. However, traditional moisture vapour permeable insulation, such as mineral fibre, tends to be very bulky. This results in another challenge in historical refurbishment: preserving interior space.
The relatively high thermal conductivity of mineral fibre, wood fibre or natural wool means achieving modern thermal standards can require up to 200mm of thickness. This thickness is often not practical to incorporate into an existing space.
On the other hand, aerogel composites such as Spacetherm® can maintain permeability while dramatically reducing the required depth. This makes Spacetherm ideal for use in rooms with limited floor area, at door and window reveals, and in other areas where retaining existing features would otherwise limit the use of thick and bulky insulation.
Aerogel is a very low-density solid developed in the 1930s but has only recently found mainstream uses. Aerogel is a gel in which the liquid is replaced by gas without shrinking via a complex process called supercritical drying.
The silica aerogel used in Spacetherm insulation is essentially puffed up sand, best described as being to sand what a Rice Krispie is to rice. The resultant structure is 97% air, entrapped in nano-sized pores, and while a superb thermal insulator, it is very brittle in its raw state, limiting its practical applications. However, Spacetherm takes this aerogel and embeds it into a fibrous mat to achieve excellent thermal performance and robust flexibility. The thermal conductivity of 0.015 W/mK makes it among the best thermal insulants in use today, which, combined with its high vapour permeability, makes it ideal for refurbishments. Furthermore, Spacetherm is also hydrophobic, meaning it actively repels liquid water.
Spacetherm can be used directly in the blanket form utilising its inherent flexibility to fit around curved or uneven wall surfaces, or it can be laminated to a variety of panels and lining boards for more specific applications. Because the aerogel insulation blanket contains no blowing agents, it does not release harmful gasses into the building over time, nor does its performance degrade, with extensive testing showing no loss of thermal performance over 50 years.
So, considering all the above, the risk of condensation, counterintuitively, is lowest when we omit the vapour control measures and limit the insulation thickness. The additional detail regarding moisture movement can be assessed by hygrothermal assessment which allows the designer to quantify and manage the specific risk associated with the proposed thermal upgrade.
In advance of the Future Homes Standard, which comes into force in 2025, some housing specifiers may be already thinking ahead and looking to build the homes of the future, today.
the right support, it is possible to develop affordable, low carbon homes for the social housing market.”
Steve Cipriano, Commercial Director at Vaillant said: “Our end-to-end support service for low-carbon heating projects is provided to specifiers under the Vaillant Standard umbrella.
“We do this to deliver peace of mind throughout each project. And, as shown in the Parklands Grove development, by engaging with our teams early-on we can help tailor the solution to suit each project, creating a result that delivers now and into the future.”
Nottingham Community Housing Association’s (NCHA) Parklands Grove development comprises seven, twobedroom properties, with significantly reduced carbon emissions compared to homes delivered under the current regulations. With the help of a low carbon heating solution, specified by Vaillant’s expert team, they have achieved energy rated ‘A’ status.
As part of the Future Home Standard (FHS), from 2025, housebuilders and specifiers will be expected to build new properties to incorporate high-fabric standards and low-carbon heating systems. These new builds will need to produce 75-80% less carbon emissions compared to homes built under the current regulations.
Against this backdrop and with a clear focus on sustainable housing, low carbon energy solutions were vital to the integrity of the NCHA’s Parklands Grove development. As a result, Vaillant were chosen for the reliability of their products and excellent reputation when it comes to heating expertise and aftersales support.
Specifying the right solutions Vaillant’s aroTHERM plus air source heat pump was specified to meet the heating and hot water requirements of Parklands Grove. Using the natural refrigerant R290, the heat pump has a global warming potential of just 3 with a
Seasonal Coefficient of Performance of up to 5.03*, making it the perfect solution for the new, sustainable homes.
The use of R290 also means residents can achieve greater comfort levels, as it enables the aroTHERM plus to run at a higher hot water flow temperature of up to 75 C. This allows the domestic hot water to be stored at a useable temperature and legionella cycles can take place without the need for a backup heater. *Depending on model output and system design.
Maximising space for hot water Space was at a premium in these twobedroom properties and the heating system needed to offer a compact design.
