SMARTPLY PROPASSIV provides energy efficient solution to environmental engineer’s Passivhaus project

Latest News Tue, Feb 4, 2020 4:36 PM

Nestled in the fashionable, switched-on London borough of Camden, high-performance Max Fordham House has been completed to the highest energy saving standards with SMARTPLY PROPASSIV.

An ultra-low energy, all-electric, contemporary three-bedroom ‘Passivhaus’, Max Fordham House is specifically designed by bere:architects to feature a thermal envelope geared towards reducing heat loss.

The less heat lost from a building, the more overall environmentally efficient it can be. One way to do achieve as little heat loss as possible is making the building airtight, which is the aim of the Passivhaus system.

SMARTPLY PROPASSIV, a structural OSB panel with integrated vapour control developed by MEDITE SMARTPLY especially for use in Passivhaus construction, is the vital ingredient in this project. Specified by the award-winning Bow Tie Construction company, SMARTPLY PROPASSIV provides a state-of-the-art, engineered vapour barrier with consistently high vapour resistance over the entire surface.

“The house uses a fabric-first Passivhaus approach, requiring only a fraction of the energy needed by a similarly sized home built to the minimum requirements of UK Building Regulations, for all uses including heating,” Hagop Heath-Matossian, Business Development Manager at Bow Tie Construction, says.

“We chose to specify SMARTPLY PROPASSIV because it is efficient, reliable and it was important to us that all timber products used were sustainably manufactured and sourced; PROPASSIV offered us a guaranteed sustainable timber solution. Vitally, the client was delighted with the end result.”

Max Fordham House, which was completed in the Spring of 2019 and achieves an Energy Performance Certificate of B 83, is the third project that Bow Tie Construction has specified PROPASSIV for, favouring it for its rigidity and quality assurance compared to a traditional membrane-based system.

Hagop explains: “PROPASSIV was specifically used to insulate the roof of the Max Fordham House, but has been used within the entire interior space in other Passivhaus projects previously, to great success.”

In most Passivhaus projects in the UK, a membrane is used as an airtight barrier for the properties’ insulation, however, such solutions can be easily damaged during the construction process. SMARTPLY PROPASSIV offers a solution to this as it will not come apart during a negative pressure test like a membrane would. It even remains up to five times more airtight than in the majority of other airtight materials usually used in Passivhaus building. As a result, SMARTPLY PROPASSIV has been highly favoured for UK Passivhaus projects.

An extremely detailed set of construction drawings, 3D BIM model and bill of quantities was used to help the contractor order just enough of all required products, just in time, contributing to making this project as environmentally friendly as possible by ensuring all waste was at an absolute minimum.

Stylishly modern throughout, Max Fordham House makes the most of open spaces and wide, sweeping interiors, which are flooded with natural light let in via skylights.

Featured News

Specification news
Natural History Museum awards contract to Mace for new...

The Natural History Museum has appointed Mace as the main contractor to manage and...

Read More >>

Specification news
Want the Lowdown on Rainscreen Cladding Specification?...

As the popularity of external cladding on UK homes grows, Dan Redfern, Head of...

Read More >>

BUILDING PRODUCT LIBRARY - LATEST BROCHURES

Proctors Spacetherm Building & Construction Brochure

Proctors Spacetherm...
By A Proctor Group Ltd.

Download Now >>

Proctors Proctor Passive Brochure

Proctors Proctor Pas...
By A Proctor Group Ltd.

Download Now >>

Proctors Air Brochure Brochure

Proctors Air Brochur...
By A Proctor Group Ltd.

Download Now >>

Proctors Modular & Offsite Solutions Brochure

Proctors Modular & O...
By A Proctor Group Ltd.

Download Now >>

Proctors Hamm Principles Brochure

Proctors Hamm Princi...
By A Proctor Group Ltd.

Download Now >>

BUILDING PRODUCT DIRECTORY - LATEST PRODUCTS

SOPRALENE FLAM 180 AF
SOPRALENE FLAM 180 AF

Membrane composed of elastomer modified bitumen and a non woven polyester reinforcement.The upper...

Read More >>

FLAGON SR DE PVC
FLAGON SR DE PVC

Membrane composed of flexible PVC and a polyester reinforcement. Available in different RAL...

Read More >>

FLAGON S PVC
FLAGON S PVC

Membrane composed of flexible PVC. Available in different RAL Colours.Used for detailing work. The...

Read More >>

CONSTRUCTION VIDEOS - LATEST VIDEOS

Why our Canopies Last Longer
Why our Canopies Last Longer

https://www.aandslandscape.co.uk/ Find out why A&S Landscape Canopies last longer than alternatives....

Watch Now >>

Enclosed Dining Canopy - Hampton Gardens School
Enclosed Dining Canopy - Hampton Gardens School

A&S Landscape designed and installed a large enclosed, curved roof canopy for Hampton Gardens School...

Watch Now >>

Dining Area Canopy at John Spendluffe Technology College
Dining Area Canopy at John Spendluffe Technology College

We designed and installed a new dining area canopy for John Spendluffe Technology College. This has...

Watch Now >>