What is Good Practice Construction?

Key Issues Issue 1: Issue 2: Issue 3: Issue 4: Issue 5: CLADDING AND INFILL CHOICES
Thermal Performance Thermal Bridging Thermal Bypass Airtightness Sequencing
Good practice in building can only be achieved through the collaboration of many parties
throughout the processes of design, construction, assessment and commissioning. These guides Houses built today have Each ‘element’ of the building Thermal bridges or cold bridges Thermal bypass is the Airtightness means preventing Out-of-sequence work can
explain some of the improvements in building techniques and processes that will be necessary for high levels of insulation, envelope – a wall, a roof, a are weak points in the building movement of unheated air air leaking through gaps and prevent other work stages Insulated render systems on solid infill:
the delivery of low and zero carbon housing. double glazed windows and floor, a window or a door – has envelope where heat loss is within cavity party walls or cracks in the external envelope from being completed properly,
often highly efficient heating a role to play in minimising worse than through the main through spaces such as and is defined by the rate at or damage work that has • Minimal cold bridging from mechanical fixings.
The guide will help designers and builders who are familiar with the new Fabric Energy Efficiency
Standard and now want to work up well-insulated and airtight solutions and in-situ concrete framing. systems. However, new heat loss. The insulating effect building elements. In a well under-floor voids and lofts, which air escapes when the already been done, with • No significant cold bridges.
It is concerned with using pre-cast building fabric only and does not deal with energy supply, houses are not often tested to of each of these elements is insulated building thermal resulting in heat loss. building is pressure tested. Air serious consequences for
heating or mechanical ventilation. see whether they are as energy measured by its U-value; the bridges can account for up to leakage results in the loss of the airtightness and thermal • Easier to achieve airtightness with solid
efficient as predicted. lower the U-value, the better its 50% of all heat loss. heated air from inside the performance of the building masonry infill, though tolerances and deflection
This is one of a series of guides, produced with the assistance of industry sponsors. Each guide
thermal performance. building and can significantly envelope. must be considered.
covers a different construction system and includes an explanation of the key issues, checklists for Research* has indicated that There are two main types: increase fuel use.
designers and contractors, together with a case study. some new homes do not The insulating effect of a Before: • External skin can be more prone to damage in
always meet the required Non-repeating thermal bridges
CONCRETE FRAME building’s external envelope Good practice construction some situations.
standard in practice. So what include items such as cills, lintels
Concrete frame construction in house-building is typically specified for large blocks of flats, where is normally the most important requires air permeability rates to
can be done to close this and jambs, which typically span • Limited range of finishing options compared to
the number of storeys exceeds the limits of load-bearing masonry. The majority of new apartment aspect of its thermal be much lower than the
performance gap? between the inner and outer supported cladding or masonry.
buildings in the UK are medium rise developments and this booklet, therefore, focuses on medium performance, since more heat is maximum level set by Building
skins of a wall.
rise construction (4-10 storeys). The answer lies partly in lost through the fabric than in any Regulations. A common strategy
better detailing and good other way. Geometrical thermal bridges to improve airtightness is to
Concrete frame is an extremely versatile method of building, as the frame itself can be dimensioned
quality workmanship, occur at junctions between clearly identify the airtightness After: Rainscreen systems with framed infill:
to exactly suit the specific requirements of the building layout and site geometry. Furthermore, When U-values are calculated,
but above all it requires building elements, such as barrier, which is the component
there are a wide range of options for infilling the frame and cladding the exterior. However, some of the thicknesses and insulating
everyone involved in the between the walls and roof, within each part of the building • Wide variety of finishes including metal,
them are less well suited to achieving good practice levels of insulation and airtightness. properties for each of the different
project to be sufficiently and at changes of geometry, for The thermal bypass occurs envelope that provides an airtight terracotta and fibre cement.
The best thermal performance with concrete frame construction will generally be achieved by layers of material that make up when the airtightness barrier
aware of the issues to example a corner in a wall or a seal. Particular care is needed
having the insulation on the outside of the structure, not in an intermediate zone. Systems that the building element are taken does not follow the insulation. • Avoids ‘wet’ trades.
enable them to do their job hip in a roof. where one part of the airtightness
require large numbers of structural fixings to bridge the insulation layer do not represent good into account, including fixings
well. barrier meets another. • Support brackets for cladding should be
practice. Similarly, framed infill panels within the concrete frame can have lower thermal such as wall ties. The diagram above shows a
carefully designed - these may create thermal
thermal bypass effect at eaves It is essential to ensure healthy A services installation through
performance and may be more difficult to make airtight when compared to externally insulated The key issues affecting good The phrase ‘thermal mass’ has a wall resulting in a difficult-to- bridges.
build-ups. Construction tolerances and frame deflections need to be carefully considered. level where cold air is able to living conditions for the
practice construction are: become increasingly common in seal air leakage path.
permeate the insulation and carry occupants through adequate • It can be difficult to achieve airtight seal around
As an example of good practice, the diagrams in this booklet are based on solid block infill, a good the context of best practice infill panels, especially with prefabricated
Thermal Performance away heat from the void between ventilation, but air leakage should
way of providing airtightness, and an external insulated render system. The diagrams also address construction. It refers to the Out-of-sequence services panels.
the insulation and the airtightness not be relied on to provide this, as
heat loss and thermal bridging issues for common areas, lift shafts and service risers. ability of materials to absorb and installation is a major cause of air
Thermal Bridging barrier. it was in the past. Instead, • Services zone required to avoid damaging line
store heat. Heavy materials such Thermal bridging through a leakage from buildings. Holes
FABRIC ENERGY EFFICIENCY STANDARD standard steel lintel. controlled ventilation either by of airtightness.
Thermal Bypass as concrete, brick and stone have Until recently thermal bypass was and fixings for services can
Fabric energy efficiency is the foundation of the natural or mechanical means
high thermal mass, which can not widely recognised and so puncture airtightness barriers
Government’s zero carbon homes policy. It will ensure To conserve energy and to should be provided in
Airtightness help to stabilise internal room there is currently no method and can often be too awkwardly
that all new homes are sufficiently well insulated and prevent cold spots where accordance with the Building Supported masonry systems:
temperatures by absorbing available to estimate its effect. located to seal up afterwards.
constructed to meet ambitious energy saving targets. It Sequencing condensation and mould can Regulations.
excess heat from the air and
will discourage the tendency to use low and zero carbon form, thermal bridges need to be However, there are Properly planned projects • Use traditional trades and skills.
* ‘Lessons from Stamford Brook - releasing it slowly when
technologies as an alternative to energy efficiency Understanding the Gap between
minimised. It is not possible to straightforward design measures include testing and inspections at
conditions are cooler. avoid all thermal bridging, but the
measures, by requiring energy demand to be reduced Designed and Real Performance’ by that will help to limit or even key stages so that any remedial • Masonry support angles can create
Leeds Metropolitan University and effect can be minimised with
first. UCL, 2007.
eliminate thermal bypass heat measures can be carried out in a significant cold bridging.
careful detailing. It is more loss. Ensuring that cavity walls timely and cost-effective manner.
The diagram on the right illustrates the hierarchy of measures, which together form the approach to difficult to avoid thermal bridging
KEY are sealed top and bottom is Early coordination between the • Difficult to fit insulation around support
zero carbon. ‘Carbon Compliance’ (a reduction in carbon emissions from 2006 levels) will be caused by poor workmanship, for
Insulation essential. In other situations designers and the construction brackets.
achieved by building homes to the Fabric Energy Efficiency Standard supplemented by on-site low example mortar snots in the
Airtightness zone such as roofs it is particularly team can help by agreeing
and zero carbon energy sources. Full zero carbon will be achieved through the provision of cavity or missing insulation. Even important to ensure that any suitable locations for services • Wall ties and wind-posts must be accounted
‘Allowable Solutions’, which include options for off-site renewable energy generation. The Fabric if thermal imaging cameras are
Air flow airtightness barrier follows the and developing strategies for for in U-value and bridging calculations.
Energy Efficiency Standard is a performance standard that can be achieved by a variety of used to detect the problem, it will
Heat loss through a wall. line of the insulation to avoid Air leakage can occur around effective making-good of any
approaches. However, the guide gives an indication of the likely minimum U-value of each Thermal bridge Increased levels of insulation often be too late to avoid badly fitting components such
creating unheated spaces necessary openings.
component of the building. will reduce the rate of loss.
expensive remedial works. as window frames.
Heat transfer between the two.
the airtightness line. could occur. blocks themselves are good insulators. simplify the façade design.
the wind-posts so that they do not interrupt and concrete floors where air leakage thin-bed blockwork with plastic fixings. The minimise thermal bridging. It also helps to
Special hollow blocks are used to encase Tapes seal the joint between the blockwork Wood fibre insulation is fixed directly to the An insulated render external skin can help
www.rparchitects.co.uk
Richards Partington Architects
Copyright © Richards Partington Architects 2010.
BUILDING LOW CARBON HOMES
© Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios

