SUMMER 2010 Issue 44

Constructing the future 44

Five years at the cutting edge 07 Diplomatic sustainability 09 New carbon efficiency for old homes 11 Cub House comes to the Innovation Park 12 Putting new building systems to the test 13 Contents Comment

01 Comment Innovation Park – first five years 02 news 07 five years at the cutting edge Launched five years ago as a general showcase of innovative , The BRE Innovation Park may look like the set of the the BRE Innovation Park’s activities were soon focused on using innovation latest Hollywood blockbuster, but the sustainable to achieve a more sustainable, low carbon built environment. building innovations being trialled there – and the new information created, the lessons learned, and the marketing and training opportunities available The industry has responded enthusiastically, with key players constructing – are all very real. buildings on the Park and hundreds of technologies being tested. A great 09 Diplomatic sustainability deal has been learned and many of the innovations introduced on the Buildings that represent the UK throughout the world can now demonstrate their environmental Park are now being widely applied (see page 7). credentials, following the development of a BREEAM scheme for embassy buildings. A range of major sustainability issues have been addressed. Back in 2005, 11 new carbon efficiency for old homes for example, it was questioned whether constructing zero carbon A £4.5 million project to refurbish and carry out buildings was even possible. Achievements on the Park have shown that extensive R&D on three Victorian terraced houses will demonstrate innovative retrofit solutions that this can be done, and the focus has moved to making zero carbon are designed to reduce, by up to 80%, carbon buildings more affordable – and applying new knowledge to reducing emissions from existing homes. the CO2 and other impacts of existing buildings. 12 Cub House comes to the BRE Innovation Park Many questions remain. The reaction of householders to ‘green’ Combining superior sustainability with top-quality modern design, Charlie Greig’s Cub house has technology, for example, is hugely important. How can the behaviour of brought its own unique take on housebuilding to building occupiers be changed to ensure that buildings are used as the BRE Innovation Park. sustainably as their design allows? And how is renewable energy going 13 fire performance – putting new building systems to the test to be effectively used and distributed across the network? New building systems have no proven track record of performance in the event of a fire. LPS 1501 has Then there is the issue of whether the various sustainable technologies been developed to test and assess the fire will work together. Research on the Park has demonstrated their performance of innovative construction methods. effectiveness individually, but we have to ensure that they work in concert and without hindering each other during ‘real-life’ operation. Also, buildings need to be sufficiently adaptable to cope with the impacts of climate change (such as more extreme weather events), and to the changing needs of a mobile urban community. Work on these and other issues continues apace at the Park, with the latest demonstration home arriving in April (page 12) and the Victorian Terrace retrofit project nearing completion (page 11). Many opportunities Constructing the future is Editor published by the BRE Group, a Tom Harvey remain for others in the industry to join us in generating the new world leading research consultancy, Email: [email protected] training, testing and certification organisation, delivering Design knowledge needed for UK construction to deliver the high quality, sustainability and innovation across OPX the built environment and beyond. T +44 (0)20 7729 6295 sustainable built environment that is so urgently needed. The BRE Group is wholly owned by www.opx.co.uk the BRE Trust, a registered charity aiming to advance knowledge, Printing innovation and communication in Printhaus all matters concerning the built T +44 (0)1442 355 217 environment for the benefit of all. All BRE Group profits are passed to Free subscriptions the BRE Trust to promote its Subscribe to free quarterly issues of charitable objectives. Constructing the future, and/or a monthly E-newsletter service giving ISSN 1465-3788 concise news of built environment developments, events, training and BRE Group publications. Simply register at: T +44 (0)1923 664 800 www.bre.co.uk/register www.bre.co.uk

Jaya Skandamoorthy Director of the BRE Innovation Park News 01 | 02

Volume production of CSH Level 4 homes A partnership has been created to research, develop and pioneer the volume production of low carbon homes. The ‘AIMC4’ consortium will develop and apply innovative materials, products and processes to meet the government’s Code for Sustainable Homes level 4 energy performance. This will be achieved without the use of renewable technologies, so ensuring that the reduction in carbon emissions is embedded in the fabric performance of the home. The six AIMC4 consortium members are: – Developers, Stewart Milne Group, PLC and PLC – responsible for the design and build of at least 12 energy efficient homes – BRE – advising on innovative solutions and evaluating the technical issues – Oxford Brookes University – analysing and evaluating the performance of the homes and occupant behaviour Pavegen in use during a trial in London. once the homes have been sold and are occupied – H+H UK Ltd, an innovative supplier of Aircrete concrete Power walking products. An interactive paving slab that generates energy from footsteps, won first place in the Innovation Future Zone This is a £6.4m project, of which £3.2m has been invested competition at this year’s Ecobuild event at Earls Court in London. by the Consortium members with the other £3.2m coming from the Technology Strategy Board. The competition was organised by the Modern Built Environment Knowledge Transfer Network, along with partners the Technology Strategy Board, CIOB, EPSRC, Nanotechnology KTN and Creative Industries KTN. Key to the success of the project will be engaging with suppliers at all levels to develop a formula for building The ingenious paving system, called ‘Pavegen’, works by converting kinetic energy from people’s footsteps into electrical homes with energy efficient fabric and building services. energy that is stored in a battery in the paving slab. The slabs, which contain a light that gets brighter according to how The Consortium believes that achieving this goal will not much energy is stored, are designed to ‘flex’ less than 5mm when stepped on. This movement cannot be detected by only help meet the government target of zero carbon pedestrians, but is enough to generate electricity. homes by 2016, but also reduce costs, create a new UK Pavegen inventor, Laurence Kemball-Cook, has estimated that the average paving stone on a busy street is stepped on supply chain, generate new build systems and processes around 50,000 times a day. This offers a significant and as yet untapped energy source that could be used to power and ensure homes are designed that meet consumer anything from lighting at bus stops and information displays, to ticket machines and automatic shop doors. needs. For more information – The three-and-a-half year project will see a range of build www.pavegensystems.com systems (timber frame, masonry and hybrid) – along with offsite manufacture and new onsite assembly processes – being researched and developed for their ability to meet the overall objectives. For more information – Linda McKeown Become a T 01923 664569 E [email protected] BREEAM www.aimc4.com assessor BRELEARNING Train to be an assessor for the world’s most widely used scheme – Online seminars for built environment for assessing the environmental professionals. performance of buildings. – A cost-effective and convenient means Tel: 01923 664462 of accessing CPD. Email: [email protected] View the latest online seminars on: www.breeam.org www.bre.co.uk/brelearning News

