radical simplicity in passivhaus timber building

NickGrantElementalsolutions.co.uk

@ecominimalnick

Radicalsimplicity;Howtoachievehighperformancetimberbuilding,affordably:Woodbuild Wales2017

PhotoJuraj Mikurcik

Aspirationalsustainabilityisanoxymoron

“I’dlovetodesignanEco-House*butwehaven’thadtherightclient”*Insertenvironmentaltargetofchoice.

Sustainablebuildingsforthemanynotthefew

Manifesto

ValueEngineeringIstheAnswer!But>90%ofArchitectsthinkisisabadthing

Animageproblem:

Value= FunctionCost

Natureisallaboutvalue

Image;tes.com

Eventhepeacockisoptimisedbyconstraints

ValueEngineering CostCutting

VEvs.Costcutting

NickGrant,www.elementalsolutions.co.uk

ValueEngineering CostCutting

NickGrant,www.elementalsolutions.co.uk

DaisyStone;Flickr

VEvs.Costcutting

Example:Airtightness

MoreimportantthanthickinsulationItisagoodthing– trustme!

• Comfort– nodrafts• Airquality– crucialforgoodventilation!• Durabilityofbuild(interstitialcondensationrisk)• Measurabletestofbuildquality

• (Alsosavesenergy)

Airtightnesscanbedifficult

(Verytidywork,don’tblamethebuilderforthecostorfinalresult)

FromTwitter

Useasmallchildtodothisbit

Orsimple

Welikerobustboardbasedairbarriers

stripofmembrane

wallstopsshortuntiltapingcompleteorusestripofmembrane

FirsttimePassivhausBuilder,n50 =0.1airchanges/hourfirsttest

Nostructuralpenetrations

Mike Whitfield super-insulated traditional cruck frame extension

NickGrant,www.elementalsolutions.co.uk

ThislookstrickybutisactuallyOK!(structureinside)

AlsoontheoutsideWeathertightness…

Veryfiddly,lotsoftape,notrobust Wind&watertight&cheapertobuild.Samedetailusedforun-insulatedgarage.

NickGrant,www.elementalsolutions.co.uk

Airtightnessisgoodvalueifdesignedin

n500.2isthenew0.6

(Builder’sresponsetobeingtoldthathehasachieved0.6airchanges.Hegot0.16onpreviousjob!)

Likeridingabike

ManyWayse.g.Wrapa2x4standardhouse,robustandsimplesteps.

slab EPS

EPS

4x2frameisservicevoid(insulated)

airbarrier

LarsenTruss

ArchitectAdrianCook

TyCasimCrickhowel

n50=0.18airchanges

RadicalapproachIstudsteeteringonfloatingslabedge!

slab EPS

EPS

Genuinelyminimal

servicevoid

airbarrier

Istuds

As light as aballoon(frame)

Detailshaveevolvedoveranumberofprojects

lessfiddlybits!

NickGrant,CharlesGrylls &MikeWhitfield

Designforeasyon-sitebuildFlexiblewindowlocation

Structural slab

Lod

Thermalmodellingonlyworthdoingifdetailswillberepeated.Economyofscale.

©ElementalSolutions

NickGrant,www.elementalsolutions.co.uk

Fixedwindows30%cheaper– thelargerwindowsarefixed.Nomullions

nofluenow!

NickGrant,www.elementalsolutions.co.uk

SlateCottage

Bump-outsoutsidethethermalenvelope

CheapcorrugatedAluzincroof

n50=0.26airchanges

Designedfromtheinsideout.Windowsize,shapeandpositiondrivenbyfunction– includingframedviewswithprivacywhilstinbed

TyPren Self-BuildBlaenfossArchitectDempseyDecourcy

TyPren Self-BuildBlaenfoss

DaybeforestormDoris!

TyPren Self-BuildBlaenfoss

TyPren Self-BuildBlaenfoss

TyPren Self-BuildBlaenfoss

Windowsinstalledbehindthewrapinthedry

TyPren Self-BuildBlaenfoss

Firsttimeusingtapesn50=0.1airchanges!(0.09m/h– newUKrecord?)

TyPren Self-BuildBlaenfoss

Self-builderDaiwithAdamandcamerashyDad,JimofWoodandGlass.

“it’saneasywaytobuildahouse”

MoreinfoHowtoBuildaPassivhaus;Freetodownload:PassivhausTrust.org

Otherdownloadsandinfo:ElementalSolutions.co.uk

Thanks

@ecominimalnick