© Crest Nicholson BioRegional Quintain LLP

© Crest Nicholson BioRegional Quintain LLP
© Crest Nicholson BioRegional Quintain LLP

www.concretecentre.com
in association with:
www.rparchitects.co.uk
Richards Partington Architects
written by:
www.zerocarbonhub.org
commissioned by:
as important as the design itself. metal stud walling.
contractual and on-site arrangements right is the infill, service penetrations and internal of heat recovery. renewable energy generated offsite
The project suggests that getting the used to seal joints between the frame and through air permeability and make best use Power: Photovoltaics and bulk purchased
details often result in thermal bridging. require additional membranes. Tapes were • Airtight construction to minimise heat loss Recovery (MVHR)
thermal performance because complex provide a robust air barrier and do not Ventilation: Mechanical Ventilation with Heat
elevations simple has also helped to improve • Airtightness: In-situ concrete floors temperatures within the properties. Heating: Communal biomass boiler
airtightness. Keeping the design of the was required to help maintain stable Airtightness: 5 m3/(h.m2)
Thermal bridging: y-value = 0.04 W/mK
reduce thermal bridging and achieve good become a route for thermal bypass. • A structure with high thermal mass
use of external wall insulation helped to potential for vertical risers and lifts shafts to Doors: U-value: 1.00 W/m2K
with a concrete frame construction. The strategy designers should be aware of the selected to minimise thermal bridging. Rooflights: U-value: 1.80 W/m2K
approach to achieving the best performance spaces, which are unheated. With this • An external wall insulation system was Structural glazing: U-value: 1.80 W/m2K
One Brighton illustrates a very effective between the apartments and the common Curtain walling: U-value: 1.60 W/m2K
Summary • Thermal bypass: There is insulation of natural, breathable building products. Windows: U-value: 0.80 W/m2K
Floor: U-value: 0.19 W/m2K
• The external wall build-up was to be made
Good Homes Alliance. reduce thermal bridging. Roof: U-value: 0.19 W/m2K
test results are due to be published by the size of the thin-bed blockwork also helps to 2006 Building Regulations. External wall: U-value: 0.21 W/m2K
any problem areas in the construction. These the insulation layer. The reduction in joint average U-value that would exceed the Specification:
to determine actual heat losses and pinpoint bridges, as it avoids major fixings through • The building envelope was to achieve an
imaging were carried out upon completion system minimises repeating thermal Key Design Criteria Building Technologies (NBT).
and corrected. Heat loss testing and thermal • Thermal bridging: The insulated render Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, Natural
leakage problems which were detected early commonplace. Research: BioRegional Quintain LLP,
the target of 5. This was despite initial air- to achieve the target U-value. construction techniques considered are more partnership with Crest Nicholson.
permeability rate of 4, an improvement on insulation only needed to be 100 mm thick study trip to Germany where some of the Developer: BioRegional Quintain LLP in
Air pressure tests indicated an average air clay blocks are insulating, so the external building envelope. This included taking a First Phase completed in 2009.
Testing & Monitoring help regulate internal temperatures. The suitable materials for an energy efficient Living’.
concrete soffits provide thermal mass to team worked closely with NBT to select BioRegional’s ten principles of ‘One Planet
specialist site supervision. mortar. The frame, blockwork and exposed with renewable technologies. The design energy environment that is built to support
contractor also appointed NBT to provide with extruded clay blocks using thin-bed energy efficient and delivering all energy space. The project aims to provide a low-

FRAME
included within the building contract. The situ concrete floors. The frame is infilled Carbon. This means making buildings more community space and 1206 m2 commercial
contractor, performance criteria were a concrete frame with post-tensioned in- to design the project to achieve Zero providing 172 apartments, 972 m2
standards were actually delivered by the • Thermal performance: The building uses A primary objective of the developer was One Brighton is a mixed-use development
• Sequencing To ensure the design Design & Construction Ambition & Research Project Information

