The environmental and financial benefits of insulating the UK’s older building stock are significant. However, if this is implemented badly, a number of unintended consequences could be introduced that could jeopardise the integrity of the building elements and the health and wellbeing of the occupants.
A new report from BRE IHS press considers surveyors, designers and installers’ advice on assessing the potential risks and reducing the likelihood of long-term problems.
The report highlights seven ways in which most unintended consequences can be avoided.
Most consequences can be avoided by:
- Take an integrated approach to an installation by employing well informed surveyors, designers and installers
- Carry out more thorough surveying of candidate buildings to understand their existing properties, characteristics and any obstacles that will require specific detailing
- Select insulation options that complement the properties of the specific building
- Undertake a thorough assessment of exposure risk and hence the robustness of any proposed solution
- Draw up detailed designs of the system, particularly at junctions and interruptions, to design out thermal bridging that may undermine the thermal performance being sought
- Assess existing ventilation provision and ensuring suitable ventilation in line with the requirements of the applicable building regulations
- Check quality on site to ensure workmanship is of a sufficiently high standard and the intended detailing is implemented so as not to introduce weaknesses or undermine the performance of the insulation.
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