OFT house building study “A waste of time and money”!

The snagging company, Inspector Home, has branded the OFT Study on the house building industry a complete waste of time and money and warn that it will have very negative consequences for new home buyers up and down the country.

They have issued an open invitation to the government, the media and consumer organisations to join them on an inspection or answer phones in their office and discover the reality about the quality of new homes and customer satisfaction.

Stephen Nancarrow, the company’s managing director, contributed to the study and provided statistical data of over 3000 actual reports that directly contradict the statements given in the study today about customer satisfaction.

He says: “On behalf of all past, present and future new home buyers we are bitterly disappointed by the report. We were led to believe by the authors of the report that the OFT were finally going to set stringent standards for the house building industry and they have failed. The reports states that a steering group will be set up to devise a consumer code of conduct which would be a good idea, however none of the members represent consumers, so who is going to speak up for them?”

Inspector Home launched a petition in 2004, lobbying the Government to introduce regulation and protection for buyers of new homes. It wants to see the establishment of a formal regulatory body, legal consumer protection, government-set standards and league tables of property developers.

New Homes are exempt from the Sale of Goods Act – there is more consumer protection covering the purchase of a can of baked beans than a new home.

Of the thousands of new homes inspected by Inspector Home last year, only 1 had zero defects: the worst had 405. This means that many people who should be enjoying living in their “dream” home, are spending time fighting battles to have these faults rectified and are forced to move in to sub-standard homes with no legal right to compensation.

More information: www.InspectorHome.co.uk

Composite doors at steel prices

Specifically developed for housebuilders, JELD-WEN’s new composite door range includes two new styles at steel door prices. They include a half light and two light glazed, along with an authentic wood grain finish.

Renowned for their thermal performance, the company’s composite doorsets are said to offer better insulation than other materials, as well as improved acoustic properties, low maintenance and enhanced protection from forced entry. These door styles are also ten times more impact resistant than steel and four times more resistant than timber, making them an ideal barrier to prevent forced entry.

The tough through-coloured door skins are supplied primed, ready for painting and, being scratch resistant, there is less risk of surface damage. There is a choice of glazing options – either clear or ‘ice’ effect obscure, depending on preference. Also there is a choice of ironmongery available, including chrome or brass hardware.

Product manager, Chris Miller, says: “We extended our composite doors range as we wanted to make these high performance products even more affordable for housebuilders. Composite doors offer some of the best thermal performances available and are therefore a compelling choice for the market.”

With the Code for Sustainable Homes now a requirement for both social housing and private housing, it is more important than ever that the doors chosen enable a housebuilder to maximise the thermal performance of their properties.

In addition to the two new styles, JELD-WEN offers a complete range of ten standard composite doorset designs in a number of solid colours and wood stain finishes.

Many styles comply with PAS 23/24 resistance to attack and Secured by Design standards.

More information: www.jeld-wen.co.uk

Super efficient ground-air heat exchanger

What is described as a “super efficient” ground-air heat exchanger system has been launched by ADM Systems. It claims a Coefficient of Performance (COP) of around 50. This compares to a COP on ground-source heat pumps of around 3-4. It significantly reduces the amount of energy the mechanical ventilation with heat recovery unit (MVHR) system requires to heat or cool the incoming air.

It does this by exploiting the natural temperature of the ground to provide a cost effective source of renewable energy. At a depth of 1.5 to 2m, the earth’s temperature is a constant 8-12˚C throughout the year.

By drawing air through an underground network of pipes, it is either pre-heated by the ground in winter or pre-cooled in summer. In combination with an ADM Systems MVHR unit this significantly reduces the heating and cooling costs of a building.

For example, an outside air temperature of -5˚C during winter can be raised to +4˚C by the heat exchanger, before it enters the MVHR unit, based on a constant average ground temperature of 10˚C. Similarly, during summer a 28˚C outside air temperature can be pre-cooled to +16˚C, again by using the heat exchanger and constant 10˚C ground temperature, before it enters the MVHR unit.