Vaillant identified that a slimline preplumbed uniSTOR hot water heat pump cylinder, connected to the aroTHERM plus heat pump, would be the best solution to provide hot water requirements. At 150 litres capacity and a 435mm diameter, the slimline pre-plumbed uniSTOR is ideal for space-prohibitive installations.
Ian Soar, Site Manager at NCHA, said: “With the Future Homes Standard coming into effect in 2025, It’s understandable that some housing providers may be nervous about embarking on building new low carbon homes now, but we have shown through the Parklands Grove project that, with
To find out more about the support available from Vaillant, visit: www.vaillant.co.uk/unbox
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Bristol-based architects Marshall & Kendon have sought technical advice from manufacturer Marmox, regarding the integration of its Thermoblocks into the exterior insulation ‘wrap’ of a bespoke, near-to-zero timber frame construction.
Marshall & Kendon worked with the
timber frame specialist to devise a suitable suspended timber floor design which would create a shallow undercroft.
The founding partner of Marshall & Kendon, Jeremy Marshall, confirmed: “In this instance, Thermoblock enables us to make the layer of insulation continuous as it passes through the loadbearing structure, while the airtightness membrane is continued up the outside of the sheathing boards.
“Our structural engineers were satisfied that Thermoblock offers more than adequate compressive strength and our main contractor, who is very innovative in their approach to timber frame construction, agreed to trial them. It is far preferable to have a continuous layer of insulation where you can see all of the joints and get at them if necessary should damage occur during the build.” With a proven track record going back more than a decade, Thermoblocks are available in widths of 100, 140 and 215mm and feature a unique design where two rows of high strength epoxy concrete mini-columns are encapsulated in sections of XPS.
Marmox - Enquiry 12
In the midst of the current energy crisis, the need for more effective insulation and sealing of windows and doors must be an urgent priority, says Andy Swift, sales and operations manager for foam sealants specialist, ISO Chemie.
He says it’s not just the frames themselves that need attention when it comes to keeping out the cold this winter - it’s the entire installation which has to be addressed.
“With 25% of the heat leaking from around windows it’s now even more important to effectively seal around the window to wall gap,” he explains. “Even before the current energy crisis, it was always an area requiring urgent attention but now it has become paramount because millions of people are struggling to heat their homes and stay warm this coming winter.”
“Retrofitting properties with products like Winframer, Vario SD and BLOCO ONE has become a direct focus for property developers and housing associations and is a cost-effective way to insulate existing properties very quickly. As they say the greenest home is one already built. It just needs proper retrofit insulation.”
A pre-compressed tape, ISO BLOCO ONE, which has been independently tested and is both BBA and Passivhaus certified, can be used on joints up to 42 mm, providing a high-performance weather tightness and thermal/acoustic insulation seal for fenestration applications as the weather gets cold. ISO Chemie - Enquiry 13
A new self-build farmhouse in the beautiful Scottish countryside has been fitted with the high-performing Wraptite air-barrier. The project is designed to Passivhaus standards by Architect Frances Strachan-Friar.
After undertaking significant research into different types of construction, the architect selected Xilonor CLT cross-laminated timber installed by Glulam Solutions Ltd., Inverurie. Frances Strachan-Friar commented on how the selection of Wraptite has benefitted the development. The Wraptite system is the only self-adhering vapour permeable air barrier certified by the BBA. It combines the critical properties of vapour permeability and airtightness in one self-adhering membrane. As a result, it provides high vapour permeability in a continuously sealed, airtight membrane.
The high vapour permeability of the Wraptite air barrier allows the substrate beneath to dry quickly and moisture vapour to escape and reduces the likelihood of mould, mildew, condensation, timber distortion and metal corrosion. The vapour permeability of Wraptite also allows any water vapour to escape efficiently, thereby avoiding interstitial condensation problems.
Designed to replace traditional airtightness methods cost-effectively, Wraptite is a low-resistance vapour permeable air barrier, durable, flexible and lightweight, allowing for easy installation, with the added benefit of providing temporary protection against the elements during construction.
A. Proctor Group - Enquiry 14
For social housing providers, large quantities of exposed pipework can present several challenges, as part of the property management process, especially when dealing with older housing stock requiring upgrades such as retrofit fire sprinklers or fuel efficient low-carbon, heating system improvements.