Better water and energy efficiency in homes An innovative refurbishment project, ‘Greener Homes for Redbridge’, is investigating what it takes to improve the water and energy efficiency of 20 street properties in Redbridge. Reducing carbon emissions and cutting heating costs for people who live in older homes is a major challenge for the UK housing industry, with more than a quarter of the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions created by households. Funded by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), Redbridge Council and the NHBC Foundation, the project is being run by East Thames Group in partnership with Redbridge Council, housing contractor Wates Living Space, BRE and construction consultancy Pellings. The 20 homes in the project are being renovated with a range of technologies and fittings, including smart meters to help residents monitor their energy use, cavity wall insulation, water-saving toilets, taps and bathroom fittings, solar panels and solar hot water systems, and energy efficient LED lighting and heating systems. Schiphol Real Estate’s TransPort building. The residents who move into the homes will be provided with guidance on making the most of these green features and what they can do to further reduce their First BREEAM-NL Certifications environmental impact. Schiphol Real Estate’s TransPort office building and a new logistics park by developer WDP in Tilburg are the first buildings to receive certification under BREEAM-NL, the version of the BREEAM building rating system operated by For the next two years the homes will be extensively the Dutch Green Building Council (DGBC) under licence from BRE Global. monitored to assess actual energy and water savings achieved, and the effects of residents’ behaviour on each The certificates were presented by Jaap Gillis, Chairman of the DGBC, and Paul Gibbon, Director of Sustainability for home’s carbon footprint. Several partners are assisting BRE Global, at Building Holland, the leading exhibition for and construction in the . with this, including BRE, Thames Water and Essex & Suffolk ‘We have chosen to use BREEAM in the Netherlands because of its robustness and also its adaptability to the needs of Water, npower and Dimplex. the Dutch market,’ said Gillis. ‘We are experiencing increasing demand from real estate investors and developers who The findings will be presented to local, regional and central want a high degree of sustainability and a tool to benchmark and demonstrate their progress. government, in the hope that lessons learned will help ‘DGBC was the first National Scheme Operator to adopt BREEAM, and has worked very hard over the last 18 months with shape the approach being taken to improve the BRE Global to develop a specifically tailored version for the Netherlands. We recently formally launched BREEAM-NL for sustainability of older homes and bring empty homes back retail, industrial, education and office buildings and are due to release a version of BREEAM-NL for residential buildings.’ into use. For more information – For more information – on BREEAM’s international development – www.breeam.org/international Richard Hartless on BREEAM-NL – www.breeam.nl T 01923 664143 E [email protected] www.east-homes.co.uk/greenerhomes ENERGY MANAGEMENT One of the homes that will be refurbished as part of the Greener Homes for BIPV TRAINING Redbridge project. Conference

16 June 2010 at BRE Watford 28 – 29 June at BRE Watford Energy Management Building-integrated PV (BIPV) enables Understanding where and how an organisation uses electricity generation from tiles, roof energy and can cost-effectively reduce energy use. 30 June – 1 July at BRE Watford laminates and other components. Energy Management System BS EN 16001 Conference on the technologies, A practical approach to Energy Management Systems economics, architecture and in accordance with BS EN 16001 certification. www.bre.co.uk/BIPVconference To book visit: www.bre.co.uk/training News 03 | 04

New energy management training First company outside the UK & Ireland receives ‘ultimate seal of courses launched approval’ New courses will provide training in the technical skills of The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, for example, is the UK’s Alberta Fire & Security Equipment Limited (based in energy management, and the organisational and systems mandatory climate change and energy saving scheme that Malta) has become the first company outside the UK and knowledge needed to implement and run effective energy started on 1 April – immediately affecting large public Ireland to gain LPCB approval for the design, installation management systems. sector and commercial consumers. Its reporting and commissioning of fire detection, alarm and fire requirements demand a detailed understanding of energy fighting systems. They draw on BRE’s experience, both of major programmes consumption and the ability to make effective forecasts. to promote industry best practice and of helping clients to LPCB certification is a mark of quality and safety. It address specific energy management challenges. Another example of current trends is the recently launched confirms that the approved equipment, systems and European standard, BS EN 16001, which is designed to services meet all the requirements of the relevant The courses (‘Energy Management’ and ‘Energy help organisations establish systems and processes to European standards. The LPCB approval process involves Management System BS EN 16001’) were launched in May improve energy efficiency. This new standard promotes stringent assessments and testing to ensure that quality against the backdrop of predicted energy cost rises and management disciplines that will be covered by the new standards are met. These are set by a team of experts growing environmental taxes, in which energy will be an BRE courses. that includes regulators, insurers, designers, increasingly key business resource requiring effective, manufacturers, installers, engineers and scientists. professional management. For more information – T 01923 664829 ‘The LPCB stamp is the ultimate seal of approval,’ says www.bre.co.uk/training Alberta’s Head of Large Projects, Edwin Aquilina. ‘Being able to demonstrate compliance with industry standards through independent performance testing is vital. Alberta’s LPCB certification provides clarity and Developing flood protection transparency so that customers can have confidence that our systems provide solutions of the very highest technologies standards.’ LPCB approval is maintained by regular audits to ensure that products and services continue to meet the approval criteria. It benefits both specifiers and suppliers – specifiers selecting LPCB approved products and services improve fire safety, reduce security risks and demonstrate due diligence, while suppliers gaining LPCB approval can increase the value and sales of their products. All LPCB approved fire safety and security products and services are listed in the Red Book. For more information – www.redbooklive.com

Urban pluvial flooding in the UK. A three-year research project to develop innovative flood A number of case studies will be used to help conduct protection technologies, products and systems started research into flood protection systems and enable the recently under the EU Seventh Framework Programme. The implementation of the technology. These cover a range of project involves ten research institutes from seven flood types and locations, from coastal flooding problems REd book 2010 European countries, including the UK which is represented in the Mediterranean to pluvial flooding in urban areas of – World renowned listing of independently by BRE, the project co-ordinator. the UK. certified products and services. The emphasis is on developing cost effective technologies National Support Groups are being formed in the seven – Essential specifier reference website that will help deal with flood risks in urban environments partner countries to help ensure that the national interests for the design, specification and purchase and facilitate the design of more holistic flood defence of each country are taken into account when carrying out of fire and security products. systems. The project will also work to improve the the research. Interested parties are being invited to join the progress- to-market of the new technologies, products UK National Support Group. Available in print, on CD, on line, and systems being developed, and establish guidelines for and now also on a memory stick. For more information – validating their performance – these will be applied in www.floodresilience.eu experimental studies to determine the reliability of today’s flood protection products. For details on joining the National Support Group Stephen Garvin The project will act as a springboard for the use of the next T 01355 576242 generation of flood protection technologies, which are E [email protected] likely to be based on ‘smart’ systems that incorporate sensor technology, automatic control, innovative materials 01923 664100 and high levels of performance. [email protected] www.redbooklive.com News