Chris Marriott, ADM Systems’ managing director, says: “We’ve had a tremendous response to the new system from customers looking to significantly reduce their heating and cooling costs in the building. By using the earth’s natural stored energy we are able to offer an amazing COP of around 50.”

The MVHR units, fitted with the new system, works by a series of ducts that collect stale moist air from inside the house, from areas such as the kitchen, laundry and bathrooms. This stale contaminated air passes through the MVHR unit and is exhausted to the outside. Clean fresh heated (or cooled) air from the heat exchanger is then drawn into the MVHR unit, as the two air streams pass each other, the heat is transferred from the outgoing stale air to the fresh incoming air.

There is no mixing of air streams. During winter, the system is able to capture over 90% of the energy from the outgoing stale air before delivering it as warm filtered, preconditioned air into the living areas of the property through the ducting.

ADM Systems is able to offer customers bespoke design software to calculate the expected output of the system, based on UK weather data. This software shows the kilowatt-hours per annum that can be saved in both heating and cooling operations and also the COP of each project.

More information: www.admsystems.co.uk

Nature reserve inspiration for anti-slip decking

Extending to 42,000 sq ft Nottingham Science Park, which opened in early summer, is a ground breaking project that aims to deliver a modern and sustainable environment for science and technology businesses. The project is being developed by Blueprint, a public private partnership between English Partnerships, East Midlands Development Agency and Morley’s Igloo Regeneration Fund.

The design inspiration for the project comes from the adjoining nature reserve. The architects started with an image of the reserve and then reproduced it on a giant scale as the new Science Park. The result gives a natural beauty to the development which has unmistakable organic shapes which manifests itself as buildings in the form of giant bullrushes along with a boardwalk in the shape of 33 giant lily pads.

As Christophe Egret, principal architect at Studio Egret West, explains: “The beauty of the natural surroundings inspired us to use enlarged nature as the design inspiration for this project. The Lily pad boardwalk is simply a giant representation of the water lilys that grow in the adjoining nature reserve.”

Almost 80,000 linear metres of JB Antislip PlusÆ inserts were used on the DecksureTM structural timber decking to create the non-slip Lily Pad boardwalk. Fitted by L&L Installations, each deckboard features two antislip inserts, which is sufficient to create a long lasting and safe surface.

The decking, which would be equally at home in the residential area has been independently tested by the Health & Safety Laboratory (HSL) using a Stanley Pendulum Test (the operation and calibration of which is described in BS7976:2002 parts 1-3). The Pendulum Test Values (PTVs) achieved during the testing significantly exceeded the minimum required classification for ‘low potential for slip’.

Under the UKSRG guidelines, a surface is required to have a PTV of 36 or above to be considered to have a ‘low potential for slip.’ Two inserts, which were used on the Lily Pad project, will achieve an average PTV of 63 or above, even when wet.

More information: www.johnbrash.co.uk

Consortium chosen to build Peterborough zero CO2 Homes

Work is to commence on a neighbourhood of 344 zero carbon homes and commercial premises in Peterborough’s centre as part of English Partnerships’ innovative Carbon Challenge. The preferred developer for the 7 ha Phase 1 site has been named as pPod, a consortium set up between Morris Homes, Gentoo Homes and the architects Browne Smith Baker.

All homes are expected be zero carbon, meeting Level 6 of the Government’s Code for Sustainable Homes, years ahead of the 2016 target. The commercial units will be up to the BREEAM Excellent standard, this is one of the highest levels of energy efficiency and environmental performance.

The development will have a ‘green-spine’ of orchards and allotments plus canopy walkways together with 650 sq m of retail floor space and 614 sq m of community space. Food production will be encouraged by the inclusion of an edible garden concept and a community cafÈ that will sell locally produced goods.

