Build for the future: Isover Multi-Comfort House

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Foreword

As a world leader in designing, manufacturing and distributing building materials, Saint-Gobain is committed to providing innovative solutions to the most fundamental challenges facing the world today; reducing energy consumption, limiting our impact on the environment and creating a new generation of buildings which are safe, comfortable and energy efficient.

Isover is part of the Saint-Gobain Group, a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of building materials for the construction market.

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1 In the UK, we need to eliminate carbon emissions from our built environment by 2050 to meet the commitment of the Climate Change Act. The UK’s housing stock is responsible for 27% of the UK’s CO2 emissions. The Isover Multi-Comfort House concept is based on Passivhaus performance principles. Building to Isover Multi-Comfort House levels offers optimal thermal comfort and related energy savings. In addition, building to Isover Multi-Comfort House levels also combines excellent acoustic and visual comfort with superb internal air quality, fire protection and safety. It allows great flexibility in building design, both externally and internally. The Isover Multi-Comfort House forms the foundation of Isover’s core belief in the sustainable development of buildings. Helen Tunnicliffe - Head of Marketing Saint-Gobain Isover

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UK Context

04-07

Climate Change

04

UK Commitments

05

Energy in our Homes

05

Building Regulations

06

Zero Carbon Hub

06

The Passivhaus Concept

07

The Concept

08-21

Isover Multi-Comfort House Introduction

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Isover Multi-Comfort House Explained

09

Relating Isover Multi-Comfort House 10 to Passivhaus and Building Regulations Principles of Isover Multi-Comfort House

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Thermal Performance

14

Acoustic Performance

16

Airtight Building Envelope

18

Energy Efficient Windows

20

Heat Ventilation Systems

21

Designing an 22-37 Isover Multi-Comfort House SAP vs PHPP

22

As Built vs Designed Performance

23

Masonry Construction Details

24

Timber Frame Construction Details

30

Renovating to Isover Multi-Comfort 36 House Standards

Isover Credentials 38-47 Working with Accredited Industry Bodies

38

AECB and RIBA Accredited Courses

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Case Study 1 – Clos Des Dens, Switzerland

40

Case Study 2 – Komfort Husene, Denmark

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Case Study 3 – Austria Passivhaus, Canada

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Case Study 4 – Sophienhof Complex, Germany

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UK Context

1

Climate Change is the biggest threat to the global environment that needs an urgent and radical response across the world

Climate Change: The Facts “Climate” is the average weather experienced over a long period, including temperature, wind and rainfall The Earth’s climate is not fixed, in the past it has changed many times in response to a variety of natural causes The Earth’s surface has warmed by about 0.754°C on average since 1900, and by a further 0.4°C since the 1970s

Energy Security

Fuel Poverty

Running alongside this urgent response is the UK’s need to ensure clean, safe and affordable energy in order to provide power and heat for our own environments, be they our homes, our places of work or leisure.

Fuel poverty occurs where a household cannot afford to keep warm. This can compromise not only the living comfort of householders but their health and safety. It is caused by a combination of poor energy efficiency in homes, low incomes and high energy prices.

The UK’s reserves of oil and gas are dwindling. While significant amounts remain in the North Sea, production has hit its height and is now reducing. We are increasingly reliant on imports from less stable regions.

For these three major reasons we need to create a world that is low carbon and low energy, using our available resources in the most efficient way. But how? By making substantial changes to the way we live and work, including how we manage and use energy.

The Climate Change Act The Climate Change Act became law in the UK in November 2008. The Climate Change Act commits the UK to reduce CO2 emissions by a minimum of 26% by the year 2020 with a long term goal of 80% reduction by 2050. Fuel poverty currently affects around one quarter of all UK households.

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The latest report generated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (Fourth Assessment Report – AR4) leaves no doubt that human activity is the main cause of the warming observed since 1900 The key human influence is the emission of ‘greenhouse gases’ such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and nitrous oxide – they build up in the atmosphere and strengthen the ‘greenhouse effect’ Currently, over 30 billion tonnes of CO2 are emitted globally each year by burning fossil fuels Atmospheric concentration of CO2 is now higher than at any time in the last 800,000 years According to the AR4 report, average global temperatures are likely to rise 1.8°C – 4°C by the end of this century, depending on our future emissions of greenhouse gases – this could cause rising sea levels (min 26cm), continued melting of the ice caps and glaciers, major changes in rainfall patterns and intensification of hurricanes

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What has the UK done to achieve the commitments of the Climate Change Act? Introduced mandatory Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for the sale / purchase of new and existing homes and display energy certificates (DECs) for buildings over 250m2 It is working with energy suppliers who, through the Carbon Emission Reduction Target (CERT), which replaced the previous Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC) provide support to householders to help them improve the energy efficiency of their homes The Government banned incandescent light bulbs in favour of Energy Saving Light Bulbs Introduced the Climate Change Levy, where businesses must pay additional tax on their energy use that is non-renewable energy

