Second fix electrics commenced.
There was some ambiguity with regards to the securing of the light fittings which was clarified by the lighting supplier.
The down-lights in the pod were substituted for surface light fittings. Although not an ideal solution, it was adequate.
Internal decoration commenced on site. Although this was a little premature, we needed to gain some time back.
A demonstration 'Passiv Haus' retrofit project at Cottesmore Road, Leicester. We are part of the Technology Strategy Board's Retrofit for the Future competition aiming to achieve Passiv Haus energy standards for a variety of different property types and methods of construction.
Friday, 5 November 2010
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
Waterproof testing
At the end of September, EMH team members visited a couple of other retrofit projects in the North east of England to assess and benchmark progress on project implementation and to discuss any similar problems arising. Project Cottesmore has similar project members, managers and a significant overlap in the supply chain with the projects at Greenford Road in Newcastle and the Isos property in North Shields. The image show the property in Newcastle and the detailing on the roof and bay window produced as an off-site pod. Looks waterproof from the outside! Friday, 29 October 2010
And so the work continues...
First fix heating and plumbing commenced.
Heating pipework is in micro-bore.
Solar collector pipework enters roof void between the pod an party walls via a proprietary flexible slate on roof. These fall outside of the airtightness membrane and enter on the first floor living space rear-elevation.
Care needed to be taken that the breach in the airtightness is controlled and carefully resealed.
Furthermore, pipework from the pod for the heating and the overflow for the MVHR also breached the airtightness membrane. The location is awkward and a lot of effort was taken to ensure that resealing was satisfactory. These pipes enter the bathroom services cupboard via a sealed duct.
The boiler flue was sleeved through a duct to outside.
This sleeve was sealed around the brickwork and the airtightness membrane. When the boiler flue is inserted the gap between the flue and the duct will be sealed internally and externally ensuring airtightness.
Second fix joinery commenced.
Fire doors within the property were cut from fire blanks to take into account non standard openings.
The kitchen was installed as per agreed layout.
The cooker-hood extractor which was integrated as part of the MVHR was installed and attached to the ducting.
A cupboard was formed in the front bedroom to allow for storage and an additional cupboard was formed around the MVHR unit.
Site visit takes place from Kingfisher Group to look at pod and retrofit works.
Heating pipework is in micro-bore.
Solar collector pipework enters roof void between the pod an party walls via a proprietary flexible slate on roof. These fall outside of the airtightness membrane and enter on the first floor living space rear-elevation.
Care needed to be taken that the breach in the airtightness is controlled and carefully resealed.
Furthermore, pipework from the pod for the heating and the overflow for the MVHR also breached the airtightness membrane. The location is awkward and a lot of effort was taken to ensure that resealing was satisfactory. These pipes enter the bathroom services cupboard via a sealed duct.
The boiler flue was sleeved through a duct to outside.
This sleeve was sealed around the brickwork and the airtightness membrane. When the boiler flue is inserted the gap between the flue and the duct will be sealed internally and externally ensuring airtightness.
Second fix joinery commenced.
Fire doors within the property were cut from fire blanks to take into account non standard openings.
The kitchen was installed as per agreed layout.
The cooker-hood extractor which was integrated as part of the MVHR was installed and attached to the ducting.
A cupboard was formed in the front bedroom to allow for storage and an additional cupboard was formed around the MVHR unit.
Site visit takes place from Kingfisher Group to look at pod and retrofit works.
Wednesday, 13 October 2010
Pre-Completion Air Test
Some skimming work commences within the property.
The services cupboard is constructed in the bathroom.
It became apparent because of limited space that it would be very tight to incorporate all the necessary components, which included the boiler, twin-coil hot water cylinder, expansion vessels, and solar pump amongst other things.
An intermediate air tightness test was carried out;
The test indicated an air tightness reading of 3.4 m3/m2 at 50 pa.
This was quite a result, as the pre start reading was 15.1 m3/m2 at 50 pa. Areas were identified where some leakage was occurring, most of which could be addressed with some additional work and sealing up. However as previously suspected the metal to metal joints of the underside of the pod structure that were inaccessible will be impossible to fully address.
