News Articles:
In My Humble Opinion - 19/05/2009 It sometimes seems a bit rich to bang on about low-energy buildings and greenhouse gas emissions when most of us drive to work in noisy, dirty, fossil-fuel-guzzling cars. | |
In My Humble Opinion - 08/05/2009 “Building teams must work together to ensure sustainability, says study commissioned by the Specialist Engineering Alliance and found building projects need an integrated project team to “design-in” sustainable solutions and “design-out” waste. | |
Letter to the Editor - 28/04/2009 A report by the Specialist Engineering Alliance finds that “Building teams must work together to ensure sustainability, | |
In My Humble Opinion - 25/03/2009 One of the saddest consequences of recession is the sudden abandonment of so many noble good intentions. Last month, the pursuit of sustainable construction methods suffered a setback when it emerged that Government funding under the Low Carbon Buildings Programme was being cut off | |
In My Humble Opinion - 23/02/2009 Spring must be the consultation season. On my desk are no fewer than four bulging files, each one containing a Government proposal for improving energy efficiency and each currently out for consultation. | |
International Isover contest wins unprecedented support - 18/02/2009 This year’s international competition, sponsored by Saint-Gobain Isover, for students of architecture and engineering to design a building along passive house lines, attracted unprecedented interest when it was officially launched in the UK this month. | |
Isover system wins a third Robust Detail - 04/02/2009 An acoustic system that is currently capable of providing housebuilders with up to three credits under the Code for Sustainable Homes while significantly reducing their build costs has gained a third Robust Detail for Insulation giant Saint-Gobain Isover. | |
Isover insulation to wrap up Ecobuild - 02/02/2009 Newly available solutions from the UK’s leading insulation innovator Isover will feature on Saint-Gobain’s début stand (2365) at the world’s biggest event dedicated to sustainable design, construction and the built environment, Ecobuild (March 3-5, Earls Court). | |
In My Humble Opinion - 20/01/2009 The political tension between Russia and neighbouring Ukraine might seem to have little impact upon the average UK householder. But when Russia turned off gas supplies into Ukraine during January’s cold snap, it wasn’t just the Ukrainians who felt the chill. | |
Isover launches CPD on sustainable compliance - 09/01/2009 Guidance on how glass mineral wool insulation contributes to Passive House design and can help to deliver up to 30 credits in the Code for Sustainable Homes is now available in a RIBA-approved CPD from Saint-Gobain Isover. | |
In My Humble Opinion - 18/12/2008 Which of the following is the odd one out? Aviation fuel duty, Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT), Community Energy Savings Target (CEST) and the auction of Carbon Emissions Permits under the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS)? | |
Isover opens international competition - 17/12/2008 Insulation giant Saint-Gobain Isover is inviting submissions for its 2009 international architectural student competition which has prize money totalling €6,500 at stake. | |
Isover opens regional distribution centre - 11/12/2008 Insulation giant Saint-Gobain Isover has opened a regional distribution centre to further improve its service to customers. | |
Insulating against Passive House apathy - 09/12/2008 Players in the UK construction industry are becoming more familiar with European Passive House philosophy although they still require guidance about what it means and what their options are, in a plethora of sustainable, ecological and energy efficient solutions, to turn the concept into reality. | |
What's in store in 2009? - 28/11/2008 The construction industry in general may be continuing to downturn but the Government is sticking with its aim to have at least an 80% reduction in carbon emissions from existing housing stock by 2050. Such a focus on insulation is unprecedented and it is obvious builders stand to realise huge business benefits in 2009. | |
In My Humble Opinion - 21/11/2008 The close of 2008 saw the publication of two very important documents, the significance of which so far seems to have passed most people by, but both could have a huge and unprecedented impact on house owners and the housing stock over the coming years. | |
Isover data shows Passive House refurbishment can save 95% - 21/11/2008 Refurbishing buildings to Passive House standards can improve their energy performance by up to 95%, according to the UK’s insulation giant Saint-Gobain Isover. | |
Isover insulation helps breathe new life into university - 20/11/2008 Glass mineral wool insulation from Saint-Gobain Isover has helped the University of Cambridge’s Department of Architecture realise a studio building that “seriously addresses sustainability in its construction | |