In any property, whether it’s a new build or a refurbishment project, there are often exposed interior pipes that need concealing to improve safety or aesthetics. Covering exterior pipework is also common practice, as it provides protection from accidental damage and a weather barrier, as well as acting as a deterrent to potential tampering or vandalism.
However, while fire sprinkler system pipework can readily be incorporated in new builds, for example, as they can be hidden within risers and ceiling voids, for retrofitted installations, this is rarely an option. In most cases, surface mounting of sprinkler pipework is the only practical cost-effective solution.
It's a similar situation for heating system refurbishment programmes. Upgrading boilers to more fuel-efficient models, with their associated new radiator pipework, or the installation of low-carbon heating solutions, such as ground source heat pump and shared loop arrays, all involve the surface mounting of pipes. In many cases, other utilities, such as electrical cabling, will also need to be concealed.
A key advantage of surface mounted pipework is the simplicity and comparative speed with which it can be installed by skilled contractors, which helps keep costs under control. Clearly, choosing a method of concealment that
is also quick and easy to install, makes sound economic and practical sense.
For interior use, Encasement’s Riva; Versa 5 and Versa 8 pre-formed plywood pipe & fire sprinkler boxing, alongside its boiler pipe casings, have become the preferred solution for many HAs and LAs and are in widespread use in social housing projects across the UK.
All plywood boxing solutions are manufactured from UKTR compliant, sustainably sourced timber and are pre-finished in white melamine, which removes the need for painting, which can help save time and money on site by completely removing this, often timeconsuming, process.
Where exterior services, need to be concealed, such as distributed heating and ground source loop array pipework, or electrical cabling and air source heat pump installations, Arma metal casings offer a highly effective solution. Bespoke manufactured to individual project specifications from 2mm thick aluminium, as standard, they provide tough and durable protection.
From direct experience of working with contractors on countless UK social
housing projects, information acquired by Encasement has shown that its pre-formed pipe and fire sprinkler boxing can be fitted in less than half the time of traditional site made boxing methods.
A further advantage of pre-formed casings becomes apparent when assessing ‘whole life’ costs, which can escalate significantly when routine maintenance visits are considered. In most situations, site made casings are damaged or destroyed during their removal, as screw heads are usually filled and painted over, making them impossible or extremely time consuming to dismantle, re-assemble or re-construct.
With preformed pipe boxing solutions, it is usually a simple process of removing the securing screws and then the individual lengths of boxing can be removed and replaced quickly and easily. For boiler pipe casings, this process is even simpler, as they are often self-supporting and require no screws to hold them together, so they can be easily removed and replaced in just a matter of seconds.
As the construction industry gets ready to welcome a new year with a fresh set of challenges and opportunities, 2023 heralds the dawn of changing trends and possibilities in the world of interior timber doors and door sets.
What to look out for in the latest Vicaima IDS There are a great many new products to be found in this latest issue, among which look out for:
• Naturdor Vision – A new range where real wood veneers are taken to new heights, with tones such as Rich Mocha and Fresh Bamboo
• New Economy Veneer Range – Cost effective options such as Red Oak and Walnut Crown EV give that luxury look for less
• Dekordor 3D - Two new colour tones are added to this highly tactile and durable finish range, with Cloud White and Pale Oak
• Visual Sensations - A touch of Scotland comes to this popular foil collection, with the introduction of Highland.
Ever one to embrace innovation and seen as a true manufacturing trailblazer, Vicaima bring design, performance and quality solutions to the interiors arena. With this in mind, the launch their latest incarnation of the perennially popular Interior Door Selector (IDS) has been much anticipated.
In recognition of changing specifier preferences, Vicaima is largely moving away from conventional paper-based brochures, towards digital catalogues. This is not only environmentally friendly, but also enables a more dynamic user experience. New products and useful information can be updated instantly and at the same time enabling links to other resources such as technical data, so that specifiers can be fully equipped to make an informed decision about their next project.
Bigger than ever! This latest brochure contains over 150 pages to inspire professionals who are looking to transform modern living space. From economy options which are ideal for affordable homes in the current cost of living crises, to ground-braking quality designs that create an instant wow factor and set the standard for twenty twenties living!
