a.aa MMC M11 52pp Web

External Building Envelope
EFFICIENCY BOOST FOR LOCAL BUILDERS
Spantherm is an innovative ground floor system from Creagh Concrete which is being adopted by a growing number of local
house builders.
The regulations have been designed to make
house builders consider more than just the
physical performance of the structural envelope,
they are now obliged to consider each individual
component’s impact on the buildings overall
energy efficiency and particularly the removal of
thermal bridging.
All of these factors are combined within
Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP)
calculations and this adds a further dimension
for builders to consider as they seek the most
cost effective specification for each house type.
Creagh Spantherm in situ
As housebuilders increasingly explore the
opportunities for new ideas to reduce
labour onsite and boost efficiency in the
build it makes sense that they start with the
ground floor. The initial appeal of Spantherm is
clear, because a typical floor on a detached
house or a pair of semis is fitted onsite in less
than two hours.
Most builders opt for the work to be completed
by Creagh’s expert fitting team, requiring no
labour from the house builder; however the floor
can also be ordered on a supply only basis for
installation by the builder’s own team. Once in
place and grouted, the floor achieves its full
structural capability with 72 hours but building
activity can commence on perimeter walls within
24 hours.
Practicality
The speed of construction saves around a week
off the total schedule when compared to the
typical poured concrete floor alternative. A
further advantage is that the factory made
Spantherm floor come to site as single units
combining the precast concrete and insulation
material, so there is no requirement to stock or
handle loose insulation. This feature also means
that the installation of Spantherm is not weather
dependant and creates zero waste onsite.
Each Spantherm floor is manufactured to the
house plans provided, taking account of the
required loadings and the positioning of services
which penetrate the slab. Creagh’s technical
team however, are on hand to measure the
builder’s sub-floor works prior to manufacture, so
any site issues are eliminated.
The Creagh flooring team work closely with each
site manager to ensure the floors are available to
call off when required and this level of
cooperation greatly simplifies the process for
the builder.
Performance
Everyone can understand the advantages of
faster completion however Spantherm brings a
second major benefit in the form of its excellent
thermal performance and the impact that brings
within the most recent building regulations.
Getting off to a good start with an energy
efficient floor system is essential to a strong
fabric first solution.
Designing and building energy efficient homes
to meet current regulations can be a complex
process but installing a high performance
insulated ground floor is always a good start.
Thermal modelling of the
Spantherm/wall junction
(parallel to external wall)
Reducing heat loss
The design of Spantherm insulated concrete
floor is optimised to provide the maximum
practical insulating effect by combining high
performance EPS and structural precast
concrete in a single factory built unit. This
provides a thermally efficient system which rates
favourably against building regulation
requirements and provides U values which are
superior to that achieved by many alternative
flooring products.
Combatting thermal bridging
Spantherm’s reinforced concrete structure has
been designed in a way to minimise the thermal
bridge at all the junctions between the wall and
the floor units. It is this excellent thermal
efficiency which gives the builder that good start
to their total SAP calculation which can reduce
the reliance on the use of expensive renewable
technologies.
Please cantact Creagh Concrete on
01636 831043 or email
hoveringham@creaghconcrete.com
www.creaghconcrete.co.uk
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40 Feb 2019 M11