Early engagement with product manufacturers can be critical to a project’s success, as nobody knows a construction product better than its manufacturer. But early engagement is just one facet of technical support.
Delivering construction projects competently means drawing on expertise to support design and construction decisions. However, when the levels of support available varies from one manufacturer to another, it’s little wonder that specifiers can be reluctant to commit to early design decisions.
Many manufacturers, including Proctor Group, offer heat loss and condensation risk calculation services. These are usually based around the combined method for calculating thermal transmittance (as per BS EN ISO 6946), accompanied by simplified Glaser method condensation calculations (as per BS EN ISO 13788).
Condensation risk is linked to the complex topic of moisture movement in buildings. More detailed numerical simulation (as per BS EN 15026) analyses heat, vapour and moisture transfer through a building element. It gives an accurate measure of temperature, relative humidity and water content within the element. The most well-known form of numerical simulation is WUFI calculations. While the Glaser method provides a simple pass/fail result, numerical simulation requires results to be analysed and understood. That can be a time-consuming process. However, it’s vital to undertake deeper analysis in certain situations – especially traditional/ historic building fabric with solid wall constructions. That is why we offer WUFI calculations as an additional service, alongside U-value calculations and Glaser method analysis.
Simplified methods of assessing condensation risk are not appropriate in all scenarios, but that doesn’t stop some from issuing calculations anyway due to a lack of competence or awareness. It’s essential to work with a manufacturer that can properly guide you to, and provide, appropriate calculations.
MAKING THERMAL BRIDGING SOLUTIONS MORE ACCESSIBLE
That sentiment applies equally to psi value calculations. Tightening regulations make it difficult to ignore the impact of thermal bridging heat losses. Nevertheless, some projects ignore thermal bridge detailing because sourcing calculations is perceived to be complicated and time consuming.
Working with a manufacturer who can analyse hard-to-treat areas of building fabric has the potential to make a significant positive difference to project specifications. Thin aerogel insulation is ideally suited to details where conventional insulation thicknesses are impractical, and we offer a psi value calculation with our Spacetherm products. In this way, we support project teams to improve overall energy efficiency, deliver better occupant comfort, and close the performance gap between as-designed and as-built.
MAKE DESIGN DECISIONS WITH CONTRACTORS IN MIND
The ability to carry support through the design stages and on to site can make for better project outcomes. Longer-term, comprehensive support makes it more likely that design intent is realised in the finished, occupied building.
It’s impossible for contractors to be aware of, and familiar with, every single product on the market. As such, specifying products where the manufacturer can provide on-site support may help contractors to get the best out of what they are installing.
At Proctor Group, our support for contractors is two-pronged. First, we offer toolbox talks to help contractors understand the fundamentals of products they might not be familiar with. In recent years we have seen our Wraptite membrane used on a host of new Passivhaus school and community campus projects across Scotland. Despite Wraptite being 15 years old, many contractors have only used it for the first time to help achieve Passivhaus airtightness. Toolbox talks have played a vital role in making sure they get the benefits from Wraptite at the first time of asking.
Second, site observation reports give contractors ongoing confidence that an installation is proceeding as necessary. The value of these site visits and reports is such that one contractor actually had it written into a contract that we had to be granted site access for the purposes of observing an installation. Together, these two forms of site support back up the support provided through our calculation services.
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