From 1st April next year, rental properties in England and Wales will be subject to new energy performance requirements under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES). The new standards mean that rental properties must achieve an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of E or better. They will initially apply when properties which are currently subject to the requirements of an EPC are put up for rent, or have their leases renewed, and will become compulsory for all rental properties by 2023.
Clearly, MEES will present new opportunities for the construction industry, particularly as the government has already stated its intention to review the minimum level in 2020. As such, solutions should not simply be targeted at meeting the minimum level of compliance – but at providing significant, lasting changes in the energy performance of the property. Insulation retrofits can offer an effective route to achieving this and through the use of vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) specifiers can now target areas previously considered too difficult to insulate.
VIPs
VIPs, such as Kingspan OPTIM-R, feature a micro-porous core which is evacuated and sealed in a thin, gas-tight membrane, which maintains the vacuum over time. This vacuum technology allows them to achieve aged thermal conductivities as low as 0.007 W/m.K – up to five times better than that of commonly used insulation materials. As a result, they can deliver the desired U-value with a much thinner construction than would otherwise be possible.
VIPs are typically accompanied with rigid insulation panels of the same thickness. These boards can be cut as infill strips around the VIPs or to allow penetration through the insulation layer. To ensure the slimmest possible construction, some suppliers also provide tailored design services to achieve the best possible ratio of VIPs to infill panels.
Solid Floors
The benefits of VIPs are particularly clear in solid floor applications. In order to accommodate an effective thickness of traditional insulation, it is often necessary to manually dig out and remove a large volume of material, leading to increases in project times and cost. For example, the minimum U-value target for refurbished floors under Approved Document L1B 2013 is 0.25 W/m2.K. To achieve this in a typical 1950s semi-detached house with a 84 m2 (perimeter/area ratio of 0.42) floor area, where the existing floor is being replaced, 80 mm EPS (0.038 W/m.K) is needed.
In contrast, a VIPs system including 15% infill panels can achieve the required U-value performance with a thickness of just 20 mm, meaning less soil needs to be removed. This should allow work to be completed quicker and easier, helping to minimise disruption for the building owners and reducing construction costs. Infill panels should also be installed vertically around the floor edge to help limit thermal bridging.
The alternative for refurbishment projects is to raise the existing floor level. However, this will reduce the floor to ceiling height within the room and requires fixtures and services such as plug sockets, door lintels and radiators to be raised in line with the floor level, creating yet more remedial work and again increasing the time and cost involved. VIPs provide an ultra-thin solution, helping to keep projects on track without compromising on head height.
Slim Efficiency
With the government ratifying the Paris Agreement last year, the energy performance and carbon emissions of the country’s large existing building stock will need to be addressed over the coming years. Measures such as MEES represent the latest step in this process. By utilising problem solving products such as VIPs, specifiers can maximise the fabric performance of properties without having to compromise on internal space, creating comfortable, energy efficient buildings.
For further information and technical support, please contact:
Tel: +44 (0) 1544 387 384
Fax: +44 (0) 1544 387 484
e.mail: info@kingspaninsulation.co.uk
website: www.kingspaninsulation.co.uk/optim-r
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