Although best known for fresh ideas in veneer, foil, laminates and paint lacquered finishes, Vicaima are also opening a window to the future with their
new Infinity Range, where digital and precision imagery can re-imagine stone, metal and other surface features, in a way that hitherto was the stuff of dreams!
Of course, innovative doors from Vicaima are not confined to aesthetics alone. With fire safety, security, acoustics, and thermal efficiency very much in the minds of specifiers and regulators.
Vicaima Door kit and set solutions build on a framework of rigorous testing and superior constructional cores. Among recent additions to what is already a comprehensive performance range, comes VCP 60 from Vicaima. This in-house developed core, which is third-party accredited under the BM TRADA Q-Mark scheme; provides a one-hour FD60S rated door, but with a considerable cost saving over conventional products, thereby improving safety while keeping budgets on track.
• Vicaima Wardrobes – Flexible configurations to match Vicaima’ s many door finish options.
• Infinity – Endless Possibilities to be explored. Pushing the boundaries of interior design
To download a copy of the Vicaima Interior Door Selector or for further inspiration, visit the Vicaima website www.vicaima.com contact info@vicaima.com or tel: +44 (0) 1793 532333
Vicaima - Enquiry 17
Wet rooms are designed to be safe, accessible and easy to maintain, which makes them ideal for people with mobility issues and those who need wheelchair access. Thanks to their floor-level access, they not only make bathrooms appear optically larger but also provide plentiful space for moveability.
Ever since the development of the Fundo Primo in the 1980s, wedi’s Fundo range is renowned for the vide variety of shapes and designs it offers for the creation of barrier-free shower spaces. wedi Fundo shower elements are developed for flush-tofloor installations and are wheelchair accessible when tiled with a minimum of 50x50mm tiles. Alternatively, a preformed, seamless Fundo Top design surface is available for many of the Fundo shower elements.
For example, a current bath or a raised shower unit can easily be replaced by one of wedi’s integrated, complete shower solutions – with the drainage integrated inside the element, the Fundo Integro, Plano and Plano Linea elements are simply laid at existing drainage points and connected to the available piping. With overall construction heights of just 90, 65 and 70mm respectively, they are perfect for renovation projects.
Once a floor-level shower is installed, without a door on the enclosure, bathrooms become wet rooms. The main advantage of a wet room besides being easy to maintain and clean, is being accessible and safe to use by all generations – therefore functional for a very long time.
When it comes to wooden floors however, due to the ever moving moisture sensitive timber floor, people naturally become wary of the idea of a wet room. Needlessly so, as the industry leader of XPS wet room solutions has not one but two solutions for installation in suspended timber floors. The Fundo Ligno and Fundo
RioLigno shower elements, with an incredible thickness of just 21 and 25mm at the outer edge, sit and fit flush in the existing wooden substrate without the need for laborious levelling measures. Thanks to the 100% watertightness of the material, and especially, the reinforcement around the drain area on the underside paired with the industry famous 360° dry-fit drain technology, they provide unrivalled peace of mind about wooden floors.
Apart from the above mentioned special shower solutions, wedi has many more to offer for bit more conventional installations – from square and rectangular shapes with linear or point drainage, through quadrant to round and shell shapes with point drainagethere is a vast array of different designs
available in the standard product range. What’s more, the manufacturer offers bespoke solutions with custom-specific designs in any shape and format desired by the client.
Renowned for its wet room systems the wedi Fundo ® has been awarded ‘brand of the century’ in 2022 as a brand that exemplifies XPS wet room solutions.
Manufactured in Germany with 100% green energy and at least 25% recycled foam core all wedi XPS elements have their own EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) certificates showing their environmental impact throughout their whole lifecycle – for perfect compliance with sustainable building.
ASSA ABLOY opening solutions UK & Ireland has launched its new openings studio mobile app, which allows users to manage buildings as a holistic system. Information stored within the app enables buildings to be safely and effectively designed, constructed and operated.
Openings Studio is a cloud based, custom configuration tool for the creation, visualisation, modification, and management of door openings.
The unique BIM application provides access to complete doorset information at all stages from product concept to product care.