Brought in a Renewables Obligation whereby all electricity suppliers must provide 10% of the electricity they sell from renewable sources The Government has passed the Energy Act 2011 to introduce measures such as the Feed-In Tariff, Smart Metering, Renewable Heat Incentives and Carbon Capture & Storage Lowered VAT to 5% on some professionally installed insulation and heating control measures to improve energy efficiency

We need to look to eliminate carbon emissions from our built environment by 2050 to meet the commitment of the Climate Change Act. This means making our buildings as energy efficient as possible plus the on-site usage of renewable energy, community scale renewables and decarbonisation of the grid. The UK’s housing stock is responsible for 30% of primary energy use in the UK and 27% of the UK’s CO2 emissions.

16%

27%

transport

home energy

The UK Government are set to introduce its highly publicised Green Deal in 2012. The Green Deal is a framework that enables firms to offer consumers the opportunity to invest in the thermal upgrade of their property at no upfront cost and attach the charge to their utility bill.

Energy in our homes

The UK’s built environment will play a major part in the battle against climate change. Approximately 45% of CO2 emissions in the UK come from the energy used in our homes and other buildings we use, including our schools, hospitals and offices.

In 2008, total UK CO2 emissions were 533 million tonnes. 27% (144 million tonnes) of those emissions came from the energy we use to heat, light and power our homes. Our transport emissions caused by passenger cars, buses and mopeds and motorcycles account for a further 16% (87 million tonnes) of CO2 emissions.

57% other

CO2 emissions by end user:

4%

public buildings

40% business

28%

transport

27% domestic

1%

agriculture, forestry and land management

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UK Context

Building Regulations and future building standards As presented in the preceding pages, the UK Government has signalled its intention to significantly reduce energy use in buildings as an important element in its climate change strategy, and its approach to securing energy supplies in the future. The minimum energy efficiency requirements in Part L (& Section 6 Scotland) of the Building Regulations are one of the mechanisms through which these reductions are to be achieved. The latest revision of Part L came into effect in October 2010. Figure 1 sets out, with respect to carbon emissions, the improvements over the 2006 standards that are targeted for the 2010, 2013 and 2016 regulations. These equate to the energy performance standards in the Code for Sustainable Homes Levels 4, 5 and 6 respectively.

The current revision of Approved Document Part L (2010) will deliver a 25% reduction in carbon emissions from new buildings, relative to the standard set in Approved Document Part L (2006). This will make new homes more energy efficient, typically saving home occupiers £100 a year on heating bills and an annual saving of 2 million tonnes of carbon by 2020. The Fabric Energy Efficiency Standards (FEES) In December 2008 the Government consulted on the definition of zero carbon homes to provide industry with a clearer concept of what this would mean from 2016 onwards. The Zero Carbon Hub has carried out extensive modelling work to establish typical solutions required to meet zero carbon requirements. These studies clearly defined that building fabric performance is the key starting point in reaching a zero carbon goal, followed by the addition of low and zero carbon technologies.

Percentage of 2006 standard

120% 100%

A Group was convened by the Zero Carbon Hub in response to an invitation by the Minister for Housing and Local Government in August 2010 to consider appropriate carbon compliance levels from 2016. A Task Group convened by the Zero Carbon Hub has delivered a report to the Minister for Housing and Local Government setting out its recommendations for carbon compliance levels for new homes from 2016. Carbon Compliance – that is, on-site reductions in emissions – form part of the Government’s overall plan for achieving zero carbon homes; the other part comprises off-site “allowable solutions.” The Task Group has submitted recommendations to Government about how to make the next steps in achieving zero carbon as effective as possible whilst being compatible with delivery of the full range of housing required. Separate compliance limits are recommended for detached houses, other houses and low rise apartments.  The Task Group has found that the proposal from July 2009, to tighten the carbon compliance standard from 2016 by 70% (equivalent to 6kg CO2 (eq) /m2/year), may not be achievable in all cases. The recommendations are that the “built performance” emissions from new homes should not exceed: 

80% 60% 40%

10kg CO2(eq) /m2/year for detached houses

20%

11kg CO2(eq) /m2/year for other houses

0%

14kg CO2(eq) /m2/year for low rise apartment blocks

-20% -40% -60%

www.zerocarbonhub.org

TER2006

2010

2013 Year

Figure 1: Percentage reduction in target carbon emissions (TER) required by each standard (base = 2006 standard)

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2016

A key element of the Group’s recommendations is to ensure that the potential gap between “as designed” and “as built” standards is closed.  For this reason the recommendations cannot be directly compared with current standards.