CONCRETE
Guide 2: CASE STUDY: One Brighton, Brighton
What is Good Practice Construction? Key Issues Issue 1: Issue 2: Issue 3: Issue 4: Issue 5: CLADDING AND INFILL CHOICES
Thermal Performance Thermal Bridging Thermal Bypass Airtightness Sequencing
Good practice in building can only be achieved through the collaboration of many parties
throughout the processes of design, construction, assessment and commissioning. These guides Houses built today have Each ‘element’ of the building Thermal bridges or cold bridges Thermal bypass is the Airtightness means preventing Out-of-sequence work can
explain some of the improvements in building techniques and processes that will be necessary for high levels of insulation, envelope – a wall, a roof, a are weak points in the building movement of unheated air air leaking through gaps and prevent other work stages Insulated render systems on solid infill:
the delivery of low and zero carbon housing. double glazed windows and floor, a window or a door – has envelope where heat loss is within cavity party walls or cracks in the external envelope from being completed properly,
often highly efficient heating a role to play in minimising worse than through the main through spaces such as and is defined by the rate at or damage work that has • Minimal cold bridging from mechanical fixings.
The guide will help designers and builders who are familiar with the new Fabric Energy Efficiency
Standard and now want to work up well-insulated and airtight solutions and in-situ concrete framing. systems. However, new heat loss. The insulating effect building elements. In a well under-floor voids and lofts, which air escapes when the already been done, with • No significant cold bridges.
It is concerned with using pre-cast building fabric only and does not deal with energy supply, houses are not often tested to of each of these elements is insulated building thermal resulting in heat loss. building is pressure tested. Air serious consequences for
heating or mechanical ventilation. see whether they are as energy measured by its U-value; the bridges can account for up to leakage results in the loss of the airtightness and thermal • Easier to achieve airtightness with solid
efficient as predicted. lower the U-value, the better its 50% of all heat loss. heated air from inside the performance of the building masonry infill, though tolerances and deflection
This is one of a series of guides, produced with the assistance of industry sponsors. Each guide
thermal performance. building and can significantly envelope. must be considered.
covers a different construction system and includes an explanation of the key issues, checklists for Research* has indicated that There are two main types: increase fuel use.
designers and contractors, together with a case study. some new homes do not The insulating effect of a Before: • External skin can be more prone to damage in
always meet the required Non-repeating thermal bridges
CONCRETE FRAME building’s external envelope Good practice construction some situations.
standard in practice. So what include items such as cills, lintels
Concrete frame construction in house-building is typically specified for large blocks of flats, where is normally the most important requires air permeability rates to
can be done to close this and jambs, which typically span • Limited range of finishing options compared to
the number of storeys exceeds the limits of load-bearing masonry. The majority of new apartment aspect of its thermal be much lower than the
performance gap? between the inner and outer supported cladding or masonry.
buildings in the UK are medium rise developments and this booklet, therefore, focuses on medium performance, since more heat is maximum level set by Building
skins of a wall.
rise construction (4-10 storeys). The answer lies partly in lost through the fabric than in any Regulations. A common strategy
better detailing and good other way. Geometrical thermal bridges to improve airtightness is to
Concrete frame is an extremely versatile method of building, as the frame itself can be dimensioned
quality workmanship, occur at junctions between clearly identify the airtightness After: Rainscreen systems with framed infill:
to exactly suit the specific requirements of the building layout and site geometry. Furthermore, When U-values are calculated,
but above all it requires building elements, such as barrier, which is the component
there are a wide range of options for infilling the frame and cladding the exterior. However, some of the thicknesses and insulating
everyone involved in the between the walls and roof, within each part of the building • Wide variety of finishes including metal,
them are less well suited to achieving good practice levels of insulation and airtightness. properties for each of the different
project to be sufficiently and at changes of geometry, for The thermal bypass occurs envelope that provides an airtight terracotta and fibre cement.
The best thermal performance with concrete frame construction will generally be achieved by layers of material that make up when the airtightness barrier
aware of the issues to example a corner in a wall or a seal. Particular care is needed
having the insulation on the outside of the structure, not in an intermediate zone. Systems that the building element are taken does not follow the insulation. • Avoids ‘wet’ trades.
enable them to do their job hip in a roof. where one part of the airtightness
require large numbers of structural fixings to bridge the insulation layer do not represent good into account, including fixings
well. barrier meets another. • Support brackets for cladding should be
practice. Similarly, framed infill panels within the concrete frame can have lower thermal such as wall ties. The diagram above shows a
carefully designed - these may create thermal
performance and may be more difficult to make airtight when compared to externally insulated thermal bypass effect at eaves It is essential to ensure healthy A services installation through
The key issues affecting good The phrase ‘thermal mass’ has a wall resulting in a difficult-to- bridges.
build-ups. Construction tolerances and frame deflections need to be carefully considered. level where cold air is able to living conditions for the
practice construction are: become increasingly common in seal air leakage path.
• It can be difficult to achieve airtight seal around
permeate the insulation and carry occupants through adequate
As an example of good practice, the diagrams in this booklet are based on solid block infill, a good the context of best practice infill panels, especially with prefabricated
Thermal Performance away heat from the void between ventilation, but air leakage should
way of providing airtightness, and an external insulated render system. The diagrams also address construction. It refers to the Out-of-sequence services panels.
not be relied on to provide this, as
the insulation and the airtightness
heat loss and thermal bridging issues for common areas, lift shafts and service risers. ability of materials to absorb and installation is a major cause of air
Thermal Bridging barrier. it was in the past. Instead, • Services zone required to avoid damaging line
store heat. Heavy materials such Thermal bridging through a leakage from buildings. Holes
FABRIC ENERGY EFFICIENCY STANDARD standard steel lintel. controlled ventilation either by of airtightness.
Thermal Bypass as concrete, brick and stone have Until recently thermal bypass was and fixings for services can
Fabric energy efficiency is the foundation of the natural or mechanical means
high thermal mass, which can not widely recognised and so puncture airtightness barriers
Government’s zero carbon homes policy. It will ensure To conserve energy and to should be provided in
Airtightness help to stabilise internal room there is currently no method and can often be too awkwardly
that all new homes are sufficiently well insulated and prevent cold spots where accordance with the Building Supported masonry systems:
temperatures by absorbing available to estimate its effect. located to seal up afterwards.
constructed to meet ambitious energy saving targets. It Sequencing condensation and mould can Regulations.
excess heat from the air and
will discourage the tendency to use low and zero carbon form, thermal bridges need to be However, there are Properly planned projects • Use traditional trades and skills.
releasing it slowly when
technologies as an alternative to energy efficiency
* ‘Lessons from Stamford Brook - minimised. It is not possible to straightforward design measures include testing and inspections at
Understanding the Gap between conditions are cooler. avoid all thermal bridging, but the • Masonry support angles can create
measures, by requiring energy demand to be reduced Designed and Real Performance’ by that will help to limit or even key stages so that any remedial
first.
Leeds Metropolitan University and
UCL, 2007.
effect can be minimised with eliminate thermal bypass heat measures can be carried out in a significant cold bridging.
careful detailing. It is more loss. Ensuring that cavity walls timely and cost-effective manner.
The diagram on the right illustrates the hierarchy of measures, which together form the approach to
KEY difficult to avoid thermal bridging are sealed top and bottom is Early coordination between the • Difficult to fit insulation around support
zero carbon. ‘Carbon Compliance’ (a reduction in carbon emissions from 2006 levels) will be caused by poor workmanship, for
Insulation essential. In other situations designers and the construction brackets.
achieved by building homes to the Fabric Energy Efficiency Standard supplemented by on-site low example mortar snots in the
Airtightness zone such as roofs it is particularly team can help by agreeing
and zero carbon energy sources. Full zero carbon will be achieved through the provision of cavity or missing insulation. Even important to ensure that any suitable locations for services • Wall ties and wind-posts must be accounted
‘Allowable Solutions’, which include options for off-site renewable energy generation. The Fabric if thermal imaging cameras are
Air flow airtightness barrier follows the and developing strategies for for in U-value and bridging calculations.
Energy Efficiency Standard is a performance standard that can be achieved by a variety of used to detect the problem, it will
Heat loss through a wall. line of the insulation to avoid Air leakage can occur around effective making-good of any
approaches. However, the guide gives an indication of the likely minimum U-value of each Thermal bridge Increased levels of insulation often be too late to avoid badly fitting components such
creating unheated spaces necessary openings.
component of the building. will reduce the rate of loss.
expensive remedial works. as window frames.
Heat transfer between the two.

the airtightness line. could occur. blocks themselves are good insulators. simplify the façade design.
the wind-posts so that they do not interrupt and concrete floors where air leakage thin-bed blockwork with plastic fixings. The minimise thermal bridging. It also helps to
Special hollow blocks are used to encase Tapes seal the joint between the blockwork Wood fibre insulation is fixed directly to the An insulated render external skin can help

© Crest Nicholson BioRegional Quintain LLP

© Crest Nicholson BioRegional Quintain LLP

© Crest Nicholson BioRegional Quintain LLP

© Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios

www.rparchitects.co.uk
Richards Partington Architects
BUILDING LOW CARBON HOMES Copyright © Richards Partington Architects 2010.

www.concretecentre.com

as important as the design itself. metal stud walling.

