A home
counties carpentry firm which has completed a project with Swedish timber frame
specialist Scandia-Hus has become a convert to a range of insulation products
which can eliminate thermal bridging.
Reuben
Sargent, project manager at RJS Carpentry Construction, has been singing the
praises of insulating vapour control layer H’Control Hybrid, created by
insulation specialist Actis, after using it on a new build in West Sussex.
H’Control
Hybrid is one of four specialist products in the Actis Hybrid range which also
includes honeycomb insulation Hybris and two variants of an insulating breather
membrane Boost’R Hybrid and Boost’R Hybrid Roof.
And he
loved using the products so much he believes they are the future for the entire
construction industry.
“H’Control
Hybrid is the future for all new builds. It saved time, money and energy, which
we all know is the way forward for productivity. I must say it also allowed
other trades to get on with the projects that had to be completed because there
was no problem with nasty fibres floating around the workplace which otherwise
would be a health and safety problem,” he said.
His
colleague, managing director Rob
Stenson, shares Reuben’s enthusiasm and is keen to spread the word among other
developers, architects and specifiers with whom he works.
Scandia-Hus
has been using CE marked Actis products for a number of years following a trial
on one of its showhomes which included carrying out a thermal imaging exercise.
The
results, which showed an impressive lack of thermal bridging, convinced them
that this was the best insulation for most of the homes it builds every year.
All
products have LABC and LABSS registered details, LABC Warranty and Premier
Guarantee approval and are accepted by the NHBC when used in accordance with
the certification,
Scandia-Hus
MD Derek Dawson said at the time: “After carrying out our initial experiment we
were extremely pleased with the installation side of the material and from now
on can reduce insulation installation time by up to 30%.
“The Actis
Hybris panels are easy to cut to exactly the right size so they simply slot
into the stud wall. Other benefits were minimal wastage and site cleanliness.
And as if that is not benefit enough, the Hybrid range does not produce
irritant and messy dust when installing.”
Actis area
sales manager for the South East and London, Liane Bayliss, added: “As thermal
bridging makes up approximately 25% of a building envelope’s heat loss,
ensuring this is avoided is crucial. Thermal transmittance makes up a further
45%, with lack of airtightness counting for an additional 30%.
“Using
insulation which wraps around like a blanket makes thermal bridging much less
likely than using rigid products which can leave air gaps in awkward shaped
corners unless they are cut to a very precise shape. At the same time, it’s
important to maintain an airtight layer against air leakage and a windtight
layer to prevent air infiltration with a vapour control layer and a breather
membrane.”