Building energy assessor Awards for the best of the best Accreditation Schemes re-launched sustainable buildings Following an extensive market research project, the BRE Sixteen of the most successful sustainable buildings were honoured at the BREEAM Awards 2010 at the Ecobuild event in Global Accreditation Schemes for building energy London. The buildings shortlisted for the Awards were drawn from those achieving Excellent ratings under various assessors have been re-launched to introduce a number of BREEAM schemes (listed below) during 2009. The Award winners are: new features. A simplified (with no monthly resetting) fee structure for BREEAM Bespoke – awarded to the new Bletchley Leisure BREEAM Prisons – Littlehey II Young Offenders’ Institute. lodgements rewards loyalty to the scheme by introducing Centre, designed by Holder Mathias Architects and Client: Ministry of Justice a volume related fee and a range of new features, constructed by SDC for Milton Keynes Council. Architect: Symonds/Premier Interlink Waco UK Ltd including a loyalty-based reward points club. The Contractor: Wates Construction Ltd. BREEAM Courts – Salisbury Law Court, commissioned by ‘myrewards’ club credits members with points for every Her Majesty’s Courts Service. BREEAM Retail – White River Place in St Austell, a joint lodgement made through the schemes. The accumulated Architects: Stride Treglown, venture by the South West Regional Development Agency reward points can be exchanged for offers that include Contractor: Mansell Construction. and White River Developments. discounts on many BRE products and services, and Client: White River Developments Ltd exclusive offers from external partners. BREEAM Ecohomes – Sanderstead Road development in Architect: Chetwoods Architects Croydon. In addition, the BRE Global Assessor Network has been Contractor: Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd. Client: Metropolitan Housing Trust created to keep scheme members connected and Architect: AHP Architects & Surveyors Limited BREEAM Schools – Rogiet Primary School, designed by updated. This online knowledge hub is freely accessible to Contractor: Mansell Construction. White Design and built by Construction Ltd all BRE Global Accredited Scheme Members. It will enable for Monmouthshire County Council. them to keep up to date with industry news, share updates BREEAM Further Education – Loreto Sixth Form College with colleagues and learn about work opportunities that in Manchester for its new Learning Skills Council funded OGC Special Award for Government Sector other members place on the website. building. Achievement – Defra’s Lion House, the first building in the Project manager: AA Projects world to receive a final Outstanding rating under BREEAM The BRE Global Accreditation Schemes were nominated Architect: Taylor Young Ltd Offices 2008. for the award as, ‘Best Energy Assessor Accreditation Contractor: Bardsley Construction Ltd. Company’, and BRE Training as ‘Best Assessor Training First BREEAM Industrial (Interim) Outstanding Rating – Provider’, by the Property Professional Show. BREEAM Industrial – Defra’s Veterinary Laboratories G Park Blue Planet, a 35,500m2 building. The first Agency Stores facility near Weybridge in Surrey. development to achieve interim Outstanding under BRE Global offers Accreditation Schemes for domestic, Architect: Wilson Mason & Partners BREEAM 2008. commercial, new dwelling, public building and air Contractor: Walter Lilly. conditioning energy assessors, and fire risk assessors. First BREEAM Offices 2008 (Interim) Outstanding BREEAM International – Centrum Galerie, Dresden’s rating – Stride Treglown’s new office in Cardiff, due for For more information – biggest shopping mall. completion in 2010. T 0845 863 0014 Client: Multi Veste Dresden GmbH www.bre.co.uk/accreditation First BREEAM Europe Retail – Unibail-Rodamco’s Docks Architect: Peter Kulka Architektur Dresden GmbH 76, the new 36,000m2 shopping and leisure centre in Developer: Multi Development GmbH. Security fencing is LPCB approved Rouen. BREEAM Multi-Residential – Carnegie Village at Leeds Specifiers looking for high performance security fencing First BREEAM In-Use International – British Embassy, Metropolitan University. will soon be able to choose from an extended range of Berlin, managed by Johnson Controls GWS on behalf of the Client: University Partnership Programme Ltd products certified to LPS 1175 – ‘Specification for testing Foreign & Commonwealth Office. BREEAM assessors TPS Architect: GWP Architecture Ltd and classifying the burglary resistance of building Consult played a key role in the development of this new Contractor: Shepherd Construction Ltd. components, strongpoints and security enclosures’. scheme specifically for the FCO. BREEAM Offices – Horizon House in Bristol, the Jacksons Fencing’s timber security fencing system, For more information – ’s new corporate office developed by ‘Jakoustic Class 3’, has recently become the first fencing www.breeam.org/awards Westmark. product to achieve security rating 3 to LPS 1175: Issue 6 Architect: Alec French Security. LPCB is working very closely with a growing Contractor: Sir Robert McAlpine. number of fence manufacturers and expects to approve a range of new fencing systems over the next few months. Littlehey II Young Offenders’ Institute, one of 16 buildings honoured at the BREEAM Awards 2010. LPS 1175 evaluates the resistance to unauthorised access offered by various physical security products. Products gaining LPCB approval security rating under this standard are able to resist experienced attempts at forced entry using a wide range of tools. All fencing products achieving LPCB approval are listed in the security fencing section in Volume 2 of the LPCB Red Book. This volume lists all security products and services approved by LPCB, and is available free of charge at www.redbooklive.com For more information – Richard Flint T 01923 665120 E [email protected] News 05 | 06

Universal badge of quality for Scottish building professionals In April the Scottish Government announced that a new – BRE Global Approved Certifier Registration Mark will be used by – NICEIC Group Ltd (Subsidiary of the Electrical Safety building professionals across Scotland as a sign of their Council) competence, experience and compliance with building standards. – Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) Scotland has several government-approved certification – Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ schemes to recognise the skills and expertise of building Federation (SNIPEF) professionals who undertake structural design, energy – Structural Engineers Registration Ltd (SER) design, electrical installation, drainage, heating and plumbing installation services. Each approved scheme will – Trade Association for Electrical Contracting Industry in View of the 80m building model in the wind tunnel. use the new mark as a universal badge of quality. Scotland (SELECT) Members of each scheme – also known as Approved BRE Global, for example, provides two schemes – the Certifiers – will be allowed to display the new registration Putting wind turbines Approved Certifier of Design for Domestic and Non mark. Domestic buildings for Section 6 (Energy) Scottish Building The Certification schemes give assurance to building Regulations. These Schemes were fully approved in 2007 in the best place owners and local authorities that work has been carried by the Building Standards Division of the Scottish New guidance based on a BRE Trust study of wind out to high standards by qualified experts. The schemes Government. Firms registered under the BRE Global conditions around 15 to 80 metre high buildings, advises are provided by: schemes are listed at www.sbsa.gov.uk/register on positioning wind turbines on the roofs of such buildings to maximise their potential for generating power. ‘The Scottish Government strongly supports the development of certification schemes and recognises the High roofs benefit from increased winds and reduced important contribution made by Approved Certifiers to shelter and turbulence from surrounding buildings, but it The Scottish Government’s new raising compliance with building standards, making is not easy to determine the best positions on roofs for Approved Certifier Registration buildings safer and protecting the public,’ said wind turbines. The new guidance will help to avoid Mark Infrastructure Minister, Stewart Stevenson. inappropriate placements that can severely limit power generation. For more information on the energy design certification schemes – UK government policy (Planning Policy Statement PPS22) Stephen McKay requires that future non-residential or mixed-use T 01355 576200 developments above 1000m2 provide at least 10% of their E [email protected] energy requirements from on-site renewable energy generation. Wind energy produced from building- mounted wind turbines could provide a significant proportion of this renewable energy. Lessons learned from fires in buildings The study on which the guidance is based, measured wind As well as providing the information about specific fire ‘This reduction in loss of life from fire has not come about conditions made over the roofs of five buildings (at model incidents needed by building owners, insurers and the by chance. In the UK, the risk of fire has been, and is being, scale) in the BRE wind tunnel, representing a range of police, the investigation of real fires in buildings is essential reduced consistently through a continuous programme of typical high- and mid-rise buildings. for developing and enhancing our knowledge and improving the regulations, codes, standards and guidance The mean wind speed and turbulence intensity were reducing the risks of such incidents being repeated. that govern building design, goods and products, and how measured at around 1,200 locations over each roof for a buildings are managed. A publication issued in May describes fire scene range of heights and wind directions. A primary objective investigations carried out by experts from BRE Global, ‘The new knowledge that enables these improvements of the study was to develop a simplified model that can be and discusses the lessons that have been learned from comes from a number of sources,’ says Shipp, ‘an used by building owners and developers for siting micro- studying real fire incidents. important one of which is the investigation of actual fire wind turbines on building roofs to optimise power incidents.’ generation. This new Digest describes the organisations that carry out fire investigations and the information they obtain, To obtain the Digest (DG 515) – Building-mounted micro-wind turbines on high-rise and and gives examples of the benefits of these investigations T 01344 328038 commercial buildings is available from to the wider community. It also explains the use of www.BREBookshop.com www.BREBookshop.com reconstructions and computer modelling to support the investigations, and presents case studies to illustrate some BRE Global fire investigator examining a fire in a hospital. of the lessons learned from major incidents – including the King’s Cross Station fire of 1987 and Channel Tunnel fire of 1996. In 2008, 137,000 fires were reported in the UK which resulted in 476 fatalities. ‘Bad as these figures appear,’ says Martin Shipp, the Digest’s author and BRE Global’s Technical Director for Fire Safety, ‘they are a striking improvement on the statistics from 1979, when 130,300 fires were reported and resulted in 1096 fatalities. Five years at the cutting edge five years at the cutting edge The BRE Innovation Park may look like the set of the latest Hollywood blockbuster, but the sustainable building innovations being trialled there – and the new information created, the lessons learned, and the marketing and training opportunities available – are all very real.