English Partnerships, director of policy, Steve Carr, explains: “In the current economic downturn people are asking harder questions about the quality and value of new homes. The Peterborough pPod homes not only respond to climate change, they will also be more spacious and have lower energy bills

” This isn’t just about eco-living – it is about making new housing schemes a much better deal for owners and tenants by creating comfortable and cost-efficient homes for a range of incomes.”

The dwellings will comply with English Partnerships Quality Standards which include minimum sizes for flats and homes. It is proposed that a biomass combined heat and power (CHP) plant will provide the neigbourhood’s energy and it will benefit from low water usage through the incorporation of rain water harvesting and grey water recycling.

pPod’s proposal includes creative use of sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) to give character to new public spaces, including wetland swales and more formal water courses.

A planning application is to be made in early 2009 and pPod expects to start on site later in the year.

Richard Ellis, chair East of England Development Agency (EEDA),says: “It will be an exemplar project which will draw on and expand the expertise of the region’s environmental technology businesses, creating jobs and raising skills, and helping them maintain their global competitiveness in a sector that is estimated to be worth billions in a just a few years time”.

One of the consortium members, Gentoo, is an award winning north-east based people and property business, with a vision of improving the art of living beyond our imagination. It aims to generate wealth by “improving the lives of its customers and re-investing it through passionate people to create a climate for personal and collective opportunity.”

More information: www.englishpartnerships.co.uk

Heat pump savings for care home

Residents of the newly built Potteries Court Extra Care Housing Scheme in Swinton, near Rotherham, are reaping the benefits of air-source heat pumps from Danfoss Heat Pumps, formerly ECO Heat Pumps.

The ground floor of the resource centre for the 11 bungalows and 24 apartments built by Chevin Housing Association has been fitted with an under-floor heating system, operated by two 10Kw air source heat pumps. This modern communal area is widely used by the elderly residents who live in the Potteries Court development as it houses a restaurant, lounge, meeting room, kitchen and washroom facilities.

The housing association was very keen to meet the Ecohomes standard and knew that heat pumps would increase its sustainability rating as well as reducing the carbon footprint of the development. As a result, Chevin Housing Association achieved a commendable ‘Very Good’ rating.

Heat pumps are becoming hugely popular for both new builds and refurbishments as they greatly reduce energy bills, compared with more traditional forms of heating. As a completely renewable energy source, they benefit from running costs that are typically 75% lower than conventional systems. This means they normally pay for themselves in five to seven years. Grants are also available for charities or public bodies through the low carbon buildings programme (LCBP).

Air source heat pumps are said to be rapidly increasing in popularity as they require no ground works. Potteries Court also makes use of rainwater harvesting techniques. The system collects surface water from the building’s roof and recycles it in order water the communal landscaped areas. Like the heat pumps, this also contributed to Eco-Homes rating points on this development.

Chris Boucher, project manager of Synergy Housing Solutions, part of the Chevin Housing Group, explains: “We were really keen to use renewable energy sources for the communal areas as all residents pay an annual service charge and fitting heat pumps helps to keep energy costs down. Not only that, but from our point of view as a housing association, they are a fantastic way of helping ensure that new developments achieve both our’s and the government’s regulations on sustainable housing.”

Air source heat pumps work by extracting low-grade heat from the outside air, similar to a refrigerator. However, where a fridge in the home expels heat from the inside to keep it cool, a heat pump will use it to provide heat for the home. The air handling unit draws air across the water-anti freeze solution and transfers this energy into the refrigerant. The refrigerant boils and the gases from this are compressed to produce temperatures in excess of 100_C. This energy is then used to heat the hot water, which is then circulated throughout the home.

Heat pumps are the most efficient method of heating a home because every 1kWh of electricity used to drive the heat pump generates around 4kWh of heat energy. This compares to the most efficient condensing boilers that generated 0.9kWh of heat for every 1kWh of electricity. This gives heat pumps a coefficient of performance of around 400 per cent compared to 75-90% for traditional heating systems

More information: www.ecoheatpumps.co.uk

Cavity tray unlike any other!

