THE KEY TO UNLOCKING EXTERNAL WALL INSULATION’S FULL POTENTIAL

With Government initiatives, such as the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF), providing an opportunity for local authorities, housing associations and other registered social landlords to improve the energy efficiency of their housing stock, there are many parties involved in the delivery of these schemes and many critical key processes that need to be followed. Richard Tocher, Sales Director at PermaRock, explains why early engagement and collaboration are essential to successfully utilising external wall insulation (EWI), one of the main energy-efficiency measures.

As the specification to which you must adhere to if carrying out funded works will tell you, a whole-house strategy must incorporate a fabric-first approach. PAS 2035 involves identifying areas where energy-efficiency improvements can be made and provides a framework for specifying and designing the relevant improvement measures. In the majority of funded retrofit work, there is a requirement to improve the building fabric.

Although EWI is only one of several approaches to reducing heat loss through walls, it’s one that requires precision to get right – which is where our contribution to the PAS process is imperative. That said, to get it right, an awareness of the advantages of early engagement and commitment to collaboration can make a world of difference.

Being on the front foot

A main contractor vying for the opportunity to deliver a funded social housing decarbonisation project should always engage its supply chain as early as possible. Without a strong supply chain, a contractor may be unable to satisfy a client’s requirements and mobilise quickly. Furthermore, it is critical suppliers can begin working with retrofit assessors, coordinators and designers who need to examine the stock condition and understand what specific measures are suitable, and how they can be effectively designed to fully meet the needs of the scheme in hand.

Beyond just the suitable measures, a thorough understanding of the scheme’s properties – including archetypes, condition and occupancy – will help retrofit designers to consider how systems can interact, be compliant within PAS 2030 and PAS 2035, and at what cost.

Most clients will have already engaged with planners to establish any planning restrictions that may apply, and PermaRock, as EWI system suppliers, are particularly interested to be involved at all stages, including the initial ‘vision’ so that we can advise on appropriate material selection.

For example, whether it’s a plain render or a brickwork effect specified in the design, most aesthetics can be achieved where the desired finish may be required to match up with the in-situ look of the building. Alternatively, there is also an opportunity to depart from the original appearance, subject to planning approval.

Performance criteria is another project factor more easily met through early engagement. Despite the client deciding the performance criteria for its projects, after following Government statute first and meeting the funding requirements, EWI can be used to futureproof investments and increase the performance and longevity of the retrofit works by, for example, targeting a lower (better) U-value.

Before making decisions, dialogue between the retrofit designer and client is required to explore how going above minimum building standards might be achieved and this is enhanced with input from an EWI provider that has been consulted early on. With new minimum energy-efficiency standards for the social housing sector currently being considered by the Government, exploring options more thoroughly now may pay off in the future when higherrated Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) are required.

Early engagement also helps to avoid assumptions and avoid potential for specifications to fall short of performance requirements. While there is often a headline vision for performance and aesthetics, every property is unique and requires its own retrofit assessment and design when following PAS 2035.

Retrofit assessments are essential for an EWI measure to be implemented most successfully, and obtaining accurate information at the earliest stage is key to success. The earlier any information gaps are identified, this can be shared, and then the best possible tailored solutions can be implemented.

Collaboration consistency

Our commitment to ensuring that works are undertaken in compliance with the PAS standards involves supporting all stakeholders – including the EWI installer – making frequent visits to the ongoing works, both to help ensure that the EWI system is being installed correctly and also to assist in advising on any detailing issues that may have possibly been overlooked during the initial assessment and design process. This helps keep a hold on cost, feasibility and programme assurance, but the commitment doesn’t – and shouldn’t –stop there. www.permarock.com

Best practice means having the right people in the right place at the right time. Our dedicated technical services team not only assists the designer, but also completes regular site visits, providing hands-on installation support to the site teams and installers. While this support isn’t in our contractual remit as an EWI system supplier, it is a service we provide to help to ensure the risk to our customers is minimised and our insulation solution performs to the best of its ability, investment risk for the client is reduced as a result.

Sustaining support throughout a scheme is important, being both proactive and reactive. This means early engagement with preconstruction, on site and post-project matters. Naturally, design changes are sometimes necessary, so we stay involved and support retrofit designers in amending their inputs where required.

While our approach sounds great in theory, we know it to be great in practice too. The support we have provided to, amongst others, decarbonisation turnkey solutions provider Sustainable Building Services (UK) has seen us successfully deliver to the highest retrofit standard under multiple Government schemes, including the Green Homes Grant, Local Authority Delivery (LAD) and Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Waves 1 and 2. There will be more funding in the future and it’s never too early to engage with supply chain on a best-practice mission.