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The Passivhaus standard Passivhaus is the best energy efficient design strategy using conventional building components; outperforming all regulatory standards. The basic theory is to reduce the heating and cooling needs of the home, so that it hardly needs to produce any heating or cooling to meet this tiny demand. In the construction process of a Passivhaus, greater attention is given to how the building is assembled: no gaps in the insulation; no pipes in the exterior walls; no thermal bridges (a building component that assists heat energy getting from the exterior to the interior or vice-versa); insulation levels are typically double legislation requirements, depending on exact climate; attention to window types, sizes and locations of the envelope; etc.

Additionally, before insulation gets installed, it is recommended to do a blower door test, to understand how air-tight the shell is. This provides the opportunity to seal up any areas where you can hear and feel air rushing in. A Passivhaus uses conventional building techniques because of the attention to detail, a Passivhaus is typically higher in quality.

What is a Passivhaus? A Passivhaus is defined as “A building in which thermal comfort* can be provided solely by the post-heating or post-cooling of the fresh air flow which is required for good indoor air quality*, without the additional use of recirculated air”. *The required level of indoor air quality is as defined in DIN 1946 and thermal comfort in ISO 7730.

“The heat losses of the building are reduced so much that it hardly needs any heating at all. Passive heat sources like the sun, human occupants, household appliances and the heat from the extract air cover a large part of the heating demand. The remaining heat can be provided by the supply air if the maximum heating load is less than 10W per square metre of living space. If such supply-air heating suffices as the only heat source, we call the building a Passivhaus.” Univ. Prof. Dr Wolfgang Feist Head of Energy Efficient Construction/ Building Physics at the University of Innsbruck, Austria & Director of the Passive House Institute, Darmstadt, Germany

Thermal comfort standards for a Passivhaus as defined by ISO 7730 Airtightness

Surface Temp (windows)

Summer overheating

Ventilation

Heating

Primary Energy

0.6 ach/hr@50pa (N50 standard)

Greater than 17°C

Max 10% of time over 25°C

30m³/hr/person

15kWh/m².yr@20°C or 10w/m² heating load

120kWh/m²/yr

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The Concept

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I sover Multi-Comfort House forms the foundation of Isover’s core belief in the sustainable development of buildings

The Passivhaus concept represents today’s highest energy standard for buildings. It was developed out of the belief that the most inexpensive and environmentally friendly energy is that which is not consumed in the first place. The Isover Multi-Comfort House builds on the Passivhaus principles of delivering the highest thermal comfort and reducing CO2 emissions while combining excellent acoustic and visual comfort with superb internal air quality, fire protection and safety. It permits great flexibility in building design, both externally and internally.

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Due to the high quality of the individual components specified for a MultiComfort building, the construction costs can typically be five to eight percent higher than for standard houses. However, as soon as ongoing expenses such as energy usage, operation, maintenance and repair are factored in, the additional building costs can be recouped in just a couple of years. With cost differences set to diminish as demand increases, and energy costs set to rise substantially, Isover Multi-Comfort House buildings are ideally placed to become the low-cost model of the future.

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Isover Multi-Comfort House explained... ...it is a building concept, not a specific type of building

...it ensures optimal thermal comfort during winter and summer

...it is sustainable by taking into account environmental, economic and social factors over its complete life cycle

...it is the optimum building design for energy efficiency and living comfort

...it will lead to significant energy savings

...it applies to new buildings and renovation, residential and non-residential

...it is designed to minimise energy demand for heating and cooling

...it offers excellent acoustics based on Isover’s Acoustic Comfort Classes

...it can be applied in all climate zones

...it is based on the Passivhaus concept, combining bioclimatic design and a high-performing building envelope

...it ensures permanently high indoor air quality

...it allows great flexibility in building design, both externally and internally

...it is not limited to specific products, but to clearly defined building performance requirements

...it provides visual comfort through well-adapted day lighting

...it is compatible with all types of constructions: mass construction, lightweight frame construction, on-site or off-site (pre-fabricated)

...it provides long-term energy savings and reduced maintenance

...it ensures fire protection and long-term durability of the construction

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The Concept

Relating Isover Multi-Comfort House to Passivhaus and Building Regulations The definition of zero carbon confirmed in 2011 requires housebuilders to target levels closer to the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 5 rather than Level 6, creating a balance between reducing carbon emissions and the economics of building new homes.

unregulated energy in 2016. This will be combated through the zero carbon triangle that incorporates:

Regulations down to zero carbon (Code Level 5) with a 100% reduction in regulated energy usage.

• An energy efficient approach to building design (Fabric Energy Efficiency Standard)

Housebuilders are only responsible for the regulated energy of a dwelling as opposed to the unregulated energy from household appliances and electronics, also known as plug-loads.