Since its launch in 2005, the BRE Innovation Park has been urban locations. ‘In the following 12 months we carried collaboration together,’ says Stewart Dalgarno. ‘Our aim is a dynamic showcase of the latest in sustainable building out a programme of research and development on the to build Code Level 4 homes without renewable devices designs, technologies, components and materials. house and gathered a great deal of intelligence about its for the price of Level 3 homes – using a fabric first performance,’ says Stewart Dalgarno, Director of Product approach and improved building services solution – for Now an extraordinary community of full-scale, fully fitted Development for Stewart Milne. exploitation at a mass market level.’ and equipped demonstration buildings, the Innovation Park brings to life the foremost thinking in sustainable and Stewart Milne has since developed an improved building Level 6 – it can be done innovative construction and landscaping. system for the fabric of the house which directly addresses The Innovation Park has been the venue for a great many the performance issues highlighted in this research. ‘The firsts – one of which was the first net-zero-carbon, CSH ‘But it is far more than just a futuristic showpiece,’ says Jaya Sigma II system has been through extensive testing and Level 6 house, built by Kingspan Potton (then Kingspan Skandamoorthy, the Innovation Park Director. ‘The Park is refinement and undergone field trials on live sites,’ says Off-Site). a place where house builders, product suppliers, Dalgarno. ‘It has attained performance levels of 0.12 contractors and many others have effectively tested, ‘The Kingspan Lighthouse was designed when the Code U-value, airtightness of 2 and thermal bridging of 0.03, improved and demonstrated practical innovations that are for Sustainable Homes was still being fine tuned, and and is commercially competitive for all forms of housing. now being applied in building projects all over the country.’ Kingspan Potton subsequently finished the project with an The system is now going through the final stages of intimate knowledge of the requirements and challenges Throughout the last five years the Park’s buildings have approval and certification and has already attracted that the new Code imposed,’ says Ieuan Compton, Head of been constructed, replaced, refurbished, updated and interest from the market, with several orders having been Marketing at Kingspan Potton. added to, keeping them at the cutting edge of innovative received.’ sustainability. The steel frame, modular Cub House is the ‘The knowledge gained and lessons learned during the And the people latest building to join the community, arriving in April (see design, construction and subsequent use of the Kingspan Another issue on which Stewart Milne has focused is the page 12), while the Osborne House is one of the veterans Lighthouse have been disseminated throughout our experience of those occupying their homes. As part of the having been constructed in 2006. Built using the i-SIP business.’ Sigma Home’s Innovation Park R&D programme, a family system from Innovaré Systems, the Osborne House has of four were recruited to live in it for four, two-week With the Lighthouse, Kingspan Potton proved that building since been upgraded to achieve the Code for Sustainable periods, one in each season of the year. to the highest level of the CSH is possible. The challenge Homes (CSH) Level 4. now is to affordably deliver this performance in real Their experiences were recorded – and the temperature, Focus on the fabric developments. ‘We believe that the knowledge gained by humidity, indoor air quality, energy and water consumption With the experience and knowledge gained from their being part of the Innovation Park,’ says Compton, ‘puts us and building fabric heat loss were monitored. This yielded Innovation Park project, Innovaré Systems and Osborne in a strong position to be able to help our customers a great deal of intelligence on the home’s performance went on to build the UK’s first CSH Level 5 development at deliver all levels of the Code.’ and the occupants’ reaction to it. The crucial impact of Nutfield in Surrey in 2008. A priority for the scheme was occupant behaviour on that performance was highlighted The highest profile project that Kingspan Potton has so maximising the thermal performance of the building fabric – along with the importance of keeping the operation of far been involved with is Hanham Hall near Bristol, which to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. the building simple, and of thoroughly explaining the is the first of the Homes and Communities Agency’s They then went on to complete an affordable housing heating, lighting, ventilation and other controls. Carbon Challenge sites. Working with Barratt development in Greenwich, which was also built to CSH Developments and others, Kingspan Potton will help to ‘The need for occupants to change their behaviour and for Level 5, and Innovaré is now working on a Level 6 scheme construct a new community of almost 200 zero carbon buildings to be user friendly is an issue that we must in Windsor. homes to CSH Level 6. address,’ says Jaya Skandamoorthy, ‘or else we risk ‘Innovaré continues to learn from each completed scheme,’ constructing “sustainable” buildings that actually don’t In addition to its involvement in the Hanham Hall project, says Andrew Orriss, MD at Innovaré Systems, ‘but the start operate sustainably, or that people don’t want to live in.’ Barratt Developments is responsible for another of the of this process was the demonstration house at the Innovation Park firsts. ‘The Barratt Green House was Mass market Level 4 Innovation Park, where we highlighted the integral role the the first zero carbon, CSH Level 6 home built by a major Research on the Sigma Home also emphasised the building fabric has in achieving performance targets set housebuilder,’ says Chief Executive, Mark Clare. importance of not putting too much reliance on out in the CSH.’ renewables to achieve sustainable, zero carbon homes. This view of the importance of the building fabric is shared Stewart Milne Homes is now collaborating with industry by ecoTECH (see under ‘Training’) and by the Stewart Milne partners in the £6.4 million AIMC4 project (see page 2). Group, and was reinforced by their own experiences on the ‘The Innovation Park has been central in pulling this Park. In 2007 Stewart Milne constructed the Sigma Home, a sustainable family house designed for high density, Five years at the cutting edge 07 | 08

