High Performance Buildings – Comfort, Health and Matt Robinson NBT Consult and Natural Building Technologies www.nbtconsult.co.uk

Matt Robinson

NBT Consult and

Natural Building Technologies

Occupant Comfort Dependant on: Temperature Humidity Noise Light Smell www.nbtconsult.co.uk

Dependant on:

Temperature

Humidity

Noise

Light

Smell

Temperature & Humidity (Comfort) Ideally: Between 40-60% RH Between 18-22 0 c www.nbtconsult.co.uk

Ideally:

Between 40-60% RH

Between 18-22 0 c

Temperature & Humidity (Health) The Sterling table Identical ‘ideal zone’ to comfort www.nbtconsult.co.uk

The Sterling table

Identical ‘ideal zone’ to comfort

Sound Many building systems which have been designed for good thermal performance will not necessarily be good from an acoustic point of view. Certain types of thermal insulation can actually be bad for acoustic insulation, by increasing noise reverberation and flanking sound. Very difficult and expensive to retro-fit sound insulation www.nbtconsult.co.uk

Many building systems which have been designed for good thermal performance will not necessarily be good from an acoustic point of view.

Certain types of thermal insulation can actually be bad for acoustic insulation, by increasing noise reverberation and flanking sound.

Very difficult and expensive to retro-fit sound insulation

Light Generally natural daylight is understood to be beneficial both to health and well being Good daylight means levels of daylight which are sufficient to see properly without glare or excessive contrast Certain types of artificial lighting, highly reflective surfaces etc can cause discomfort and ill health in certain situations www.nbtconsult.co.uk

Generally natural daylight is understood to be beneficial both to health and well being

Good daylight means levels of daylight which are sufficient to see properly without glare or excessive contrast

Certain types of artificial lighting, highly reflective surfaces etc can cause discomfort and ill health in certain situations

Smell Health and comfort issues (e.g. VOC’s can smell and cause allergic reaction) Eliminate odours and airborne irritants of all kinds Cheaper and simpler to do this ‘at source’ Be very aware: Stable product? – e.g. pvc/vynls Can include natural substances e.g. Pine and Citrus oils in ‘natural’ paints www.nbtconsult.co.uk

Health and comfort issues

(e.g. VOC’s can smell and cause allergic reaction)

Eliminate odours and airborne irritants of all kinds

Cheaper and simpler to do this ‘at source’

Be very aware:

Stable product? – e.g. pvc/vynls

Can include natural substances e.g. Pine and Citrus oils in ‘natural’ paints

Smell Some materials and construction types can absorb odours and neutralise them e.g.: Unfired clay products in plaster, blocks or boards Protein based products (e.g. Sheepswool) in carpets, furnishings and insulation www.nbtconsult.co.uk

Some materials and construction types can absorb odours and neutralise them e.g.:

Unfired clay products in plaster, blocks or boards

Protein based products (e.g. Sheepswool) in carpets, furnishings and insulation

How – Temperature & Humidity Good thermal performance = more stable temperatures = less heating and cooling input Good insulation (not headline U-Values) Thermal mass Slow response to external Fast response to internal This is best achieved by materials and construction system Pavatherm roof with 10+hour decrement delay www.nbtconsult.co.uk

Good thermal performance

= more stable temperatures

= less heating and cooling input

Good insulation (not headline U-Values)

Thermal mass

Slow response to external

Fast response to internal

This is best achieved by materials and construction system

How – Temperature & Humidity Air tightness – good for thermal, poor for humidity Go hand in hand – are we repeating problems of the past by not ventilating? Can ‘traditional’ UK systems be made aritight? MVHR is important in maintaining a stable indoor temperature, humidity and constant fresh air Can passive ventilation cope? Pavaclad system, with clear airtightness layer

Air tightness – good for thermal, poor for humidity

Go hand in hand – are we repeating problems of the past by not ventilating?

Can ‘traditional’ UK systems be made aritight?

MVHR is important in maintaining a stable indoor temperature, humidity and constant fresh air

Can passive ventilation cope?

How – Temperature & Humidity True ‘Breathing Wall’ systems Vapour permeability (how materials allow water vapour to pass through) • Hygroscopicity (how materials absorb/release water vapour) • Capillarity (the transmission of liquid water) Provide a stable RH, by acting as a buffer Assist in the process of removing excess moisture and water Image curtesy of Kingerlee Homes – Thermoplan in use www.nbtconsult.co.uk

True ‘Breathing Wall’ systems

Vapour permeability (how materials allow water vapour to pass through)

• Hygroscopicity (how materials absorb/release water vapour)

• Capillarity (the transmission of liquid water)

Provide a stable RH, by acting as a buffer

Assist in the process of removing excess moisture and water

How to - Light Good design Orientation, features and structure to maximise light as well as solar heat gain Passive features are more cost effective User controllable – e.g. Blinds, switching Images curtesy of www.greenspec.co.uk www.nbtconsult.co.uk

Good design

Orientation, features and structure to maximise light as well as solar heat gain

Passive features are more cost effective

User controllable – e.g. Blinds, switching

How to - Sound Choice of construction system is the biggest factor Materials with inherently good sound absorbing properties Systems with simple and robust detailing – less reliant on ‘Jonny the subby’ on Friday ThermoPlan in use www.nbtconsult.co.uk

Choice of construction system is the biggest factor

Materials with inherently good sound absorbing properties

Systems with simple and robust detailing – less reliant on ‘Jonny the subby’ on Friday

How to – Smell and Off-gassing Choice of construction materials is the biggest factor (avoidance strategy) By volume, wall/roof/floor is important By proximity its internal fixtures Less processed, more natural materials will have an advantage Cost of such systems is often competitive due to simpler construction, lower energy input etc. www.nbtconsult.co.uk

Choice of construction materials is the biggest factor (avoidance strategy)

By volume, wall/roof/floor is important

By proximity its internal fixtures

Less processed, more natural materials will have an advantage

Cost of such systems is often competitive due to simpler construction, lower energy input etc.

How to – The Whole Approach Back to basics: Good (passive) design Good specification Materials and systems that work for you Breathing wall construction systems Natural materials Avoidance of materials that off-gas MVHR 80% of achieving this is the building envelope . www.nbtconsult.co.uk

Back to basics:

Good (passive) design

Good specification

Materials and systems that work for you

Breathing wall construction systems

Natural materials

Avoidance of materials that off-gas

MVHR

80% of achieving this is

the building envelope .

Bringing it all together – High Performance Buildings www.nbtconsult.co.uk

Contact Matt Robinson - [email_address] Neil May and Andrew Mitchell – 01844 338 338 Stand E430 at EcoBuild www.nbtconsult.co.uk www.nbtconsult.co.uk