Isover launches ductwork CPD - 12/11/2008 Advice on how to protect ventilation ductwork against fire risk and specifying for the latest regulations is given in a new CPD from the technical division of UK insulation giant Saint-Gobain Isover | |
Isover’s new three-credit Robust Detail saves housebuilders money 27/10/2008 Insulation giant Saint-Gobain Isover has gained a second Robust Detail for an acoustic system that is now capable of providing housebuilders with three credits under the Code for Sustainable Homes and at the same time significantly reducing their build costs. | |
Isover’s lightweight ducting makes its UK debut 20/10/2008 Climaver Plus R, a pre-insulated lightweight ducting system from Saint-Gobain Isover, has delivered significant cost savings on its first UK application - the installation of a new heating and ventilating system as part of a health centre refurbishment | |
Isover launches national network of HVAC Installers 09/10/2008 The first members of a national network of installers of a revolutionary ductwork system that replaces the traditional sheet metal and insulation approach with rigid insulation boards have been inducted by Saint-Gobain Isover. | |
Isover goes green in Wales 09/10/2008 Insulation from Saint-Gobain Isover was specified for its green credentials for the first timber frame school to be built for Powys County Council. | |
Building Products' Roundtable - 29/09/2008 Interview with Gerry Mitchell, Head of Innovation at Saint-Gobain Isover UK | |
Isover celebrates a 99% record - 26/09/2008 Insulation giant Saint-Gobain Isover is celebrating a 99% customer service record set over two months running by its haulier TM Logistics. | |
Brian Dolan, MD of Saint-Gobain Isover UK - A Personal Profile - 09/05/2008 Brian answers searching questions on his likes, dislikes and ambitions in an interview for Constructor Magazine |
Isover helps insulate Macbryde Homes for Part E
A small change in construction methods using a Robust Detail-approved insulation system from Saint-Gobain Isover is enabling regional housebuilder Macbryde Homes to finish developments days ahead of schedule.
North Wales-based Macbryde Homes first used Isover’s RD35 system last year on its Amberley Park and Gannock Mews developments in Prestatyn and Deganwy respectively. Now it is their standard method for party wall construction.
Amberley Park is a development of 44 townhouses and detached homes and Gannock Mews a terrace of eight three-storey townhouses, for which Macbryde Homes won a LABC North Wales Building Award in recognition of their high standard of construction and workmanship.
Isover’s RD35 will also be used at Fairways Park, Rhos on Sea (91 apartments and townhouses for first-time buyers) which has just started and on Marl Farm at Llandudno Junction (142 apartments, townhouses and detached homes) which is due to start later this year.
Macbryde’s design director Ian Hornby specified Isover RD35 from distributor Sheffield Insulations because it reduced their reliance on wet trade work (the render coat to the blockwork of the party wall) and negated the need for the pre-completion sound testing normally required under current Building Regulations.
“In addition, when using a scratch coat we would have to wait for this to dry out before we could apply the drylining and this could take several days,” he said.
“The render coat could also not be applied when the temperature was very cold. Isover’s RD35 system can be installed in all temperatures, in a fraction of the time a parge coat takes, and without the mess and labour involved when using wet cement. And because it’s manufactured from 80% recycled material, it’s vastly more environmentally friendly than cement.”
Saint-Gobain Isover launched its RD35 system as a response to the requirements of the new Part E Building Regulations which required a Robust Detail–approved system to avoid pre-completion testing.
However, all seven previous Robust Detail masonry party wall constructions forced housebuilders to revert to a wet trade internal wall lining, generally involving sand and cement, from the plasterboard-on-dabs method which had been their preferred one for years.
Isover RD35 high-performance acoustic slabs are positioned in the party wall cavity in conjunction with plasterboard-on-dabs drylining, allowing housebuilders to revert to their preferred method of construction.
It is the only Robust Detail-approved alternative to cement-based solutions As such, it has attracted more than 10,000 plot registrations to date but Macbryde Homes is one of the first developers to complete with it.
Macbryde Homes have operated in North Wales and the north-west for more than 25 years, combining a traditional, family-run approach with forward-thinking ideas such as the use of Isover RD35. Particularly notable previous developments include The Waterfront at Liverpool’s Albert Dock and Slate Wharf in Manchester.