Insulate Magazine Issue 11

The only independent insulation industry trade magazine
This feature was conceived as a lighthearted
examination of the times when too much is asked
of insulation manufacturers. When it comes to
the quality of our built environment, however, it’s
difficult to avoid being entirely serious.
It’s no exaggeration to state that the performance
gap - the disparity between a building’s intended
thermal comfort and efficiency at design stage,
and how it behaves once constructed - is endemic
within much of UK construction. Speed of
construction is prioritised over quality; questions
are asked after the event, rather than checking
correct installation procedures before starting.
It speaks to issues of knowledge, skills and training
in the whole construction industry - issues we
are all aware of, but for which solutions always
seem to remain tantalisingly out of reach. For the
majority of projects, post occupancy evaluation
still lacks feasibility. We don’t know how the buildings
we produce are performing.
Checking as-built performance simply isn’t on the
agenda, but unless issues like those listed above
are picked up during the design and construction
phases, the end user will be saddled with an uncomfortable
building and high energy bills. And,
as events in 2017 have shown us, these sorts of
compromises do not just risk compliance with
energy efficiency requirements…
Too often, poor insulation installation is
only picked up once it is too late. When
a problem is raised, when the original intent
has not been met, the aim becomes
to find the ‘best’ compromise solution.
when the original intent has not been met, the aim
becomes to find the ‘best’ compromise solution.
You can’t blame people for being reluctant to take
down work that has already been done, but you
can question why every step wasn’t taken to ensure
the work was done correctly from the outset.
Photographs are emailed from site; restricted
views of small areas of the build. “The building inspector
is happy if you say this is okay,” comes the
accompanying request. Insulation manufacturers
understand how their products should be used as
well as, if not better than, anybody. But they can
only comment on whether an installation meets,
or appears to meet, their recommendations.
That isn’t to pick on Local Authority Building
Control or Approved Inspectors. It is to demonstrate
the importance of all professionals working
together and enjoying proper collaboration, rather
than hoping manufacturers have magic wands
capable of curing on site conflicts.
Too often, poor insulation installation is only picked
up once it is too late. When a problem is raised,
Next month, part two of this feature
will look at how far insulation
manufacturers can go in helping
with architectural and structural
design.
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