Not only does Openings Studio help builders, architects and specifiers develop, design, and specify doors and hardware with live BIM connectivity, it also assists with the manufacture and quality check of approved doors.
The installation process and on-site information is also captured, and products are asset tagged (with either a QR code or RFID tag) for ease of access to details and history, allowing comprehensive door-by-door fire and performance inspections to be completed and recorded. The Openings Studio Mobile App is the latest
evolution of this innovative software solution, providing a genuine seamless link between design intent during the specification process through to product in service.
Users can easily access the information relating to each door via the app, and enable a full and detailed inspection to be carried out. Any remedial work that is recommended can be reported within the app, and users can record details of any general maintenance or repairs completed too.
Paul Thompson, BIM Manager for ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions, explains: “The evolution of BIM technology has coincided with the tightening of building regulations within the industry, with emphasis currently placed on the ‘golden thread’ approach.
“Introduced as a tool to manage buildings as holistic systems, and allow people to use information to
safely and effectively to design, construct and operate buildings, BIM is now an industry staple, with a current adoption rate of 71 per cent. The Openings Studio Mobile App is one of the latest developments in digital construction tools.
“It simplifies the collaboration with architects, builders and others so that changes to door openings are communicated clearly and on time, allowing the building owner to define exactly what components are required before, during and after the construction of a building.
“The use of Openings Studio from specification to product in service and beyond captures the ‘golden thread’ of information in relation to doors and ironmongery, and ensures door compliance at all times, which is essential for life safety.”
www.housingspecification.co.uk | To make an enquiry - Go online: www.enquire2.com or post our free Reader
SALTO Systems, a global leader in smart electronic access control solutions in the hospitality and commercial industries, is launching a groundbreaking new platform aimed at the residential market.
SALTO Homelok is set to revolutionize residential living with its all-in-one solution that integrates smart access control technology, hardware, cloud software, digital keys, a smart living ecosystem, and global service support.
“Smart home living is becoming increasingly more popular,” says Iñigo Unanue – Global Residential Lead, at SALTO Systems. “Residents want seamless access, without managing multiple keys – and property managers want a solution that is easy to manage and provides seamless resident onboarding. All want physical security and protection for assets as well as a smarter living experience. Homelok, SALTO’s residential solution, delivers all this and more, providing convenient, secure, and technology-enabled living.”
SALTO Homelok will provide smart access control solutions across the residential
market, from multi-family to single-family housing, vacation rentals, and home care/ assisted living establishments. SALTO Systems’ electronic locking solution is modern and easy to install and maintain, without the cost and complexity of traditional access control solutions. SALTO Systems brings a wealth of smart building expertise, groundbreaking innovation, a unique combination of flexibility and control, and a market-leading portfolio to its residential solution.
“The platform is set to revolutionize the way we live, access our home, and go about our everyday lives,” said Aznar Sethna, CSMO of SALTO Systems. “And, while security has always been a concern, data protection, privacy and secure home access are vital – now, more than ever. Homelok is the solution.”
SALTO
Systems- Enquiry 20
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The award-winning Chapter House is a later living community of 38 homes for people over 60 by Pegasus, now part of lifestory, set within one of Lichfield’s important central conservation areas.
Around these, a series of public and communal pathways, gardens, oak-lined cloisters and courtyards have been created.
The pitched roofs and large chimney of the new buildings reference the nearby historic structures, while dormer windows articulate the long frontage elevations. A colonnade on the north-western side provides further articulation and a visual contrast alongside ridged brick panels and timber panelling.
The design draws inspiration from the characteristic historic morphology of Lichfield’s walled gardens and the original cloistered form of the demolished medieval friary which once occupied the site. Brick is the dominant material throughout the scheme, providing rich texture and colour. To achieve exactly the right aesthetic, innovative manufacturer Vandersanden worked closely with Procter & Matthews Architects throughout the development of the brickwork details.
Careful attention has been paid to the texture and materiality of the building, explains Constanze Jaczynska, director, Proctor and Matthews Architects. “Red brick, inspired by the traditional ‘Lichfield brick’, was chosen for the entrance façade and walled element which wraps around the site, linking the building with the historical surroundings. The use of contrasting white bricks within the central courtyard helps to bounce light around the space, creating a bright and inviting landscaped focal space at the heart of the development.”