contractual and on-site arrangements right is the infill, service penetrations and internal of heat recovery. renewable energy generated offsite
The project suggests that getting the used to seal joints between the frame and through air permeability and make best use Power: Photovoltaics and bulk purchased
details often result in thermal bridging. require additional membranes. Tapes were • Airtight construction to minimise heat loss Recovery (MVHR)
thermal performance because complex provide a robust air barrier and do not Ventilation: Mechanical Ventilation with Heat
elevations simple has also helped to improve • Airtightness: In-situ concrete floors temperatures within the properties. Heating: Communal biomass boiler
airtightness. Keeping the design of the was required to help maintain stable Airtightness: 5 m3/(h.m2)
in association with: Thermal bridging: y-value = 0.04 W/mK
reduce thermal bridging and achieve good become a route for thermal bypass. • A structure with high thermal mass
www.rparchitects.co.uk use of external wall insulation helped to potential for vertical risers and lifts shafts to Doors: U-value: 1.00 W/m2K
with a concrete frame construction. The strategy designers should be aware of the selected to minimise thermal bridging. Rooflights: U-value: 1.80 W/m2K
Richards Partington Architects
approach to achieving the best performance spaces, which are unheated. With this • An external wall insulation system was Structural glazing: U-value: 1.80 W/m2K
written by: One Brighton illustrates a very effective between the apartments and the common Curtain walling: U-value: 1.60 W/m2K
Summary • Thermal bypass: There is insulation of natural, breathable building products. Windows: U-value: 0.80 W/m2K
www.zerocarbonhub.org Floor: U-value: 0.19 W/m2K
• The external wall build-up was to be made
Good Homes Alliance. reduce thermal bridging. Roof: U-value: 0.19 W/m2K
test results are due to be published by the size of the thin-bed blockwork also helps to 2006 Building Regulations. External wall: U-value: 0.21 W/m2K
any problem areas in the construction. These the insulation layer. The reduction in joint average U-value that would exceed the Specification:
to determine actual heat losses and pinpoint bridges, as it avoids major fixings through • The building envelope was to achieve an
imaging were carried out upon completion system minimises repeating thermal Key Design Criteria Building Technologies (NBT).
and corrected. Heat loss testing and thermal • Thermal bridging: The insulated render Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, Natural
leakage problems which were detected early commonplace. Research: BioRegional Quintain LLP,
commissioned by:
the target of 5. This was despite initial air- to achieve the target U-value. construction techniques considered are more partnership with Crest Nicholson.
permeability rate of 4, an improvement on insulation only needed to be 100 mm thick study trip to Germany where some of the Developer: BioRegional Quintain LLP in
Air pressure tests indicated an average air clay blocks are insulating, so the external building envelope. This included taking a First Phase completed in 2009.
FRAME Testing & Monitoring help regulate internal temperatures. The
concrete soffits provide thermal mass to
mortar. The frame, blockwork and exposed
suitable materials for an energy efficient
team worked closely with NBT to select
with renewable technologies. The design
Living’.
BioRegional’s ten principles of ‘One Planet
energy environment that is built to support
specialist site supervision.
contractor also appointed NBT to provide with extruded clay blocks using thin-bed energy efficient and delivering all energy space. The project aims to provide a low-
CONCRETE included within the building contract. The
contractor, performance criteria were
situ concrete floors. The frame is infilled
a concrete frame with post-tensioned in-
• Thermal performance: The building uses
Carbon. This means making buildings more
to design the project to achieve Zero
A primary objective of the developer was
community space and 1206 m2 commercial
providing 172 apartments, 972 m2
One Brighton is a mixed-use development
standards were actually delivered by the
• Sequencing To ensure the design Design & Construction Ambition & Research Project Information
Guide 2: CASE STUDY: One Brighton, Brighton
What is Good Practice Construction? Key Issues Issue 1: Issue 2: Issue 3: Issue 4: Issue 5: CLADDING AND INFILL CHOICES
Thermal Performance Thermal Bridging Thermal Bypass Airtightness Sequencing
Good practice in building can only be achieved through the collaboration of many parties
throughout the processes of design, construction, assessment and commissioning. These guides Houses built today have Each ‘element’ of the building Thermal bridges or cold bridges Thermal bypass is the Airtightness means preventing Out-of-sequence work can
explain some of the improvements in building techniques and processes that will be necessary for high levels of insulation, envelope – a wall, a roof, a are weak points in the building movement of unheated air air leaking through gaps and prevent other work stages Insulated render systems on solid infill:
the delivery of low and zero carbon housing. double glazed windows and floor, a window or a door – has envelope where heat loss is within cavity party walls or cracks in the external envelope from being completed properly,
often highly efficient heating a role to play in minimising worse than through the main through spaces such as and is defined by the rate at or damage work that has • Minimal cold bridging from mechanical fixings.
The guide will help designers and builders who are familiar with the new Fabric Energy Efficiency
Standard and now want to work up well-insulated and airtight solutions and in-situ concrete framing. systems. However, new heat loss. The insulating effect building elements. In a well under-floor voids and lofts, which air escapes when the already been done, with • No significant cold bridges.
It is concerned with using pre-cast building fabric only and does not deal with energy supply, houses are not often tested to of each of these elements is insulated building thermal resulting in heat loss. building is pressure tested. Air serious consequences for
heating or mechanical ventilation. see whether they are as energy measured by its U-value; the bridges can account for up to leakage results in the loss of the airtightness and thermal • Easier to achieve airtightness with solid
efficient as predicted. lower the U-value, the better its 50% of all heat loss. heated air from inside the performance of the building masonry infill, though tolerances and deflection
This is one of a series of guides, produced with the assistance of industry sponsors. Each guide
thermal performance. building and can significantly envelope. must be considered.
covers a different construction system and includes an explanation of the key issues, checklists for Research* has indicated that There are two main types: increase fuel use.
designers and contractors, together with a case study. some new homes do not The insulating effect of a Before: • External skin can be more prone to damage in
always meet the required Non-repeating thermal bridges
CONCRETE FRAME building’s external envelope Good practice construction some situations.
standard in practice. So what include items such as cills, lintels
Concrete frame construction in house-building is typically specified for large blocks of flats, where is normally the most important requires air permeability rates to
can be done to close this and jambs, which typically span • Limited range of finishing options compared to
the number of storeys exceeds the limits of load-bearing masonry. The majority of new apartment aspect of its thermal be much lower than the
performance gap? between the inner and outer supported cladding or masonry.
buildings in the UK are medium rise developments and this booklet, therefore, focuses on medium performance, since more heat is maximum level set by Building
skins of a wall.
rise construction (4-10 storeys). The answer lies partly in lost through the fabric than in any Regulations. A common strategy
better detailing and good other way. Geometrical thermal bridges to improve airtightness is to
Concrete frame is an extremely versatile method of building, as the frame itself can be dimensioned
quality workmanship, occur at junctions between clearly identify the airtightness After: Rainscreen systems with framed infill:
to exactly suit the specific requirements of the building layout and site geometry. Furthermore, When U-values are calculated,
but above all it requires building elements, such as barrier, which is the component
there are a wide range of options for infilling the frame and cladding the exterior. However, some of the thicknesses and insulating
everyone involved in the between the walls and roof, within each part of the building • Wide variety of finishes including metal,
them are less well suited to achieving good practice levels of insulation and airtightness. properties for each of the different
project to be sufficiently and at changes of geometry, for The thermal bypass occurs envelope that provides an airtight terracotta and fibre cement.
The best thermal performance with concrete frame construction will generally be achieved by layers of material that make up when the airtightness barrier
aware of the issues to example a corner in a wall or a seal. Particular care is needed
having the insulation on the outside of the structure, not in an intermediate zone. Systems that the building element are taken does not follow the insulation. • Avoids ‘wet’ trades.
enable them to do their job hip in a roof. where one part of the airtightness
require large numbers of structural fixings to bridge the insulation layer do not represent good into account, including fixings
well. barrier meets another. • Support brackets for cladding should be
practice. Similarly, framed infill panels within the concrete frame can have lower thermal such as wall ties. The diagram above shows a
carefully designed - these may create thermal
performance and may be more difficult to make airtight when compared to externally insulated thermal bypass effect at eaves It is essential to ensure healthy A services installation through
The key issues affecting good The phrase ‘thermal mass’ has a wall resulting in a difficult-to- bridges.
build-ups. Construction tolerances and frame deflections need to be carefully considered. level where cold air is able to living conditions for the
practice construction are: become increasingly common in seal air leakage path.
• It can be difficult to achieve airtight seal around
permeate the insulation and carry occupants through adequate
As an example of good practice, the diagrams in this booklet are based on solid block infill, a good the context of best practice infill panels, especially with prefabricated
Thermal Performance away heat from the void between ventilation, but air leakage should
way of providing airtightness, and an external insulated render system. The diagrams also address construction. It refers to the Out-of-sequence services panels.
not be relied on to provide this, as
the insulation and the airtightness
heat loss and thermal bridging issues for common areas, lift shafts and service risers. ability of materials to absorb and installation is a major cause of air
Thermal Bridging barrier. it was in the past. Instead, • Services zone required to avoid damaging line
store heat. Heavy materials such Thermal bridging through a leakage from buildings. Holes
FABRIC ENERGY EFFICIENCY STANDARD standard steel lintel. controlled ventilation either by of airtightness.
Thermal Bypass as concrete, brick and stone have Until recently thermal bypass was and fixings for services can
Fabric energy efficiency is the foundation of the natural or mechanical means
high thermal mass, which can not widely recognised and so puncture airtightness barriers
Government’s zero carbon homes policy. It will ensure To conserve energy and to should be provided in
Airtightness help to stabilise internal room there is currently no method and can often be too awkwardly
that all new homes are sufficiently well insulated and prevent cold spots where accordance with the Building Supported masonry systems:
temperatures by absorbing available to estimate its effect. located to seal up afterwards.
constructed to meet ambitious energy saving targets. It Sequencing condensation and mould can Regulations.
excess heat from the air and
will discourage the tendency to use low and zero carbon form, thermal bridges need to be However, there are Properly planned projects • Use traditional trades and skills.
releasing it slowly when
technologies as an alternative to energy efficiency
* ‘Lessons from Stamford Brook - minimised. It is not possible to straightforward design measures include testing and inspections at
Understanding the Gap between conditions are cooler. avoid all thermal bridging, but the • Masonry support angles can create
measures, by requiring energy demand to be reduced Designed and Real Performance’ by that will help to limit or even key stages so that any remedial
first.
Leeds Metropolitan University and
UCL, 2007.
effect can be minimised with eliminate thermal bypass heat measures can be carried out in a significant cold bridging.
careful detailing. It is more loss. Ensuring that cavity walls timely and cost-effective manner.
The diagram on the right illustrates the hierarchy of measures, which together form the approach to
KEY difficult to avoid thermal bridging are sealed top and bottom is Early coordination between the • Difficult to fit insulation around support
zero carbon. ‘Carbon Compliance’ (a reduction in carbon emissions from 2006 levels) will be caused by poor workmanship, for
Insulation essential. In other situations designers and the construction brackets.
achieved by building homes to the Fabric Energy Efficiency Standard supplemented by on-site low example mortar snots in the
Airtightness zone such as roofs it is particularly team can help by agreeing
and zero carbon energy sources. Full zero carbon will be achieved through the provision of cavity or missing insulation. Even important to ensure that any suitable locations for services • Wall ties and wind-posts must be accounted
‘Allowable Solutions’, which include options for off-site renewable energy generation. The Fabric if thermal imaging cameras are
Air flow airtightness barrier follows the and developing strategies for for in U-value and bridging calculations.
Energy Efficiency Standard is a performance standard that can be achieved by a variety of used to detect the problem, it will
Heat loss through a wall. line of the insulation to avoid Air leakage can occur around effective making-good of any
approaches. However, the guide gives an indication of the likely minimum U-value of each Thermal bridge Increased levels of insulation often be too late to avoid badly fitting components such
creating unheated spaces necessary openings.
component of the building. will reduce the rate of loss.
expensive remedial works. as window frames.
Heat transfer between the two.

