June 2020

“I believe there needs to be more of
this high quality, community model
approach if we are to break the
mould of today’s cheap, quick-tobuild,
volume homes”
Properly insulated
Unless a building is properly insulated it will never meet the energy
performance standards necessary for the UK’s net zero carbon targets. Other
aspects of the design and materials of a building also play a part in its overall
performance and this must be recognised by the government in its latest
initiative: Future Homes Standard, which will apply to all new homes from
2025.
Quality affects us all – whether we are a roofing contractor, a dryliner, a
bricklayer or an electrician – we all have a role to play in delivering homes
that are of a consistently high quality. A quality-driven culture must in part be
driven by the client/housebuilder/developer and fully supported by the trades.
Lessons from the past
As the pressure to address the UK’s housing crisis grows ever stronger,
perhaps we can learn from the volume housebuilders of the Victorian era?
They managed to build houses speculatively, and for profit, but at the same
time these houses were built using high quality and durable materials. They
also had a sense of style which is sorely absent in today’s new homes. We
have the tools to make developers build densely and to a high standard, but
in our rush to build more homes, surely they can be built to last, and to stand
the test of time?
Housebuilders could perhaps take a leaf out of the book from the housing
schemes from the Peabody Trust. Beautifully built and offering different
solutions in different areas of the country, these schemes provide much
needed affordable homes whilst at the same time creating strong
communities. I believe there needs to be more of this high quality, community
model approach if we are to break the mould of today’s cheap, quick-to-build,
volume homes. Hopefully, the NHQB will address this.
In our rush to build more homes, developers need to create and deliver homes
that live up to expectations and not compromise quality and performance. We
should be building homes that solve today’s challenges and leave us with a
legacy that we are proud of, rather than building poor quality homes that
leave us with housing stock that isn’t fit for purpose.
(QUITE INTERESTING)
INSULATION FA
ACTS
By QI (Quantum Insulation Ltd)
‘Crucial consider ation in calculating U-values in
Inverted roofs’.
Over the years many new XPS and EPS manufacturers have joined the
Consistency in the calculation of U-values in inverted roofs is perhaps
parts of the country and this information must also be included in the
calculation to ensure that the insulation system performs to the required
calculation that they can trust and which should deliver the required
Next month’s QI by QI – ‘Threshold heights’.
Contact the IMA
0161 672 7387
www.insulationmanufacturers.org.uk
@IMA_Org
JUNE 2020 TC 47