Nick Grant Elementalsolutions.co.uk @ecominimalnick Radical simplicity; How to achieve high performance timber building, affordably: Woodbuild Wales 2017 Photo Juraj Mikurcik
NickGrantElementalsolutions.co.uk
@ecominimalnick
Radicalsimplicity;Howtoachievehighperformancetimberbuilding,affordably:Woodbuild Wales2017
PhotoJuraj Mikurcik
Aspirationalsustainabilityisanoxymoron
“I’dlovetodesignanEco-House*butwehaven’thadtherightclient”*Insertenvironmentaltargetofchoice.
Sustainablebuildingsforthemanynotthefew
Manifesto
ValueEngineeringIstheAnswer!But>90%ofArchitectsthinkisisabadthing
Animageproblem:
Value= FunctionCost
Natureisallaboutvalue
Image;tes.com
Eventhepeacockisoptimisedbyconstraints
ValueEngineering CostCutting
VEvs.Costcutting
NickGrant,www.elementalsolutions.co.uk
ValueEngineering CostCutting
NickGrant,www.elementalsolutions.co.uk
DaisyStone;Flickr
VEvs.Costcutting
Example:Airtightness
MoreimportantthanthickinsulationItisagoodthing– trustme!
• Comfort– nodrafts• Airquality– crucialforgoodventilation!• Durabilityofbuild(interstitialcondensationrisk)• Measurabletestofbuildquality
• (Alsosavesenergy)
Airtightnesscanbedifficult
(Verytidywork,don’tblamethebuilderforthecostorfinalresult)
FromTwitter
Useasmallchildtodothisbit
Orsimple
Welikerobustboardbasedairbarriers
stripofmembrane
wallstopsshortuntiltapingcompleteorusestripofmembrane
FirsttimePassivhausBuilder,n50 =0.1airchanges/hourfirsttest
Nostructuralpenetrations
Mike Whitfield super-insulated traditional cruck frame extension
NickGrant,www.elementalsolutions.co.uk
ThislookstrickybutisactuallyOK!(structureinside)
AlsoontheoutsideWeathertightness…
Veryfiddly,lotsoftape,notrobust Wind&watertight&cheapertobuild.Samedetailusedforun-insulatedgarage.
NickGrant,www.elementalsolutions.co.uk
Airtightnessisgoodvalueifdesignedin
n500.2isthenew0.6
(Builder’sresponsetobeingtoldthathehasachieved0.6airchanges.Hegot0.16onpreviousjob!)
Likeridingabike
ManyWayse.g.Wrapa2x4standardhouse,robustandsimplesteps.
slab EPS
EPS
4x2frameisservicevoid(insulated)
airbarrier
LarsenTruss
ArchitectAdrianCook
TyCasimCrickhowel
n50=0.18airchanges
RadicalapproachIstudsteeteringonfloatingslabedge!
slab EPS
EPS
Genuinelyminimal
servicevoid
airbarrier
Istuds
As light as aballoon(frame)
Detailshaveevolvedoveranumberofprojects
lessfiddlybits!
NickGrant,CharlesGrylls &MikeWhitfield
Designforeasyon-sitebuildFlexiblewindowlocation
Structural slab
Lod
Thermalmodellingonlyworthdoingifdetailswillberepeated.Economyofscale.
©ElementalSolutions
NickGrant,www.elementalsolutions.co.uk
Fixedwindows30%cheaper– thelargerwindowsarefixed.Nomullions
nofluenow!
NickGrant,www.elementalsolutions.co.uk
SlateCottage
Bump-outsoutsidethethermalenvelope
CheapcorrugatedAluzincroof
n50=0.26airchanges
Designedfromtheinsideout.Windowsize,shapeandpositiondrivenbyfunction– includingframedviewswithprivacywhilstinbed
TyPren Self-BuildBlaenfossArchitectDempseyDecourcy
TyPren Self-BuildBlaenfoss
DaybeforestormDoris!
TyPren Self-BuildBlaenfoss
TyPren Self-BuildBlaenfoss
TyPren Self-BuildBlaenfoss
Windowsinstalledbehindthewrapinthedry
TyPren Self-BuildBlaenfoss
Firsttimeusingtapesn50=0.1airchanges!(0.09m/h– newUKrecord?)
TyPren Self-BuildBlaenfoss
Self-builderDaiwithAdamandcamerashyDad,JimofWoodandGlass.
“it’saneasywaytobuildahouse”
MoreinfoHowtoBuildaPassivhaus;Freetodownload:PassivhausTrust.org
Otherdownloadsandinfo:ElementalSolutions.co.uk
Thanks
@ecominimalnick