the airtightness line. could occur. blocks themselves are good insulators. simplify the façade design.
the wind-posts so that they do not interrupt and concrete floors where air leakage thin-bed blockwork with plastic fixings. The minimise thermal bridging. It also helps to
Special hollow blocks are used to encase Tapes seal the joint between the blockwork Wood fibre insulation is fixed directly to the An insulated render external skin can help

© Crest Nicholson BioRegional Quintain LLP

© Crest Nicholson BioRegional Quintain LLP

© Crest Nicholson BioRegional Quintain LLP

© Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios

www.rparchitects.co.uk
Richards Partington Architects
BUILDING LOW CARBON HOMES Copyright © Richards Partington Architects 2010.

www.concretecentre.com

as important as the design itself. metal stud walling.

contractual and on-site arrangements right is the infill, service penetrations and internal of heat recovery. renewable energy generated offsite
The project suggests that getting the used to seal joints between the frame and through air permeability and make best use Power: Photovoltaics and bulk purchased
details often result in thermal bridging. require additional membranes. Tapes were • Airtight construction to minimise heat loss Recovery (MVHR)
thermal performance because complex provide a robust air barrier and do not Ventilation: Mechanical Ventilation with Heat
elevations simple has also helped to improve • Airtightness: In-situ concrete floors temperatures within the properties. Heating: Communal biomass boiler
airtightness. Keeping the design of the was required to help maintain stable Airtightness: 5 m3/(h.m2)
in association with: Thermal bridging: y-value = 0.04 W/mK
reduce thermal bridging and achieve good become a route for thermal bypass. • A structure with high thermal mass
www.rparchitects.co.uk use of external wall insulation helped to potential for vertical risers and lifts shafts to Doors: U-value: 1.00 W/m2K
with a concrete frame construction. The strategy designers should be aware of the selected to minimise thermal bridging. Rooflights: U-value: 1.80 W/m2K
Richards Partington Architects
approach to achieving the best performance spaces, which are unheated. With this • An external wall insulation system was Structural glazing: U-value: 1.80 W/m2K
written by: One Brighton illustrates a very effective between the apartments and the common Curtain walling: U-value: 1.60 W/m2K
Summary • Thermal bypass: There is insulation of natural, breathable building products. Windows: U-value: 0.80 W/m2K
www.zerocarbonhub.org Floor: U-value: 0.19 W/m2K
• The external wall build-up was to be made
Good Homes Alliance. reduce thermal bridging. Roof: U-value: 0.19 W/m2K
test results are due to be published by the size of the thin-bed blockwork also helps to 2006 Building Regulations. External wall: U-value: 0.21 W/m2K
any problem areas in the construction. These the insulation layer. The reduction in joint average U-value that would exceed the Specification:
to determine actual heat losses and pinpoint bridges, as it avoids major fixings through • The building envelope was to achieve an
imaging were carried out upon completion system minimises repeating thermal Key Design Criteria Building Technologies (NBT).
and corrected. Heat loss testing and thermal • Thermal bridging: The insulated render Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, Natural
leakage problems which were detected early commonplace. Research: BioRegional Quintain LLP,
commissioned by:
the target of 5. This was despite initial air- to achieve the target U-value. construction techniques considered are more partnership with Crest Nicholson.
permeability rate of 4, an improvement on insulation only needed to be 100 mm thick study trip to Germany where some of the Developer: BioRegional Quintain LLP in
Air pressure tests indicated an average air clay blocks are insulating, so the external building envelope. This included taking a First Phase completed in 2009.
FRAME Testing & Monitoring help regulate internal temperatures. The
concrete soffits provide thermal mass to
mortar. The frame, blockwork and exposed
suitable materials for an energy efficient
team worked closely with NBT to select
with renewable technologies. The design
Living’.
BioRegional’s ten principles of ‘One Planet
energy environment that is built to support
specialist site supervision.
contractor also appointed NBT to provide with extruded clay blocks using thin-bed energy efficient and delivering all energy space. The project aims to provide a low-
CONCRETE included within the building contract. The
contractor, performance criteria were
situ concrete floors. The frame is infilled
a concrete frame with post-tensioned in-
• Thermal performance: The building uses
Carbon. This means making buildings more
to design the project to achieve Zero
A primary objective of the developer was
community space and 1206 m2 commercial
providing 172 apartments, 972 m2
One Brighton is a mixed-use development
standards were actually delivered by the
• Sequencing To ensure the design Design & Construction Ambition & Research Project Information
Guide 2: CASE STUDY: One Brighton, Brighton
What is Good Practice Construction? Key Issues Issue 1: Issue 2: Issue 3: Issue 4: Issue 5: CLADDING AND INFILL CHOICES
Thermal Performance Thermal Bridging Thermal Bypass Airtightness Sequencing
Good practice in building can only be achieved through the collaboration of many parties
throughout the processes of design, construction, assessment and commissioning. These guides Houses built today have Each ‘element’ of the building Thermal bridges or cold bridges Thermal bypass is the Airtightness means preventing Out-of-sequence work can
explain some of the improvements in building techniques and processes that will be necessary for high levels of insulation, envelope – a wall, a roof, a are weak points in the building movement of unheated air air leaking through gaps and prevent other work stages Insulated render systems on solid infill:
the delivery of low and zero carbon housing. double glazed windows and floor, a window or a door – has envelope where heat loss is within cavity party walls or cracks in the external envelope from being completed properly,
often highly efficient heating a role to play in minimising worse than through the main through spaces such as and is defined by the rate at or damage work that has • Minimal cold bridging from mechanical fixings.
The guide will help designers and builders who are familiar with the new Fabric Energy Efficiency
Standard and now want to work up well-insulated and airtight solutions and in-situ concrete framing. systems. However, new heat loss. The insulating effect building elements. In a well under-floor voids and lofts, which air escapes when the already been done, with • No significant cold bridges.
It is concerned with using pre-cast building fabric only and does not deal with energy supply, houses are not often tested to of each of these elements is insulated building thermal resulting in heat loss. building is pressure tested. Air serious consequences for
heating or mechanical ventilation. see whether they are as energy measured by its U-value; the bridges can account for up to leakage results in the loss of the airtightness and thermal • Easier to achieve airtightness with solid
efficient as predicted. lower the U-value, the better its 50% of all heat loss. heated air from inside the performance of the building masonry infill, though tolerances and deflection
This is one of a series of guides, produced with the assistance of industry sponsors. Each guide
thermal performance. building and can significantly envelope. must be considered.
covers a different construction system and includes an explanation of the key issues, checklists for Research* has indicated that There are two main types: increase fuel use.
designers and contractors, together with a case study. some new homes do not The insulating effect of a Before: • External skin can be more prone to damage in
always meet the required Non-repeating thermal bridges
CONCRETE FRAME building’s external envelope Good practice construction some situations.
standard in practice. So what include items such as cills, lintels
Concrete frame construction in house-building is typically specified for large blocks of flats, where is normally the most important requires air permeability rates to