‘It has helped put us at the forefront of sustainable Training New kids on the block development in the UK. Many of the lessons learned from The Willmott Dixon building was initially a section of an The Renewable House, launched in June 2009 by the this project are now informing our work at Hanham Hall, innovative school constructed in 2007. ‘It was, essentially, National Non-Food Crops Centre (NNFCC), aims to show which will be the first Level 6 community in the country two classrooms,’ explains Martin, ‘which offered the how renewable building materials, such as hemp, wood when completed in 2011.’ additional benefit of providing an inspirational venue for and wool, can provide options for constructing affordable, our internal staff training.’ low carbon housing. Following the success of this house, It hasn’t only been housing developers participating at the plans are already underway for a sustainable social Innovation Park – others, such as contractors and building Last year the building was converted into a futuristic housing scheme comprising hempcrete homes in Norfolk. product suppliers, are also well represented. The first healthcare centre. ‘Our presence on the Park has given our masonry constructed house to achieve CSH Level 4, for staff the opportunity to come and see the innovations The Natural House built by The Prince’s Trust for the Built example, was built on the Park by Building going on there, both in the industry as a whole and within Environment demonstrates a low-tech alternative for Products. Willmott Dixon itself.’ volume housebuilders seeking to meet the increasingly stringent low carbon targets. The home will be launched Building products Training opportunities at the Park have also been exploited later this year. ‘The house has been a great showcase for Hanson,’ says by ecoTECH, using its experience of building the affordable, Gerry Feenan, Managing Director of the company’s Floors low-maintenance Organics house, designed to make These and other new features have been integrated into and Precast Division. ‘Although we are more of a product sustainable homes accessible to more people. The the park with the help of an innovative new landscaping supplier than a housebuilder, we’ve been able to show organics build system focuses on the fabric, using simple scheme by PRP Landscape. clients that we have a full understanding, not only of our but effective techniques to, for example, maximise thermal BRE’s Victorian Terrace retrofit project also joined the own products, but also of the way they work with other efficiency. Park and will be completed this summer (see page 11), components, and of future housebuilding requirements.’ EcoTECH is now expanding its training programme – ‘We while the new Cub house is the latest to arrive at the Products that have been successfully demonstrated are working with SEEDA (South East Development Park (page 12). include the Aquaflow permeable paving system, which Agency), SUSCON and The Institute of Sustainability to roll New challenges prevents excessive run-off from paved areas by allowing out training across London,’ says Christine Hynes of ‘One of the issues we need to work on,’ says Jaya rain water to pass through the surface into a sub-base, ecoTECH, ‘and then it is intended to go out across the UK’. Skandamoorthy, ‘is how to adapt buildings to withstand before either being released in a controlled manner or Landscaping – another first the impacts of climate change and change of use. used for watering plants and flushing toilets. The Code for Sustainable Homes recognises the Another area needing attention is that of ensuring that ‘Installing this system around the house has given it a importance of landscape design in a development’s the green technologies we put into buildings integrate fantastic profile,’ says Gerry Feenan. ‘Not only have we sustainability – its contribution to not only creating with the other technologies and, crucially, with the people been able to demonstrate the product to potential clients enjoyable and healthy places to live and work, but also to who occupy them. while in use, but we’ve also been able to thoroughly test it.’ providing energy, waste and water management. ‘Smart technology and its potential for, among other Another of the key products being demonstrated is The Park’s innovative landscape is a striking feature. It was things, improving healthcare and security in the home, Hanson’s QuickBuild walling system, a factory fabricated designed by Macfarlane Wilder, a company with many and improving the monitoring and management of brick and block cavity wall that uses high performance years’ experience of integrating sustainability into cutting energy, is also an issue we are increasingly focussing on at bonding mortar. Hanson has now developed a variation of edge residential schemes. the Innovation Park,’ says Skandamoorthy, ‘and with so this for constructing flood defence walls, which has many challenge still to address, we are very excited about ‘The Innovation Park’s landscape design was the first recently been used in a major flood defence project in what the next five years has in store for the BRE scheme to be assessed under the CSH’, says Peter Wilder of Carlisle. ‘This is one of several projects in which we’ve been Innovation Park!’ Macfarlane Wilder. ‘Landscape design must be considered able to take a technology into an arena other than at the earliest stage in a development if it is to maximise For more information on all that is happening at the housing,’ says Feenan. sustainability and be successful under the Code. The siting, Innovation Park go to www.bre.co.uk/innovationpark The contractor’s view distribution and orientation of the buildings, and the According to George Martin of Willmott Dixon, ‘The ecology and existing landscape features, for example, Innovation Park has given us an opportunity to carry out must all be considered from the outset.’ research and development – of the kind more often undertaken by developers – from a contractor’s point of view. It has helped us to innovate and to experiment with modern methods of construction – how they can best be applied and how any arising problems can effectively be dealt with. ‘Our Innovation Park building has also allowed us to show existing and potential clients what we can do. They can see at first hand the options and decide which suits them best. It is not always easy, for example, to explain the benefits of a product that has so far only been used in mainland Europe. You can show pictures and videos, or even send clients there, but it’s not the same as having something built here in the UK.’ Diplomatic sustainability DIPLOMATIC SUSTAINABILITY Buildings that represent the UK throughout the world can now demonstrate their environmental credentials, following an initiative by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, BRE Global and TPS Consult to develop a BREEAM scheme for embassy buildings.

In March this year the British Embassy in Manila unveiled While this requirement has not applied to UK Government Standards and codes the embassy building’s BREEAM ‘Excellent’ certificate. building projects in other countries, the FCO decided to Similarly, careful consideration has been given to applying Stephen Lillie, the British Ambassador to the Philippines, take the initiative and commission the development of a codes, regulations and benchmarks typically used in the welcomed the award of an ‘Excellent’ BREEAM rating – method of authoritatively assessing its overseas building UK and European context. Many are not, for example, the first for a British Embassy building – saying that, ‘This projects – the aim being to maintain the same rigorous appropriate for the climatic conditions experienced in shows our commitment to a sustainable, less carbon- standards applied in the UK to all their buildings, regardless countries such as the Philippines, and must be substituted intensive economy’. of their location across the globe. with some form of international or local benchmark or codes of practice. BREEAM To achieve this, TPS Consult approached BRE Global – BREEAM is a standard for the environmental assessment which manages BREEAM and its continuing development Developing the BREEAM FCO scheme therefore involved of buildings and was first developed in the UK in 1990. It – with a view to adapting the BREEAM model to develop a identifying and incorporating those UK standards and has since become the most widely used green building scheme that can be used to assess, demonstrate and codes of practice that can be considered compatible or rating system in the world, setting the benchmark for improve the environmental performance of new and major transferable to other countries and regions, and then energy efficient, sustainable buildings. The suite of refurbishment FCO projects. identifying and incorporating additional requirements that BREEAM schemes now enables the assessment of a wide are suited to the geopolitical environment. Tim Bevan, Non-Domestic Manager for BREEAM says, and increasing range of building types – offices, retail ‘One of the challenges in developing a scheme for FCO was Adapting to the Philippines premises, education buildings, health facilities, industrial establishing a methodology that could drive higher Appropriate BREEAM weightings were set for assessing units, data centres and many more. BREEAM assessments environmental standards while accounting for the the UK Embassy in the Philippines. Also, assessment issues are carried out by licensed, independent assessors, such as potential range of countries where the method could be were adapted to reflect the local conditions. For example, TPS Consult, the assessor of the British Embassy in Manila. applied, and their regional and local conditions – whether a BREEAM assessment will normally include a calculation The building in Manila is one of three projects that have climatic, cultural or economic’. of the level of insulation required in a building’s envelope. been used to pilot a BREEAM scheme for assessing all new In the UK this insulation is a key element in keeping the Weightings and refurbished Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) building warm, but in the Philippines the reverse is the case The BREEAM environmental categories are given buildings abroad – embassies, high commissions, consular and assessment must account for keeping the building weightings to reflect their relative contribution to the offices and residential buildings where they are part of an cool as efficiently as possible. overall environmental performance of the building. embassy compound. Adapting the way these weightings are assigned has been Another example is the way BREEAM encourages the BREEAM FCO a key factor in the development of BREEAM FCO. re-use of rainwater by capturing it in tanks and using it to The scheme’s development dates back to 2006 when the flush toilets and irrigate plants. The weather conditions in Weightings that are appropriate in the UK, for example, FCO approached TPS Consult about developing a method the UK allow this to be done on a year round basis because will be less suited to conditions in the Middle East, which in of assessing and improving the sustainability of its of fairly consistent monthly UK precipitation patterns. In turn are very different from those in tropical countries such buildings. BRE Global was then commissioned to develop the Philippines, with its strong seasonal rainfall variations, as the Philippines. Reflecting the relative importance of a tailored BREEAM scheme for FCO buildings outside of water capture has had to be adapted to the local weather local and regional environmental issues and concerns, the UK. conditions by constructing a large tank to catch the within the common framework of the BREEAM excessive rainfall during the wet season, and store For some years there has been a government requirement methodology, is a necessary requirement of applying sufficient water for use during the dry season. that all new UK Government buildings achieve a BREEAM BREEAM successfully in a global context and ensuring ‘Excellent’ rating, and for major refurbishment projects to more sustainable buildings. achieve a ‘Very Good’ rating. The FCO has applied this standard to its projects in the UK, for example in the design of the prestigious office accommodation and data centre at its Hanslope Park site in Buckinghamshire. Diplomatic sustainability 09 | 10