The main facing bricks are Vandersanden’s Aalborg with their water-struck, rich red texture. These are bedded in either natural coloured or black grey mortar, depending on their
location. Providing a striking contrast, the expanses of Vandersanden’s Creme stocks are bedded in white mortar. Both bricks are an elegant, narrow 50mm high – an innovation that helps to minimise the mass of the Chapter House development.
Remnants of the friary’s ancient walled structures remain at Chapter House. The distinctive gables and chimneys of the Bishop’s Lodging and a linear walled garden, known locally as the Monk’s Walk, provide key markers within the site.
On the upper storeys, deep reveals to the windows are set within thick, protective textured brickwork walls. The distinctive, vertically ribbed ‘corduroy’ brickwork - a mixture of dark red and blue bricks - to the upper floors is configured to visually mitigate the height of the building and again provide a feeling of warmth and texture to the exterior facades.
Proctor and Matthews Architects were already aware of Vandersanden from previous projects and were assisted by the company throughout the development of the brickwork details.
Chapter House received the HAPPI Award at the Housing Design Awards and The Best Community Living Award at the Sunday Times British Homes Awards in 2018.
Vandersanden - Enquiry 22
Senior Architectural Systems, the UK’s largest privately owned aluminium fenestration solutions manufacturer, has supplied the fenestration package for use on the tallest residential building in Bristol.
At 26 storeys high, the residential tower block forms part of the wider Castle Park View scheme, which is the largest Urban Green Space in the city.
The development also features a main block and a 10-storey tower, creating in total 375 new one and two bedroom apartments.
Senior has supplied its slimline SF52 aluminium curtain wall system and patented low U-value PURe ® aluminium
windows and doors for use across the scheme, working alongside specialist installers Denval, architects Chapman Taylor, contractors Bouygues UK.
Created following the extensive regeneration of a brownfield area and built on the former site of an ambulance station, sustainability is a key part of the design of the Castle Park View and the residential scheme has achieved a level four standard in the Code for Sustainable Homes certification.
Both Senior’s thermally-efficient SF52 aluminium curtain wall system and Part L compliant PURe® aluminium windows and doors are highly durable and fully recyclable, making them the ideal choice for a modern development that is also striving to help reduce the energy bills of its residents.
The thermal performance of the aluminium fenestration system complements the other sustainable features including the use of the UK’s largest water source heat pump, the nearby Castle Park Energy Centre, as the development’s main heat source.
For more information on Senior’s aluminium windows, doors and curtain wall systems, please visit www.seniorarchitectural.co.uk or search for Senior Architectural Systems on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.
Domus Ventilation launches new interactive website
Domus Ventilation, manufacturer of market-leading ventilation systems that save energy and improve indoor air quality, has launched a new company website - domusventilation.co.uk - featuring an innovative interactive ‘show home’ which enables visitors to see product solutions for types of properties and individual rooms. domusventilation.co.uk has been redesigned from the bottom up, with completely new navigation and a modern, striking new look. It provides clear, easy access to the most popular content, including Domus Ventilation’s comprehensive product range, and has introduced new sections providing an overview of the company’s specific ventilation solutions and services for residential and light commercial properties, developers and merchants.
Domus Ventilation- Enquiry 26
The new 61,000 sq. ft premises in Harrogate is the culmination of a ten month build project and brings together EnviroVent’s manufacturing facility, warehousing, head office and training suite into one purpose-built headquarters. Andy Makin, Managing Director of EnviroVent, said: “We are truly committed to good environmental practices throughout our business and these purpose-built premises allow EnviroVent to operate on an even more sustainable basis.”
- Enquiry 27
Consort Claudgen have launched Consort Connect app which allows users to have complete control over their heating remotely via their smartphone or tablet.
The app is free and downloadable from Google Play or Apple Store. It can control Consort’s Wi-Fi enabled heaters and SL heaters connected to an SLPBWIFI wireless controller. It gives quick access to four operating modes and provides a 7-day timer with twenty-four heating periods per day. It is easy to set up and users can configure the settings of all connected heaters on the app. Users can also view the energy consumption statistics.
Consort Claudgen- Enquiry 28
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