• Reducing CO2 emissions on-site via low and zero carbon technologies and connected heat networks

The final column shows the energy performance of a Passivhaus in relation to the current and future Building Regulation standards. However, the Passivhaus figures are calculated using Passive House Planning Package (PHPP), a more stringent design tool compared to the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) commonly used within the UK. The difference between the two design tools is explained in more detail on page 22.

• Mitigating the remaining carbon emissions with a selection of Allowable Solutions

The reduction of regulated energy will be addressed through Building Regulation changes leading to the target of zero

The table below shows the journey from a dwelling built to 2006 Building

Figure 2 - A demonstration of energy usage on buildings from 2006 to Passivhaus/Multi-Comfort House standard 60

44% 100%

100%

40

25%

Estimated CO2kg/m² /yr

50

2010 (Code 3)

2013 (Code 4)

Code 5

30

20

10

0 2006 built performance

2006 Part L (SAP)

Unregulated Electricity

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Regulated Electricity

Hot Water

Space Heating

Passivhaus/ Multi-Comfort House (PHPP) Regulated Energy

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Germany’s Passivhaus Institut has done excellent work in developing standards for low energy buildings, resulting in the Passivhaus standard now being accepted throughout Europe and the rest of the world as a template for low energy construction. This standard, however, like the UK Part L Building Regulations, is focussed on the efficiency of the building fabric, and does not consider broader sustainability issues that will have an effect on the living quality of building occupants.

Isover has therefore taken Passivhaus design one stage further with its Multi-Comfort House concept. This now provides an all-encompassing sustainability template for buildings that will ensure maximum energy efficiency of the fabric, plus standards for internal acoustic comfort and air quality that will make low energy buildings attractive for the future.

The Passivhaus standard, and Isover’s more demanding Multi-Comfort House concept, provide designers and builders today with a proven template for sustainable design and construction, using tried and trusted materials and technologies, to take them one step further than the anticipated FEESbased 2016 standards.

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The Concept

Principles of Isover Multi-Comfort House Overview The Isover Multi-Comfort House concept goes beyond Passivhaus performance levels by combining the highest level of thermal comfort with excellent acoustics and visual comfort, and superb air quality. This ensures that building to Isover Multi-Comfort House levels not only respects the environment and is economic to run through minimal energy usage and low maintenance, it provides the perfect quiet, comfortable, and healthy living and working environment for the modern family.

Fabric U-value 0.08 - 0.15W/m²K

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High levels of fabric insulation, airtight construction and demanding design/ build standards in an Isover Multi-Comfort House cut heating and cooling energy needs by around 75%. With no draughts or thermal bridges to compromise thermal performance and a low energy mechanical ventilation and heat recovery system to heat or cool incoming air, a perfect year-round 20˚C internal temperature can be maintained. U-values vary with building design and shape.

Airborne sound insulation up to 68dB

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High standards of soundproofing prevent noise from outside, and from internal activities, from compromising the quiet, comfortable internal environment of the Isover Multi-Comfort House. Excellent fabric insulation, acoustic sealing and a fresh air ventilation system keep external noise outside, whilst different acoustic comfort classes allow internal airborne and impact sound, and sound from adjoining homes, to be controlled for optimum internal sound performance.

0.6 air changes / hr@50 Pa

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Airtight construction in the Isover Multi-Comfort House prevents uncontrolled air movement through the external envelope, enabling fresh and exhaust air flow to be carefully managed by a regulated ventilation and heat recovery system, to maintain a constant year-round internal temperature. Advanced airtightness membranes also control moisture movement through the building fabric, helping to prevent damp, maintain appearance and extend building life.

Window U-value less than 0.8W/m²K

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The triple glazed windows of a Multi-Comfort House reduce unwanted draughts and maintain a minimum internal surface temperature of 17˚C, thus preventing the cooling effect of radiation – convection currents when hot air hits a cold surface. Concentrating window openings on the south facing elevation and using appropriate shading helps to manage solar gain, whilst efficient frame sealing and mechanical ventilation prevent uncontrolled heat loss from the building.

Fresh air ventilation 30m³/person/hour

5

The efficient controlled ventilation and heat recovery system in an Isover Multi-Comfort House ensures optimum fresh air while managing heat recovery from outgoing air sufficient to maintain the optimum internal temperature without traditional heating and cooling equipment. Controlled ventilation helps minimise energy use and control humidity and carbon dioxide levels caused by everyday activities, whilst special filters remove dust, pollen and harmful substances.

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1

5

Compacted building form with fabric envelope efficiency of U-value between 0.08 and 0.15W/m²K.

Ventilation fresh air of 30m³/person/hour.

Heating energy demand