At the Manila Embassy, Ambassador Stephen Lillie ‘We’re finding that BREEAM In-Use differs from other For more information on BREEAM – highlighted some of the other green features of the British environmental benchmarking schemes out there – it’s a far www.breeam.org, or for specific information on Embassy building, such as its solar panels for water more holistic approach to assessment compared with BRE Global’s work with the government sector (including heating, high ceilings to encourage passive fresh air what is currently available to building managers post FCO), email Yetunde Abdul, BREEAM Government Sector circulation, large windows for natural light, and energy- design and construction in Europe.’ Manager on [email protected] efficient motion-sensor lighting, all of which contributed to The embassy in Berlin achieved a ‘Very Good’ BREEAM the building’s BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rated performance. In-Use rating. ‘We are very pleased that the sustainable Lillie pointed out that the Embassy building, as well as measures incorporated into the design of our embassies in being green, is a demonstration of the UK’s commitment to both Berlin and Manila have been recognised in this way,’ a low-carbon sustainable framework, which it encourages says Judi Leon, Head of Sustainable Operations at the FCO. countries like the Philippines to adopt. BREEAM Director ‘We will continue to use BREEAM to help us identify Martin Townsend, who attended the building’s certificate appropriate ways in which we can make our buildings unveiling, commented that it is also a symbol of how the greener.’ UK and the Philippines are working together for an environmentally friendly world. BREEAM is currently helping the Philippine Green Building Council to formulate national standards for sustainable construction that are tailored to Philippine conditions. ‘Now that the BREEAM FCO scheme has been successfully piloted,’ says Tim Bevan, ‘we are starting to see an increasing number of registrations of buildings from all around the world. The missions in Algiers and Mumbai have both recently been awarded a ’Very Good’ rating and work continues to ensure that sustainability is at the heart of other projects under construction.’ The new BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rated British What about existing buildings? Embassy building in Manila, the Philippines. The BREEAM FCO scheme assesses new buildings and major refurbishments, but what of the embassy and other FCO buildings currently operating around the world? The BREEAM standard for existing buildings is BREEAM In-Use. This was developed to help building managers reduce running costs and improve the environmental performance of their buildings through a review process that takes place while the building is being used. In UK buildings BREEAM In-Use has been credited with improving the quality of the working environment for buildings’ occupants by giving them a healthier atmosphere to work in. The FCO wanted to see how BREEAM In-Use could be applied to its existing embassy and other buildings in its overseas estate. Following the successful collaboration on the BREEAM FCO scheme for new buildings, it welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with TPS Consult and BRE Global on a pilot of an International version of BREEAM In-Use. Berlin Embassy The success of this project was highlighted at the BREEAM Awards 2010, held during Ecobuild 2010 in London, when the British Embassy in Berlin was awarded the first ever BREEAM In-Use International award. Steve Webster from Schal, TPS Consult’s project management arm, was the BREEAM In-Use assessor for the British Embassy in Berlin. ‘The FCO staff and facilities management provider (Johnson Controls) in Berlin had to work hard to maintain the functionality of the building whilst ensuring high environmental standards were being adhered to,’ he says. ‘While building managers notice and appreciate the benefits of any changes implemented as part of environmental benchmarking processes, it’s often a lot more difficult to positively promote these changes to occupants. New carbon efficiency for old homes New carbon efficiency for old homes 80% A £4.5 million project to refurbish and carry out extensive R&D on three Victorian terraced houses will demonstrate innovative retrofit solutions that are designed to reduce, by up to 80%, carbon emissions from existing homes.

The energy performance of current housing must be Better EPC ratings dramatically improved if the UK is to meet its carbon The aim of the Victorian Terrace project is to identify the Why refurbish? reduction target of 80% by 2050. improvements needed to take a property from a low Sustainable refurbishment is essential if we are to meet Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating, say G or F, to a national targets for reducing carbon emissions. About This reduction target is crucial, not only for mitigating the high level of B or A (A being the best) – and to deliver other 150 million tonnes of carbon dioxide are released each effects of global warming, but also for avoiding spiralling benefits such as water efficiency and waste minimisation. year from the housing stock, with older buildings household fuel bills. Recent research by uSwitch.com says contributing disproportionately. that the average household energy bill could reach £5,000 The UK’s existing housing stock currently achieves an a year by 2020, if current price trends and fuel use average EPC rating of D/E, with more than 5 million homes Sustainable refurbishment can avoid the wholesale continue. The implications for the 4 million UK households managing only F/G. To achieve the emission reduction waste of resources that results from clearing swathes of currently suffering fuel poverty are huge. targets, the average EPC rating for all housing will have to older housing to make way for new homes. It also be brought up to a band B or better, a level currently preserves the character of our towns and cities. Victorian Terrace project achieved by only 1-2% of homes. The Victorian Terrace project was granted funding in A more positive perception of refurbishment must be January this year (by the Department of Energy and The specifications developed will reflect and be generated in which its wider role in financial and social Climate Change [DECC] under the Low Carbon Investment sympathetic to the inevitable economic and heritage sustainability is better understood, alongside its Fund) to refurbish three single skin solid wall Victorian considerations on any refurbishment. They will consist of a environmental benefits. Innovative ways of using terraced houses at the BRE Innovation Park in Watford. series of sequential improvements, each being considered sustainable refurbishment to upgrade social housing

The project will use a range of retrofit solutions, including in terms of its CO2 savings, best value carbon impacts and and bring stock back onto the market must be innovative solid wall insulation, to achieve the 80% carbon costs, so that the actual improvements made can be developed. And we need to harness the close interest emission reduction target. tailored to advise future decision makers and their that private owners take in their properties – and help individual budgets. them to recognise sustainable refurbishment as a ’Existing homes account for 27% of the UK’s total carbon practical and cost effective option. emissions,’ says BRE Chief Executive, Dr Peter Bonfield. The results of the project, which is due for completion by ‘Currently there is no single coherent approach to the end of June 2010, will be widely disseminated through As most houses standing today will still exist in 2050, it sustainable refurbishment amongst the key players in the the National Refurbishment Centre to increase awareness is essential that this stock is viewed positively as a market. With this project we will be able to generate a of the benefits of low carbon retrofit solutions, help platform for achieving carbon emissions reductions, definitive, quantifiable evidence base of knowledge and develop the skills base needed for undertaking the work, rather than a national problem. Millions of houses have guidance, which can be accessed by all stakeholders to and foster the development of a more coherent market for options for upgrading – the trick is to use best practice deliver a step change in the roll out of sustainable housing this work. to identify the right solutions and deliver them refurbishment.’ successfully for owners and communities. Wide range of partners The Victorian Terrace will undergo a programme of before- The importance of improving the environmental and-after testing and monitoring to establish the impacts performance of current housing, 80% of which will still be of this work, from which a series of refurbishment in existence in 2050, is now widely recognised. This is specifications will be developed. In addition, the Victorian reflected in the wide range of organisations collaborating Terrace project links to more than 350 exemplar on the project, including DECC, the East of England refurbishment homes of varying types and ages around Development Agency, the BRE Group, Wates Living Space, the country, test results from which will also feed into the Housing Market Renewal Partners, PRP Architects, St new specifications, monitoring protocols and best practice Gobain, Unidek, BASF and several local authorities and guidance. housing associations. The project also links to a skills focussed project based in More information – Stoke-on-Trent called CoRE (Centre of Refurbishment More information about the Victorian Terrace project is Excellence). CoRE is a high profile ‘living refurbishment available at www.rethinkinghousingrefurbishment.co.uk demonstrator’ which brings together public and private stakeholders keen to face head-on the challenge of climate change through smart and sustainable retrofitting. BRE Global is developing a new standard under BREEAM to cover domestic refurbishment. For information – www.BREEAM.org/domrefurb Cub house comes to the BRE Innovation Park 11 | 12 Cub house comes to the BRE Innovation Park Combining superior sustainability with top-quality modern design, Charlie Greig’s Cub house has brought its own unique take on housebuilding to the BRE Innovation Park. Linda McKeown reports.