There is a requirement for cavity barriers/stops within timber frame construction and the minimum period of fire resistance is commonly 30 minutes, even where the internal fire resistance of the structure is greater. TRADA has recently drawn attention for barriers to be sleeved in polythene dpc to ensure moisture is deflected away from the timber frame structure and to the outside.

However, cavity stops are usually rectangular and have a flat/horizontal upper surface, therefore even if sleeved penetrating water can still use the upper surface as a bridge to track across the cavity unless prevented from so doing. Thus it prompts a question of how water will be deflected in the right direction by such sleeving, unless the actual shape of the stop or an accompanying protective medium promotes such direction?

The cavity barrier/stop must deflect the water forward, and there is now a ready to use product that automatically offers this + fire stopping + acoustic suppression.

Cavity Tray’s Cavi 60 SAF Stop is designed to provide acoustic, fire barrier and water-deflecting qualities within a cavity wall.

The Cavi 60 prefix denotes 60 minutes fire integrity rating for this multi-purpose cavity stop, whereas SAF is the acronym for sloping – acoustic – fire, the most important qualities advanced by this product.

Non-combustible rock wool is profiled and encapsulated within a polythene sleeve. The unique sloping upper surface of the encapsulation deflects penetrating water forward towards the outer leaf. The lower sloping surface permits lengths to be lapped whilst maintaining deflecting, sound and fire integrity status.

The Cavi 60 Type SAF Stop is compressible and may be friction fitted within the cavity, taking advantage of placement upon naturally occurring ties to aid stability. Thus it is incorporated without attachment to the inside or outside skin. Unlike conventional stops that are rectangular and thus level between skins, the new Cavi 60 Type SAF is sloping. It naturally deflects penetrating water forward, thus promoting best practice at all times. A hard finish protective upper surface cap is also available.

This new design offering twice the minimum fire protection period plus acoustic suppression plus a water deflecting shape is a product of Cavity Trays Ltd, the only cavity tray manufacturer awarded European Technical Approval.

More information: http://www.cavitytrays.com

Rainscreen facades for prestigious towers

An impressive group of three, high spec contemporary apartment blocks in London’s Cable Street have benefited from special cladding by Euroclad Facades.

Built by Rydon Homes, the three towers each contain one, two and three bedroom apartments with modern open plan layouts and impressive panoramic views across London.

The LINEAR 2 rainscreen facade system was specified in medium grey metallic Alpolic composite material. Installed by Durable Contracts, a Euroclad approved installer, the faÁade solution comprises of a series of cassette panels individually hooked onto the support frame.

The panels can be removed and replaced independently without disrupting the rest of the facade, which is particularly useful should single panels become damaged. The LINEAR 2 system is said to infinitely adjustable and erection of the panels can begin anywhere on the building.

Euroclad Facades has incorporated the latest CAD software into its manufacturing process to ensure consistent accuracy and provide bespoke fabrications. It designed and manufactured bespoke window pods for the apartments using the software, which ensures that the flawless, flat appearance was continued throughout the exterior of the building and the windows could be installed after the facade.

Manufactured by Mitsubishi, Aloplic composite material provides an exceptional finish with great colour uniformity and impressive flatness. It is lightweight and rigid with a non-combustible core.

Steve Barnes of Rydon Construction says: “The LINEAR 2 system was exceptionally easy to install and the ultra-flat panels add a modern appearance to the apartments.”

This completed high class, residential development continues to provide a fine example of just how effective and efficient the new generation of “clip on” claddings can be in achieving a perfect external finish. Easily removed or repositioned, if necessary, they ensure that the facades can always be maintained to the highest standard, which is important on prestigious residences – Ed

More information: www.euroclad.co.uk

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