An innovative combination of three reflective, low emissivity wall construction membranes from Protect Membranes has been used to deliver the magic formula for a flagship affordable housing scheme in Swansea on behalf of Gwalia Housing / Pobl Group, delivering thermal efficiency benefits and reduced heat loss.
Appointed by main contractor Morganstone, timber frame specialist Seven Oaks Modular Ltd constructed the wall panels offsite in their factory, followed by delivery and installation on-site. Installing Protect’s reflective membrane solution helped Seven Oaks Modular to reduce material waste during manufacture and value engineer without severely impacting labour cost. The timber frame panels incorporated Protect TF InterFoil, a vapour permeable, reflective membrane installed on the cold side of the insulation, with the foil facing into an airspace to deliver low emissivity performance. This was combined with Protect TF200 Thermo, a reflective, external breather membrane and Protect VC Foil Ultra, an internal vapour control layer on the warm side of the insulation to help create a radiant barrier. This system achieved the client’s target U-value of 0.19W/m²K and achieved important insulation savings, with a reduced thickness of PIR needed for the 140mm stud without increasing the overall wall footprint.
Warren Rowlands, Senior Designer at Seven Oaks Modular commented,
“The use of Protect’s full reflective membrane system enabled us to not only value engineer this project but ensure a robust solution that provided affordability to the client. The innovative application of membranes offering low emissivity within unventilated cavities was easy to incorporate into our timber frame panels at the factory, ensuring the structure retained thermal efficiency and met our target U-value.”
Based on the site of the former Four Seasons Social Club in Swansea, Wales with a completion date in 2019, this new build development offers a mix of 41 affordable homes all of timber frame construction, including two and three bedroom houses, one and two bedroom apartments and two bedroom bungalows.
A sister company to roof ventilation and building products company Glidevale and a division of Building Product Design Ltd, Protect is a member of the Structural Timber Association (STA), holds the STA Assure Gold Accreditation and is a member of the Modular and Portable Building Association (MPBA). Products are CE marked to relevant standards and are Q-Mark certified to BM TRADA.
To discuss how Protect products can be incorporated into both modular or traditional build, whether residential or commercial, please email us at info(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)protectmembranes.com or give us a call on 0161 905 5700, quoting Four Seasons.