Hot on the heels of its launch at the Ideal Home Show, Energy and water More information the ultra-modern and highly sustainable, factory An exhaust air heat pump ventilates the house as well Welcoming the Cub house, BRE Innovation Park Director manufactured ‘Cub house’ has joined the BRE Innovation as providing space heating and hot water. The super- Jaya Skandamoorthy said, ‘We currently have eight homes Park community in Watford. insulated walls minimise heat loss. on the Park, demonstrating a range of different designs in timber, concrete, SIPS, masonry and hempcrete. The Cub is The Cub house concept is the brainchild of interior Further energy requirements are met with the PV panels our first modular steel home bringing with it a new and designer, property developer and former fashion that come as standard. Greig sees the timely introduction unique approach to sustainable housebuilding that we are entrepreneur, Charlie Greig, who is aiming to bring of the Clean Energy Cashback Scheme (Feed-in tariffs) as very excited about.’ modular housing to the mainstream. ‘My vision is to an added bonus for Cub home owners. ‘Not only will provide as many people as possible with the opportunity running costs be low,’ she explains, ‘ but owners of a Cub For more information or to visit the Cub house and the to live in their own beautiful home that works with the can earn an income from the energy generated by the PVs other buildings and technologies on the Innovation Park environment rather then against it,’ says Greig. through this government scheme.’ go to www.bre.co.uk/innovationpark or call 0845 2232 966. Cub is manufactured by the UK-based company ‘A’-rated appliances and low energy lighting are used FutureForm at its factory in Wellingborough, throughout. Water-saving features, including flow Northamptonshire. Designed to Level 5 of the Code for restrictors, reduced-flush systems and rainwater Sustainable Homes, it is a steel frame modular house that harvesting, limit water use to less than 80 litres per person competes on cost with traditionally built housing and per day. boasts average energy bills of £55-100 a year. Wide appeal “My vision is to provide as many people Each Cub has an open-plan kitchen and living room, a The home is designed to suit first-time buyers, those with as possible with the opportunity to shower room and a bedroom. It is transported in two growing families and older people as well. ‘The Cub would halves and fitted together on site – the wiring and be great as a starter home, but I can also see the over 50s live in their own beautiful home that plumbing is connected, and the internal join covered with really going for it,’ says Greig. works with the environment rather double-skin plasterboard and painted. More space can be ‘As well as the running costs being exceptionally low, made by stacking extra Cubs to add one or two floors. then against it.” disabled access has been factored into the design process Each has two bedrooms and a bathroom, with connecting – with all corridors and doorways being SDS compliant. Charlie Greig, Cub house designer staircases, and can be part of the initial order or added Also, the ground-floor bedroom comes with a large later as the owner’s needs and budget grows. walk-in shower with double width door openings.’ Buyers can choose floor, wall, kitchen and bathroom Costs for one 51m2 Cub module (excluding planning and finishes, and extras such as integral sound systems, and groundwork) start at £88,500. can opt for one of Greig’s furniture packages. The homes can be clad in a choice of timber or brick, or the innovative Steni fibreglass cladding that covers the Innovation Park Cub. Impeccable green credentials, however, are standard. The basic Cub, to which additional bedrooms and bathrooms can be The build added as and when required. The Cub’s factory construction reduces waste by 90% and allows for very effective quality control. The responsibly sourced building materials include FSC-approved timber and steel that is 65% recycled. High acoustic and thermal installation systems prevent noise pollution between floors and minimise heat loss. Argon gas sealed window units adhere to strict requirements for solar gain, reflection and brightness, with UV values as low as 1.1. An airtight seal eliminates drafts and contributes to exceptionally low running costs. The Cub is designed to meet Lifetime Home and Secured by Design standards. The home also comes with NHBC Building Control Type Approval, the recognised accreditation for mortgage lenders and insurers. Fire performance – Putting new building systems to the test FIRE PERFORMANCE - PUTTING NEW BUILDING SYSTEMS TO THE TEST New building systems have no proven track record of performance in the event of a fire. LPS 1501 has been developed to test and assess the fire performance of innovative construction methods, and to provide insurers, fire services and regulatory authorities with the performance evidence they need. Debbie Smith reports.

LPS 1501 – Fire test and performance requirements Fire test building Assessment for innovative methods of building construction – is a The fire test building comprises three individual units The performance of the system is evaluated in relation to new Standard that provides a means of assessing the (illustrated right) constructed with all internal and external integrity, insulation and stability criteria. performance of novel forms of building systems, which finishes, but without building contents. One of the units is The integrity of the building system is demonstrated if have no proven track record of performance in fire. the fire test compartment and has a similar unit adjoining the fire is restricted to the compartment of origin for the it, connected through a party wall, and a similar unit It has been developed by BRE Global, in collaboration with duration of the test. Any breakthrough of the fire into the above. key industry stakeholders, to enable LPCB certification of adjoining units constitutes a failure. innovative building systems in different building types, The units adjoining and above the fire compartment are The insulation criteria are met if the temperature on the such as offices, hotels and schools. lined in accordance with the manufacturer’s specification. unexposed surface of the party wall, or the floor of the unit The unit above is loaded uniformly over the floor area to The Standard’s primary objective is to provide insurers, above, remains below an average value of 140°C and a provide a value of imposed load. This is consistent with the fire services and regulatory authorities with evidence that peak value of 180°C for the duration of the test. fire limit state value appropriate for the specific occupancy. innovative building systems can maintain acceptable levels Each building unit is supplied with the cable and service The stability criteria are met if the floor above continues of fire performance in the event of a fire. It covers a range penetrations appropriate to its end use. to support the applied load for the duration of the test, of building types and applications by defining alternative or exhibits deflections not exceeding span/20 for the nominal fire loads and floor loading depending on the Ventilation is provided by unglazed windows in the fire duration of the test. intended use of the building. compartment. Their size and location reflect, as far as reasonably practicable, the building’s end use. To assist with regulatory compliance and to provide LPS 1501 identifies modes of failure that might prevent information in a language understood by many building specific forms of construction (such as modular or The fire load is provided by a number of softwood cribs professionals, the severity of the natural fire exposure panellised systems) from achieving the presumed distributed uniformly on the floor of the fire compartment. is evaluated with respect to an equivalent period in a performance in fire, based on the regulatory compliance Each crib is ignited by applying a flame to strips of standard fire test. The equivalent period of fire resistance of structural elements with current standard testing and paraffin-soaked porous fibre board. The fire load density will be determined either by calculation or direct assessment. Potential weak links include the premature (fire load per unit area of floor) is specified by LPCB and is measurement or a combination of the two. failure of connections or a breach in compartmentation dependent on the nature of the occupancy. due to inadequate fire stopping. Performance is classified with reference to grades relating Measurement to the specific purpose group(s) against which the Fire test Measurements during the test include the atmosphere construction system has been assessed. LPS 1501 provides a performance and classification temperatures in the fire compartment, the surface system for modern buildings based on the results of a temperature of the unexposed face of the party wall, The introduction of LPS 1501 provides a credible property full-scale fire test. The test is carried out in a purpose-built and the surface temperature of the floor above the fire based fire performance test for innovative methods of fire test building. It demonstrates the performance in fire compartment. construction. Specification of LPS 1501 approved building of innovative building systems in relation to the interaction systems will give fire services, regulatory authorities and Additional temperature measurements are made on either between floors and walls, fire stopping around openings insurance companies in the commercial property sector, a side of all cavity barriers to assess performance. Additional and the correct functioning of cavity barriers. high degree of confidence that the buildings in question instrumentation may be installed at the request of the achieve satisfactory levels of fire performance – over and The current standard fire test procedures for elements of manufacturer to provide information on the response of above that required for compliance with the minimum construction, which are required for building regulation the floor, wall and connecting elements. standards of the Building Regulations for life safety. compliance, do not generally consider interactions between different elements or the performance of the For more information – system. 01923 664100, email [email protected] Debbie Smith is Director of Fire Services at BRE Global. Fire performance – Putting new building systems to the test 13 | 14

The fire test building comprises three individual units constructed with all internal and external finishes, but without building contents.

