Refurb Projects April 2017
Refurb Projects launched in 1987 to cater for the expanding Repair, Maintenance, Improvement and Refurb sectors of the UK Building Industry. Sustainability and the protection of the built environment are essential ingredients of the refurbishment market, and Refurb Projects Journal is a leader in reporting and promoting these ideals.
Refurb Projects launched in 1987 to cater for the expanding Repair, Maintenance, Improvement and Refurb sectors of the UK Building Industry.
Sustainability and the protection of the built environment are essential ingredients of the refurbishment market, and Refurb Projects Journal is a leader in reporting and promoting these ideals.
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INSULATION<br />
Appetite growing for Actis insulated container buildings<br />
A Cornish company which specialises in converting shipping containers into offices, live-work<br />
units, pop-up restaurants and even a golf club is aiming to expand into residential projects<br />
during <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
South West Steel Buildings,<br />
based in Newquay, has been<br />
insulating its distinctive units<br />
with two of the three<br />
products in the Actis Hybrid range –<br />
honeycomb insulation Hybris and<br />
insulating breather membrane Boost<br />
‘R Hybrid - for the past couple of<br />
years because of the impressive<br />
thermal efficiency they offer, and<br />
the ease and speed with which they<br />
can be installed.<br />
Recent projects have included<br />
two 5,000 sq ft office blocks and 16<br />
self-contained 400 sq ft live work<br />
units at Prow Park business village<br />
on the Treloggan Industrial Estate in<br />
Newquay, and a 2,000 sq ft golf club<br />
at Whitsand Bay.<br />
The company is hoping to carry<br />
out a pilot residential project later<br />
this year. The homes, whose wall and<br />
roof U-value will be around 0.17,<br />
would be let at a fair rent or<br />
purchased through shared equity or<br />
ownership and would form part of a<br />
mixed-use development of homes,<br />
offices, retail units, community hubs<br />
and workshops to create a varied<br />
social environment.<br />
If successful, SWSB hopes this<br />
will pave the way for further<br />
projects in Cornwall and elsewhere<br />
in the UK.<br />
“All the local authorities that we<br />
have approached love the concept,<br />
and can really see the potential<br />
benefits stemming from the use of<br />
converted containers as residences,”<br />
explained development manager<br />
Brian Curnow.<br />
“We have met with some<br />
fantastic support from both the<br />
council and local politicians alike,<br />
but due to the pioneering nature of<br />
what we are doing we have met<br />
with a few stumbling blocks and<br />
have been working through them<br />
for a good part of 2016 in order to<br />
take our product to market,<br />
hopefully in <strong>2017</strong>.”<br />
The venture began a few years<br />
ago with the creation of a mini<br />
retail workshop and office<br />
development in Newquay whose<br />
units were available on a monthly<br />
rental basis to help businesses<br />
concerned about a long term<br />
commitment during difficult<br />
economic times.<br />
Since then the concept has<br />
proved increasingly popular. The 40ft<br />
containers, which can be configured<br />
in a variety of ways and are strong<br />
enough to be stacked eight high,<br />
cost about two thirds of the price of<br />
brick and block or timber frame<br />
equivalents.<br />
A special technique developed by<br />
the company eliminates technical<br />
issues by moving the dew point – a<br />
problem experienced on the interior<br />
of the conversion in some other<br />
similar constructions – to the<br />
outside of the building.<br />
Brian says the CE marked, NHBC<br />
approved, LABC and LABSS<br />
compliant Actis Hybrid products are<br />
very quick and easy to install and<br />
help avoid thermal bridging as they<br />
are flexible and can fit round<br />
corners.<br />
Indeed, a recent competition for<br />
builders and merchants highlighted<br />
just how speedy it is to install the<br />
honeycomb Hybris panels. Videos of<br />
competitors in action show it really<br />
is a doddle<br />
(https://www.youtube.com/playlist?li<br />
st=PLy8ZiNLWw-<br />
X3HWwc4T3HNozoRdGs95h-X) And<br />
a range of ‘how to’ video guides at<br />
http://hybrid.insulationactis.com/how-to-insulate-a-timberframe-wall-with-hybris-insulation/<br />
)<br />
give tips on how to install the<br />
product.<br />
Using breather membrane Boost<br />
‘R Hybrid massively reduces the risk<br />
of interstitial condensation,<br />
guarantees air tightness and can<br />
protect the building from<br />
precipitation and wind driven rain.<br />
Reflective and watertight, yet<br />
vapour permeable, it’s used on the<br />
cold side of roofs and walls. Because<br />
water vapour molecules are smaller<br />
than those in water droplets it lets<br />
moisture out but doesn’t let water<br />
in.<br />
Thermal modelling trials carried<br />
out by certification body BM TRADA<br />
have shown that Actis insulated<br />
membranes have a dramatic impact<br />
on counteracting thermal bridging<br />
and act as excellent thermal<br />
blankets.<br />
A free online simulator, at<br />
http://hybrid.insulationactis.com/simulator/<br />
enables users to<br />
estimate the U-value of an Actis<br />
Hybrid project in seconds.<br />
The shipping containers are just<br />
one of a number of off site<br />
construction techniques increasingly<br />
choosing Actis Hybrid projects –<br />
with others including timber frame<br />
buildings, park homes and ecopods.<br />
The 2,000 sq ft Whitsand Bay Golf Club made from shipping containers and<br />
insulated with Actis Hybris and Boost ‘R Hybrid.<br />
REFURBISHMENT PROJECTS, APRIL <strong>2017</strong> 31
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