MMC 5543 48 May '16 cc (1)

Low Carbon, Fabric First & Passivhaus >
Triple timber solution to sustainability
Technical Editor Bruce Meechan looks at the range of very low carbon solutions available from a major
timber frame manufacturer based on the Shropshire - Mid Wales border.
> Lowfield Timber Frame has
collaborated with leading
architects on numerous
projects targeting very low
energy consumption and
can offer three different
walling solutions which
could contribute to
PassivHaus designs.
As an offsite manufacturer working
across a variety of sectors including
commercial, residential and education,
Lowfield Timber Frame is well used to being
presented with different technical challenges;
and to meeting them through the use of
different solutions that reflect the versatility of
what is arguably nature’s most versatile
material.
In essence, Lowfield has in recent years,
responded to the demands of both clients and
architects for PassivHaus and Near-to-Zero
carbon buildings employing twin-wall timber
frame, structural insulated panels (SIPs) and
now a closed panel system based on timber I-
joists.
Darren Jarman, Managing Director for Lowfield
Timber Frame, told MMC Magazine: “We have
an extensive product range that enables us to
respond to clients targeting PassivHaus
standard or other very low energy solutions;
and we will work with their architects and
assessors or other specialist consultants in
order to ensure all the details – such as the
floor wall junction or foundation connection,
achieve the required levels of insulation.
“Some ten years ago we supplied a twin-wall
timber frame system for the principal of Munro
Associates who was building a new home up in
Pitlochry, Scotland. That achieved the level of
U-value necessary for PassivHaus - by filling
with Warmcel recycled newspaper insulation;
and now we are working with PYC Warmcel on a
solution featuring 300 mm thick I-joists
supplied by Metsa Wood for a social housing
scheme featuring low rise homes. We have also
20
built to PassivHaus standards using the
Kingspan TEK system; so our product range can
really cover all the bases and offer clients
solutions to suit their individual needs.”
“We have an extensive product
range that enables us to respond
to clients targeting PassivHaus
standard or other very low energy
solutions; and we will work with
their architects and assessors or
other specialist consultants in
order to ensure all the details –
such as the floor wall junction or
foundation connection, achieve
the required levels of insulation.”
Darren Jarman, Lowfield Timber Frame
The architect, Mungo Munro commented: “We
do a lot of work for housing associations as well
as clients in other sectors, though this was a
self-build where Lowfield produced a timber
frame to my own design. I went for a double
timber frame as it virtually eliminates any coldbridging
and achieved a U-value far better than
the Building Standards required.”
Amongst the other highly sustainable projects
Lowfield Timber Frame has helped deliver
recently is the Telford Town Park Visitor Centre,
offering bicycle hire and a café as well as
classroom space. The original intention was to
build the walls from straw bales, but the cost
would have pushed up the budget so the
specification switched to the Kingspan TEK
system.
The jointing arrangement for the SIPs system
helped keep the air leakage rate to around 1
m3/m2/hr at 50 Pascals. The addition of a high
performance vapour control layer as part of the
building envelope meant the overall
airtightness figure for the finished structure
outperformed the PassivHaus requirement at
0.58 m3/m2/hr. In terms of insulation value,
combined with Kingspan Thermawall TW55
boards, the U-value for the Tek walls was 0.14
W/m2K.
Lowfield also contributed to the conversion of
an eyesore, asbestos-clad packing shed into a
stunning studio on the outskirts of Leamington
Spa; which earned the architect, Sjolander de
Cruz, the RIBA Sustainable Project of the Year
Award.
www.lowfieldtimberframes.co.uk