Installing products LPCB certification standards not only cover construction, fire and security products, but also associated services such as installation. Selecting approved products is only half the story – their performance can be severely undermined by poor installation or maintenance. When BRE Global receives an application for certification under one of LPCB’s installer schemes, the company applying is carefully audited as follows: Office audit The office audit establishes the way the company operates. It tracks the work being carried out on site, ensuring the competencies, qualifications and training of operational staff are current and suitable. Records and supporting documentation are examined to ensure that products and systems are consistently installed in accordance with the manufacturers’ instructions and any codes or standards that may apply. For the products being sourced and used, records containing batch/serial numbers, manufacturers’ installation instructions, third party approval and/or supporting test evidence (demonstrating suitability for Compartment wall the application in question) and/or current assessment reports, and evidence of any recorded Quality Assurance inspection must be available to the auditor. Compartment floor Site audit The site audit ensures that installation teams carry out the work in accordance with the correct procedures, as Fire compartment detailed in the manufacturers’ documentation, required codes and standards.

Basic layout for full-sale fire test It also looks for an operational system through which all installations are traceable, and the operatives, dates and products used are all suitably referenced and recorded. There should also be a system in place for project supervisors to physically check work being done – ensuring that products are correctly installed and that this information is recorded to an agreed level. An ongoing programme of site and office audits ensure consistent conformance with the certification scheme. Certification When the assessors are satisfied that all systems and procedures are being correctly operated and adhered to the installer is issued numbered LPCB certificates of conformity for each project. All currently approved installers and products are listed on the RedBookLive website – www.redbooklive.com Recent publications

REPORTS Provision of sanitary appliances and their space Level 3 Diploma in on-construction new build requirements (GG 79) dwellings Building-mounted micro-wind turbines on high-rise Gives minimum recommendations on providing sanitary 22-24 June at BRE Watford and commercial buildings (FB 22) appliances in a range of buildings, domestic and non-domestic. A comprehensive programme of training and assessment Guidance on the most effective height and location for wind £16 (£11 for subscribers). leading to the Level 3 Diploma in on-construction domestic turbine installations on tall buildings (see page 6). energy assessment. £25 (£17.50 for subscribers). TO OBTAIN THESE PUBLICATIONS OR TO SUBSCRIBE TO Contact: 01923 664829, [email protected], BRE CONNECT A guide to the Simplified Building Energy Model www.bre.co.uk/training www.BREBookshop.com (SBEM). What it does and how it works (FB 24) T 01344 328038 BREEAM International assessor training SBEM was developed to meet requirements for the energy F 01344 328005 23-25 June at BRE Global, Watford labelling of buildings. This report describes how SBEM works. It E [email protected] Three-day training for new BREEAM assessors. has been written specifically for professionals who need (or Contact: 01923 664462, [email protected], want) to see behind the user interface, without going into www.bre.co.uk/training mathematical detail. £25 (£17.50 for subscribers). E vents and training Benefitting from FITs Vacant dwellings in England. The challenges and costs 28 June at BRE Watford of bringing them back into use (FB 25) Seminar providing RSLs with the information they need to This report looks at the challenges and costs of bringing vacant Discount on BREEAM and CSH assessor training benefit from Feed-in tariffs (FITs), and an overview of the dwellings back into use. Using data from the English House June-August 2010 at BRE Global, Watford planned, similar scheme for heat generating technologies – the Condition Survey, it examines the profile of vacant dwellings, For a limited period (1 June 2010 to 31 August 2010) BRE Global Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). uncovering the real facts about vacant properties and dispelling is offering a 10% discount on BREEAM and Code for Sustainable Contact: 01923 664800, [email protected], a number of common preconceptions and myths. Homes assessor training for all existing assessors. Now is an www.bre.co.uk/events £22.50 (£15 for subscribers). ideal time to increase the scope of your qualifications and license Energy Management DIGESTS and take advantage of the significant growth in the specification 28-29 June at BRE Watford of BREEAM schemes in the UK and throughout the world. Concise reviews of building technology. Energy Management System BS EN 16001 Contact: 01923 664462, [email protected], 30 June-1 July at BRE Watford Drying distortion of timber (DG 514) www.breeam.org/training Timber that has become distorted after delivery (due to incorrect These new courses will help businesses to implement effective storage for example) can be very expensive to rectify. This Digest SMARTWaste Plan and SWMP Training energy management systems that identify and prioritise where provides guidance on selecting, conditioning and handling 15 June and 13 July at BRE Watford energy can be saved in order to reduce costs. timber, with the emphasis on how to avoid drying distortion. Training on complying with Site Waste Management Plan Contact: 01923 664829, [email protected], £10 (£8 for subscribers). (SWMP) requirements, and on using the free web-based tool, www.bre.co.uk/training SMARTWaste Plan for preparing, implementing and reviewing Code for Sustainable Homes assessor training Lessons learned from real fires (DG 515) SWMPs. 28-30 June at BRE Global, Watford A concise review of fire investigation and the lessons learned Contact: 01923 664800, [email protected], Three-day training course plus additional examination. from real fire incidents (see page 6). £16 (£11 for subscribers). www.bre.co.uk/events Contact: 01923 664462, [email protected], INFORMATION PAPERS BREEAM Education assessor training course www.bre.co.uk/training The latest BRE Group research information and how to apply it. 15-17 June in East Kilbride, Scotland Low carbon solutions for existing homes The first two days of the course provide a foundation for all UK A guide to GreenPrint. Understanding the benefits for 29 June at BRE Watford non-domestic BREEAM schemes. Day three focuses on the sustainable masterplanning (IP 6/10) T-Zero (www.tzero.org.uk) is a free, web-based tool that technical aspects of education buildings. BRE’s GreenPrint methodology will help design teams to deliver identifies optimal low-carbon solutions tailored to specific house Contact: 01923 664462, [email protected], masterplans that maximise the environmental sustainability of a types. A series of seminars is demonstrating the use of the T-Zero www.bre.co.uk/training site development, and can be applied to a wide range of website, and explaining how refurbishing existing homes can building developments from residential to business. Power from building components contribute to national CO2 targets whilst saving money. £13 (£10.50 for subscribers). 16 June at BRE Watford Contact: 01923 664800, [email protected], Building-Integrated PV (BIPV) allows the generation of electrical www.bre.co.uk/events SBEM for non-domestic buildings (IP 7/10) power from components such as tiles and roof laminates. The This Paper describes the basis of SBEM, the input information it BREEAM In-use training BIPV Conference will provide construction professionals with the requires and the energy consumption issues included in the 1 July at BRE Global, Watford expertise and experience of UK installers and suppliers, and of calculation. It explains the roles of SBEM, iSBEM, BRUKL and A one day training course to assess existing buildings. experts from Europe. EPCgen, and supersedes IP 2/07 which is now withdrawn. Contact: 01923 664462, [email protected], Contact: www.bre.co.uk/events £15.50 (£12.50 for subscribers). www.bre.co.uk/training Introduction to renewables Digitally enabled communities (IP 8/10) More information 17 June at BRE Scotland, East Kilbride and Gives a definition of digitally enabled communities and an For more information on events and training courses, 22 June at BRE Watford overview of the technologies available. T 01923 664800 A comprehensive introduction to renewable energy £9.50 (£8 for subscribers). E [email protected] technologies. It will allow participants to make fundamental www.bre.co.uk/events GOOD BUILDING GUIDES assessments of the energy efficiency and costs of particular Practical guidance on building design and construction. renewable technologies in relation to Scotland. Contact: 01923 664829, [email protected], Below-ground drainage systems (GG 78) www.bre.co.uk/training This Guide gives recommendations on all aspects of installing below-ground drainage systems, including performance Building Services Integration with KNX/EIB requirements, drain systems, calculating wastewater flows, 21-25 June at BRE Watford materials, bedding and backfilling, access to drains, rodent Five-day course providing delegates with an understanding of control, workmanship, manholes, testing and inspection. the key elements of design, installation and commissioning of £16 (£11 for subscribers). KNX/EIB systems. Contact: 01923 664627, [email protected], www.bre.co.uk/events