Safeguard Europe – the UK’s leading specialist in
damp- and waterproofing, and masonry repair solutions – has developed a
cost-effective system to improve the energy efficiency of solid-walled
properties.
The launch of Stormdry
EPC comes as the new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) relating to
rented properties have taken effect.
The new standards,
which originate in The Energy Act 2011,
say that from April 1st this year any
commercial or residential property that is being let for the first time, or
where a lease is renewed, must achieve an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
of Grade E or above.
The rules will extend
to cover existing leases from April 2020 for domestic properties and April 2023
for commercial ones.
Historically,
properties with solid walls, rather than cavities, have been the most difficult
and challenging to insulate. Typically for these properties, 54% of their heat
goes through their walls, a figure which can rise for end-of-terrace homes or
bungalows.
Stormdry EPC provides
landlords – and other property owners – with a cost-effective way to improve
the thermal performance of solid-walled properties. It offers an alternative to
conventional solutions such as external wall insulation (EWI) and standard internal
wall insulation (IWI) which can be expensive, disruptive or both.
The system combines
two Safeguard technologies to treat a wall both inside and out: Stormdry
masonry cream and a ‘skinny’ IWI panel. The result is a system which reduces
the U-value of a damp, uninsulated masonry wall from 1.7 W/m2K down to 0.87 W/m2K.
For a typical
mid-terrace property with uninsulated solid walls that has an EPC rating of F,
the application of the Stormdry EPC alone would be sufficient to move it up to
the E rating required under MEES. For a ground floor flat or a small
semi-detached house, the E rating could be achieved with very minor additional
investment such as an insulating jacket for the boiler, energy efficient
lighting and draft sealing.
Stormdry masonry cream
can be applied with brush or roller to brick, mortar, sandstone or concrete. It
provides a breathable membrane, coating the inside of the pores of the
substrate so that water can evaporate out through it but cannot penetrate in.
This means that, unlike some competitor products, it can be applied to wet
walls because it will allow the water to evaporate out.
Applying Stormdry
alone would give a significant energy efficiency boost for properties suffering
from rain penetration. A dry brick wall can provide up to twice the thermal
insulation of a wet one.
The IWI comes in
13mm-thick flexible panels which can be stuck straight onto existing walls. It
is made from an aerogel, which has extremely low thermal conductivity due to
its highly porous nature. Its super-slim profile means that a room’s dimensions
are barely diminished and that period features do not have to be sacrificed. By
using trim beads, it is even possible to leave features such as skirtings and
covings in place, rather than having to remove and reinstate them. Once in
place, the tiles can be skimmed with plaster.
When it comes to cost,
Stormdry EPC is a very attractive solution. The cost per square metre of
the Stormdry is £20m2 and the IWI is
£60m2, plus adhesive and any
detailing such as beads. The National Insulation Association quotes the cost of
EWI between £8,000 and £22,000, depending on the type and size of property and
IWI from £4,000 to £13,000.