can be done to close this and jambs, which typically span • Limited range of finishing options compared to
the number of storeys exceeds the limits of load-bearing masonry. The majority of new apartment aspect of its thermal be much lower than the
performance gap? between the inner and outer supported cladding or masonry.
buildings in the UK are medium rise developments and this booklet, therefore, focuses on medium performance, since more heat is maximum level set by Building
skins of a wall.
rise construction (4-10 storeys). The answer lies partly in lost through the fabric than in any Regulations. A common strategy
better detailing and good other way. Geometrical thermal bridges to improve airtightness is to
Concrete frame is an extremely versatile method of building, as the frame itself can be dimensioned
quality workmanship, occur at junctions between clearly identify the airtightness After: Rainscreen systems with framed infill:
to exactly suit the specific requirements of the building layout and site geometry. Furthermore, When U-values are calculated,
but above all it requires building elements, such as barrier, which is the component
there are a wide range of options for infilling the frame and cladding the exterior. However, some of the thicknesses and insulating
everyone involved in the between the walls and roof, within each part of the building • Wide variety of finishes including metal,
them are less well suited to achieving good practice levels of insulation and airtightness. properties for each of the different
project to be sufficiently and at changes of geometry, for The thermal bypass occurs envelope that provides an airtight terracotta and fibre cement.
The best thermal performance with concrete frame construction will generally be achieved by layers of material that make up when the airtightness barrier
aware of the issues to example a corner in a wall or a seal. Particular care is needed
having the insulation on the outside of the structure, not in an intermediate zone. Systems that the building element are taken does not follow the insulation. • Avoids ‘wet’ trades.
enable them to do their job hip in a roof. where one part of the airtightness
require large numbers of structural fixings to bridge the insulation layer do not represent good into account, including fixings
well. barrier meets another. • Support brackets for cladding should be
practice. Similarly, framed infill panels within the concrete frame can have lower thermal such as wall ties. The diagram above shows a
carefully designed - these may create thermal
thermal bypass effect at eaves It is essential to ensure healthy A services installation through
performance and may be more difficult to make airtight when compared to externally insulated The key issues affecting good The phrase ‘thermal mass’ has a wall resulting in a difficult-to- bridges.
build-ups. Construction tolerances and frame deflections need to be carefully considered. level where cold air is able to living conditions for the
practice construction are: become increasingly common in seal air leakage path.
permeate the insulation and carry occupants through adequate • It can be difficult to achieve airtight seal around
As an example of good practice, the diagrams in this booklet are based on solid block infill, a good the context of best practice infill panels, especially with prefabricated
Thermal Performance away heat from the void between ventilation, but air leakage should
way of providing airtightness, and an external insulated render system. The diagrams also address construction. It refers to the Out-of-sequence services panels.
the insulation and the airtightness not be relied on to provide this, as
heat loss and thermal bridging issues for common areas, lift shafts and service risers. ability of materials to absorb and installation is a major cause of air
Thermal Bridging barrier. it was in the past. Instead, • Services zone required to avoid damaging line
store heat. Heavy materials such Thermal bridging through a leakage from buildings. Holes
FABRIC ENERGY EFFICIENCY STANDARD standard steel lintel. controlled ventilation either by of airtightness.
Thermal Bypass as concrete, brick and stone have Until recently thermal bypass was and fixings for services can
Fabric energy efficiency is the foundation of the natural or mechanical means
high thermal mass, which can not widely recognised and so puncture airtightness barriers
Government’s zero carbon homes policy. It will ensure To conserve energy and to should be provided in
Airtightness help to stabilise internal room there is currently no method and can often be too awkwardly
that all new homes are sufficiently well insulated and prevent cold spots where accordance with the Building Supported masonry systems:
temperatures by absorbing available to estimate its effect. located to seal up afterwards.
constructed to meet ambitious energy saving targets. It Sequencing condensation and mould can Regulations.
excess heat from the air and
will discourage the tendency to use low and zero carbon form, thermal bridges need to be However, there are Properly planned projects • Use traditional trades and skills.
* ‘Lessons from Stamford Brook - releasing it slowly when
technologies as an alternative to energy efficiency Understanding the Gap between
minimised. It is not possible to straightforward design measures include testing and inspections at
conditions are cooler.
measures, by requiring energy demand to be reduced Designed and Real Performance’ by avoid all thermal bridging, but the that will help to limit or even key stages so that any remedial • Masonry support angles can create
Leeds Metropolitan University and effect can be minimised with
first. UCL, 2007.
eliminate thermal bypass heat measures can be carried out in a significant cold bridging.
careful detailing. It is more loss. Ensuring that cavity walls timely and cost-effective manner.
The diagram on the right illustrates the hierarchy of measures, which together form the approach to difficult to avoid thermal bridging
KEY are sealed top and bottom is Early coordination between the • Difficult to fit insulation around support
zero carbon. ‘Carbon Compliance’ (a reduction in carbon emissions from 2006 levels) will be caused by poor workmanship, for
Insulation essential. In other situations designers and the construction brackets.
achieved by building homes to the Fabric Energy Efficiency Standard supplemented by on-site low example mortar snots in the
Airtightness zone such as roofs it is particularly team can help by agreeing
and zero carbon energy sources. Full zero carbon will be achieved through the provision of cavity or missing insulation. Even important to ensure that any suitable locations for services • Wall ties and wind-posts must be accounted
‘Allowable Solutions’, which include options for off-site renewable energy generation. The Fabric if thermal imaging cameras are
Air flow airtightness barrier follows the and developing strategies for for in U-value and bridging calculations.
Energy Efficiency Standard is a performance standard that can be achieved by a variety of used to detect the problem, it will
Heat loss through a wall. line of the insulation to avoid Air leakage can occur around effective making-good of any
approaches. However, the guide gives an indication of the likely minimum U-value of each Thermal bridge Increased levels of insulation often be too late to avoid badly fitting components such
creating unheated spaces necessary openings.
component of the building. will reduce the rate of loss.
expensive remedial works. as window frames.
Heat transfer between the two.
the airtightness line. could occur. blocks themselves are good insulators. simplify the façade design.
the wind-posts so that they do not interrupt and concrete floors where air leakage thin-bed blockwork with plastic fixings. The minimise thermal bridging. It also helps to
Special hollow blocks are used to encase Tapes seal the joint between the blockwork Wood fibre insulation is fixed directly to the An insulated render external skin can help
www.rparchitects.co.uk
Richards Partington Architects
Copyright © Richards Partington Architects 2010.
BUILDING LOW CARBON HOMES
© Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios

© Crest Nicholson BioRegional Quintain LLP

© Crest Nicholson BioRegional Quintain LLP
© Crest Nicholson BioRegional Quintain LLP

www.concretecentre.com
in association with:
www.rparchitects.co.uk
Richards Partington Architects
written by:
www.zerocarbonhub.org
commissioned by:
as important as the design itself. metal stud walling.
contractual and on-site arrangements right is the infill, service penetrations and internal of heat recovery. renewable energy generated offsite
The project suggests that getting the used to seal joints between the frame and through air permeability and make best use Power: Photovoltaics and bulk purchased
details often result in thermal bridging. require additional membranes. Tapes were • Airtight construction to minimise heat loss Recovery (MVHR)
thermal performance because complex provide a robust air barrier and do not Ventilation: Mechanical Ventilation with Heat
elevations simple has also helped to improve • Airtightness: In-situ concrete floors temperatures within the properties. Heating: Communal biomass boiler
airtightness. Keeping the design of the was required to help maintain stable Airtightness: 5 m3/(h.m2)
Thermal bridging: y-value = 0.04 W/mK
reduce thermal bridging and achieve good become a route for thermal bypass. • A structure with high thermal mass
use of external wall insulation helped to potential for vertical risers and lifts shafts to Doors: U-value: 1.00 W/m2K
with a concrete frame construction. The strategy designers should be aware of the selected to minimise thermal bridging. Rooflights: U-value: 1.80 W/m2K
approach to achieving the best performance spaces, which are unheated. With this • An external wall insulation system was Structural glazing: U-value: 1.80 W/m2K
One Brighton illustrates a very effective between the apartments and the common Curtain walling: U-value: 1.60 W/m2K
Summary • Thermal bypass: There is insulation of natural, breathable building products. Windows: U-value: 0.80 W/m2K
Floor: U-value: 0.19 W/m2K
• The external wall build-up was to be made
Good Homes Alliance. reduce thermal bridging. Roof: U-value: 0.19 W/m2K
test results are due to be published by the size of the thin-bed blockwork also helps to 2006 Building Regulations. External wall: U-value: 0.21 W/m2K
any problem areas in the construction. These the insulation layer. The reduction in joint average U-value that would exceed the Specification:
to determine actual heat losses and pinpoint bridges, as it avoids major fixings through • The building envelope was to achieve an
imaging were carried out upon completion system minimises repeating thermal Key Design Criteria Building Technologies (NBT).
and corrected. Heat loss testing and thermal • Thermal bridging: The insulated render Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, Natural
leakage problems which were detected early commonplace. Research: BioRegional Quintain LLP,
the target of 5. This was despite initial air- to achieve the target U-value. construction techniques considered are more partnership with Crest Nicholson.
permeability rate of 4, an improvement on insulation only needed to be 100 mm thick study trip to Germany where some of the Developer: BioRegional Quintain LLP in
Air pressure tests indicated an average air clay blocks are insulating, so the external building envelope. This included taking a First Phase completed in 2009.
Testing & Monitoring help regulate internal temperatures. The suitable materials for an energy efficient Living’.
concrete soffits provide thermal mass to team worked closely with NBT to select BioRegional’s ten principles of ‘One Planet
specialist site supervision. mortar. The frame, blockwork and exposed with renewable technologies. The design energy environment that is built to support
contractor also appointed NBT to provide with extruded clay blocks using thin-bed energy efficient and delivering all energy space. The project aims to provide a low-

FRAME
included within the building contract. The situ concrete floors. The frame is infilled Carbon. This means making buildings more community space and 1206 m2 commercial
contractor, performance criteria were a concrete frame with post-tensioned in- to design the project to achieve Zero providing 172 apartments, 972 m2
standards were actually delivered by the • Thermal performance: The building uses A primary objective of the developer was One Brighton is a mixed-use development
• Sequencing To ensure the design Design & Construction Ambition & Research Project Information

CONCRETE
Guide 2: CASE STUDY: One Brighton, Brighton
How to use this chart THERMAL PERFORMANCE: THERMAL BRIDGING: THERMAL BYPASS: AIRTIGHTNESS: SEQUENCING OF WORKS: KEY:

COMMON ISSUES:
PROMPTS
This page illustrates some of the common issues that can affect the energy efficiency
ssenthgit-ria
Review all the details for breaks in the
of concrete frame construction. The information is split into three categories: continuity of the thermal insulation,
especially around secondary framing.
Common Issues: prompts which look at the principles behind achieving energy
efficient concrete frame design. Clearly indicate where additional
insulation is required to fill voids.
Diagrams: to illustrate specific junctions where additional attention of designers and
Protect cavities and keep clear of mortar
contractors will be required. The diagrams are intended to illustrate issues rather
droppings.
than present construction solutions.
U-value Guide: to the likely U-values the Fabric Energy Efficiency Standard will Tape insulation boards carefully to
prevent air flow through gaps and behind
demand.
insulation.
The prompts and diagrams have a common colour coding to differentiate whether
issues concern thermal performance (red), thermal bridging (green), thermal bypass Minimise the number of mechanical
(yellow), airtightness (blue), sequencing of works (purple). fixings and consider proprietary
adhesive systems for fixing insulation.
CONSTRUCTION ISSUES
Review the details and make sure
thermal bridging is accurately accounted
for in calculations.
Ensure that the insulation layer is
continuous, especially over composite
constructions and where frame and infill
meet.
Build insulation in tightly around gaps
under cavity trays, support angles and
around wall ties and penetrations.
Avoid bridging at balconies, canopies,
cills and lintels.
Ensure that cladding support systems
are thermally efficient.
Design out voids between heated
spaces and the line of insulation,
especially at service risers, balcony,
recesses and party walls.
Ensure that the airtightness barrier
follows the inside line of the insulation
layer.
Seal floor voids from vertical cavities,
especially party walls.
Carefully design walls enclosing
unheated corridors, lift shafts and
service risers to prevent heat loss or
bypass.
Make sure a continuous airtightness
barrier is identified on all drawings.
Are the locations of laps and wrapping
clearly marked and communicated?
Provide checklists to aid site supervision.
Sequence other trades to ensure a
continuous airtightness barrier to the
inside face of the wall.
air-tightness
Be aware of trades that may breach the
airtightness barrier: electrics, mechanical
services and finishes.
Pay particular attention to details
where there are variable gaps between
elements to accommodate deflection or
tolerances.
Parge coat applied before mechanical
and sanitary fittings have been installed.
Installation of all components that
define the airtightness line coordinated,
with minimum dependence on mastic
sealant.
Service penetrations through insulation
coordinated with installers to ensure all
gaps are sealed.
Air pressure testing carried out at
different stages of construction so
problems are picked up early.
Insulation to base of walls installed
before floor goes down.
Insulation
Insulation particularly prone to
accidental omission and where
extra care is needed (insulation
may need to be profiled/shaped
to fit in these locations)
Line of airtightness barrier
Physical membrane used to
form airtightness barrier where
construction is prone to air
leakage

