Low impact materials case studies and information papers
BRE South West and the University of Bath (BRE Centre for Innovation) collaborated via a Knowledge Transfer Account (KTA) from July 2010 to June 2011 to make the pioneering research work carried out at the University of Bath on low impact materials available to the wider construction industry in the South West.
The following ten case studies and information papers detail in an easily accessible format the practical usage and considerations of the five low impact materials: hemp-lime, cross-laminated timber, straw-bale, unfired clay masonry and natural fibre insulation. The information papers benefited greatly from peer review by a number of external experts, each with considerable experience of their practical application. Names can be found at the end of each paper.
Information papers
Hemp Lime – An introduction to low-impact building materials (IP14/11)
Straw Bale – An introduction to low-impact building materials (IP15/11)
Unfired clay masonry – An introduction to low-impact building materials (IP16/11)
Cross-laminated timber – An introduction to low-impact building materials (IP17/11)
Natural fibre insulation – An introduction to low-impact building materials (IP18/11)
Case studies
CROSS-LAMINATED TIMBER – BRE, Univ Bath, ESPRC case study
HEMP-LIME – BRE, Univ Bath, ESPRC Case study
NATURAL FIBRE INSULATION – BRE, Univ Bath, ESPRC Case study
STRAW-BALE – BRE, Univ Bath, ESPRC Case study
UNFIRED CLAY BRICK, Univ Bath, ESPRC Case study
The pdf files are optimised for screen viewing. The cross-sectional details are therefore clearer in the printed publications. These Information Papers are copyright BRE and may not be reproduced without permission.
BRE publications
Low-impact building materials: Set of 5 BRE Information Papers
(AP 289)