Once the property is fully plastered the test should improve. We will have to take a hit on this.
EMHA board members attend site for a visit of the retrofit property.
The services cupboard is constructed in the bathroom.
It became apparent because of limited space that it would be very tight to incorporate all the necessary components, which included the boiler, twin-coil hot water cylinder, expansion vessels, and solar pump amongst other things.
An intermediate air tightness test was carried out;
The test indicated an air tightness reading of 3.4 m3/m2 at 50 pa.
This was quite a result, as the pre start reading was 15.1 m3/m2 at 50 pa. Areas were identified where some leakage was occurring, most of which could be addressed with some additional work and sealing up. However as previously suspected the metal to metal joints of the underside of the pod structure that were inaccessible will be impossible to fully address.
Once the property is fully plastered the test should improve. We will have to take a hit on this.
EMHA board members attend site for a visit of the retrofit property.
Thursday, 7 October 2010
Are we there yet?
The timber stud around the windows to form the reveal were set approximately 20 degrees out of square to give us a splay detail as described previously.
Because of the limited timber section on the windows, fixing the plaster board proved difficult. The solution was to fit a 10mm timber bearer around the perimeter of the windows. Plaster board could be carefully fixed to this and the timber stud after insulation was stuffed behind the reveal board.
The MDF window boards were secured in a similar manner.
The same situation occurred on the front elevation windows where the timber section was exceptionally limited. The solution was to solvent fix white tile trim along the perimeter. This would allow plaster board to be trapped at this point and secured to the timber stud.
The sealing and air tightness work has taken a considerable amount of time, much more than anticipated. The manual labour element of ensuring air tightness continuity and sealing/patching can account for much of the time, as well as additions discovered when stripping out the property.
There has been a continuous learning process for the project team and operatives. They now have a greater appreciation of what and why it is being done, than they did before starting on site.
Because of the limited timber section on the windows, fixing the plaster board proved difficult. The solution was to fit a 10mm timber bearer around the perimeter of the windows. Plaster board could be carefully fixed to this and the timber stud after insulation was stuffed behind the reveal board.
The MDF window boards were secured in a similar manner.
The same situation occurred on the front elevation windows where the timber section was exceptionally limited. The solution was to solvent fix white tile trim along the perimeter. This would allow plaster board to be trapped at this point and secured to the timber stud.
The sealing and air tightness work has taken a considerable amount of time, much more than anticipated. The manual labour element of ensuring air tightness continuity and sealing/patching can account for much of the time, as well as additions discovered when stripping out the property.
There has been a continuous learning process for the project team and operatives. They now have a greater appreciation of what and why it is being done, than they did before starting on site.
Tuesday, 5 October 2010
Boxed In
The front door and rear door were installed and a fabric skirt was attached to the frames as per the window details.
The continuous airtight membrane caused a problem in the bathroom.
The membrane was running up the walls and to the underside of the ceiling. The ceiling was then to be lathed and plaster boarded. The problem was the light fittings again were deeper than the lath and plaster board by a considerable amount. This would mean that the membrane would need to be cut out.
The solution was to create a plywood box that would be fixed in between the ceiling joists at the light fitting locations.
This box would be lined with a membrane and sealed.
The seal would continue into the ceiling membrane ensuring continuity and airtightness.
The boxes effectively created a hood for the lights. The lights and the transformer easily fitted within these boxes.
Thursday, 30 September 2010
Plastering Started
The front windows were installed.
These were sliding sashes in accordance with the design; assuming the property was in the conservation area.
The MVHR ducting was completed with all vents to each room going back to the MVHR unit.
Dot and dab plaster boards were applied to the walls in readiness for skimming.
Rockwool was filled inbetween studs prior to fixing the plaster board.
A reciprocal site visit was arranged at Newcastle and North Shields.
This allowed us to compare technical details and look at alternative solutions that were being carried out on different Retrofit for the Future competition properties.
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