air-tightness

ROOF DETAILS
Roof
ROOF 01: ROOF 02: ROOF 03:
PARAPET
a ssenthgit-ria
RAINWATER OUTLET PARTY WALL
Integrity aa Provide insulation to each side of the a Ensure holes in slab around
a Consider a fully filled cavity to
upstand along the entire length of the downpipes are filled to create prevent heat loss.
parapet to minimise thermal bridging. airtight seal. Tape junction between Party wall blockwork must be
downpipe and underside of concrete b
Walls b Infill blockwork must be carefully
slab.
carefully constructed to ensure
constructed to ensure airtightness, c a
airtightness. A parge coat or solid
Downpipe to be insulated to reduce plaster finish is recommended.
especially at the head of the wall. b
cc
cold bridge. Unavoidable thermal
Ensure there are no voids behind the
insulation, especially where it passes
b bridge to be accounted for in
air-tightness
air-tightness b
calculations.
over junctions between frame and
b
Lift / Service
Shaft wall. a air-tightn
air-tightn
WALL DETAILS

WALL - FLOOR 01: WALL - BALCONY 02: WALL - TERRACE 03:

EXTERNAL WALL / PARTY FLOOR
a Taping the junction between
a the concrete frame and the infill
Windows
construction can help to improve
airtightness and careful design is
& Doors
needed where there are deflection
details, head restraints and wind-posts.
a b
b b Infill blockwork must be carefully
constructed to ensure airtightness,
especially at the head of the wall. A
Ground Slab parge coat or solid plaster finish is
recommended.
WALL DETAILS
BALCONY
a Use an insulated balcony connector
c to allow balcony reinforcement to
connect to main slab structure while
minimising thermal bridging.
Indicate on drawings the correct
sequencing to ensure insulation can
be fitted around balcony connector.
b c Beware of cold bridges caused by
the door threshold and cill.
b TERRACE
a a Insulate outer face of upstand to
prevent thermal bridging.
c b Beware of cold bridges caused by
the door threshold and cill.
c Terrace may have less insulation
to reduce the depth of the building.
Make sure the heat loss calculations
allow for this.

air-tightness
Likely Wall U-value: 0.18 W/m2K
air-tightness air-tightnes
Walls
WALL - WINDOW 04: WALL - WINDOW 05: WALL - WINDOW 06:
In U-value calculations consider all of the different conditions at column faces and WINDOW CILL WINDOW HEAD WINDOW JAMB
slab edges as well as the typical infill. Make sure that thermal bridges for support
systems and fixings are also accounted for.
a Ideally the window frame should
overlap with the external wall
a Ideally the window frame should
overlap with wall insulation.
a Window frame to overlap with wall
insulation.
c a
insulation. Avoid using metal pressings around Avoid using metal pressings around
Ground Slab Likely Ground Floor U-value: 0.18 W/m K (detached 0.14 W/m K)
2 2
b a b The window cill should bridge across b the window reveal that create a b the window reveal that create a
the external insulation. thermal bridge. Take extra care thermal bridge. Take extra care
The ground slab should be fully insulated. In concrete frame construction there c Internal finishes returned to window
c
detailing for tolerances. detailing for tolerances.
may be areas where particular consideration is needed, for instance where the
c frame are unlikely to provide airtight
c The infill above the window head
c Internal finishes returned to
b
slab is suspended above an undercroft or where the slab is continuous with
retaining structure and lift-pits.
construction; consider using an b can be awkward to detail especially window frame will not provide
additional membrane and sealant. where slab deflections and airtight construction; use additional
tolerances must be accommodated. membrane and sealant.
Roof Likely Roof U-value: 0.13 W/m2K (detached 0.11 W/m2K)
a
Flat roofs usually present an opportunity to achieve high levels of insulation but be
aware of the potential thermal bridges around parapets, upstands, kerbs and
WALL DETAILS

rooflights. Also consider the impact of rainwater outlets, drainage and services on WALL - FLOOR 07: WALL - FLOOR 08: WALL - FLOOR 09:
the thermal and airtightness layers. UNDERCROFT ENTRANCE UNDERCROFT DOWNSTAND
a LIFT / RISER SHAFT

Windows a Where the soffits to unheated

a Any downstand beams should b a How are the walls to unheated
& Doors Likely Window U-value: 1.4 W/m2K (detached 1.3 W/m2K) undercrofts are insulated, include be fully encased with close-fitting service risers and lift shafts to be
any downstand beams. insulation to prevent thermal insulated? Some thermal bridging
Lintels that span between the inner and outer leaves should be avoided, as this will
create a thermal bridge through which excessive heat loss will occur. Particular b Ensure tight-fitting overlap between bridging.
b
is inevitable through the edge of the
wall and soffit insulation to prevent The concrete slab is usually treated slab - make sure this is allowed for in
care needs to be taken where windows and doors are prefabricated rather than
thermal bridging. b as the airtightness barrier, rather the heat loss calculations.
custom sized to site measurements. The closers and fillers used to take up
than relying on the floor finishes. Indicate on drawings the correct
construction tolerances are weak points in both the thermal and airtightness layers. b a a b installation sequence to allow fire
Full height windows and balcony doors will have threshold and head details where
the same weaknesses occur. stopping and services to coordinate

Lift / Service Likely Party Wall U-value - 0 (if sealed and filled cavity)
air-tightness with thermal insulation.

Shaft

To avoid heat loss through thermal bypass, all uninsulated spaces such as lift
shafts should be separated from the heated spaces with continuous insulation.
GROUND DETAILS

c GROUND - FLOOR 01: GROUND - FLOOR 02: b c GROUND - FLOOR 03:

Integrity
Airtightness - 3 m3/(h.m2) FLOOR SLAB / EXTERNAL WALL FLOOR SLAB / MASONRY PARTY WALL a BASEMENT
Thermal Bridging - 0.05 W/mK (detached 0.04 W/mK)
a Insulation is laid continuously under
a Place vertical insulation at edge a a Place insulation for basement on
d ground floor slab, but beware of thermal of floor slab to minimise thermal b the outside of the retaining walls to
A strategy for addressing airtightness and thermal bridging issues should be bridges to column positions and at the bridging. form a continuous layer with the wall
considered during the detailed design. In circumstances where proprietary
cladding and infill framing are used there will be bespoke conditions that may not
b base of shear walls and party walls.
Party wall cavity to be fully filled with c insulation above.
Place vertical insulation at edge of
b footings and floor slab to minimise b
be covered by standard ‘accredited’ details for thermal bridging. Thermal bridging
analysis or calculations may be required and manufacturer’s performance data
insulation to prevent heat loss by
thermal bypass.
b Lay insulation continuously over
ground floor slab.
thermal bridging.
should be carefully scrutinised.
c Ensure insulation is tightly placed
against any flashings to avoid thermal c Party wall blockwork must be
carefully constructed to ensure
c Place vertical insulation at edge
of floor slab to minimise thermal
Disclaimer
This chart shows general points of principle for those designing and constructing low carbon a bridging. airtightness. All mortar joints to be bridging.
Unavoidable thermal bridge caused by fully filled. A parge coat or solid
homes. Practitioners should apply appropriate expertise in developing their own specific d flashings or support angles should be plaster finish is recommended.
construction details. accounted for in heat loss calculations.