Energy savings from airtightness
Increasing the airtightness of a building in the UK is a great way to make it more energy efficient. It has a number of benefits and can be achieved at a fraction of the cost of traditional insulating measures. Buildings which are airtight are much warmer than those which are not. Good airtightness can help you to save on heating bills and can lower the thermostat.
To achieve this, airtightness measures need to be included in the detailed design process. These barriers are a combination of materials that prevent air from passing through the building’s thermal envelope. It is also important that all parties involved in the construction process understand the importance of airtightness. This includes the design team, site management and trades. This should be reflected in subcontracts as well.
Mechanical ventilation systems
Mechanical ventilation systems can provide a gentle supply of fresh air, with a low air-flow rate. They are silent and require minimal maintenance. They can be installed on an external wall or in any part of a room. They are an important part of airtight building design.
The key to achieving airtightness in a building is proper ventilation. Without good ventilation, a building can’t be comfortable and can’t effectively remove air pollutants. There’s a fine line between too little ventilation and too much. Mechanical ventilation is an essential part of any building design.
Insulation materials
When it comes to achieving airtightness in a building, there are a number of factors to consider. One of the most important is preventing moisture from entering the building. Warm air carries more moisture than cool air, and this moisture is left behind after the warm air cools down. Traditional insulation materials absorb this moisture and lose their ability to insulate. To prevent moisture from getting into your building, it is important to keep the insulation layer dry and insulated.
Airtightness is a key to the energy efficiency of a building. It’s essential to seal out unwanted draughts, which can cause considerable amounts of heat loss. For this to happen, a continuous air resistant layer must be installed inside the building, under the roof and ground floor, and across all external walls. This continuous layer can be applied in different ways, but is most effective for masonry walls. Dry-lining boards can also be used to seal gaps between masonry and a building’s interior surfaces.
Moisture absorption
In order to prevent damage to buildings caused by moisture, it is crucial to reduce the amount of moisture that can enter through the building’s walls. There are various British and European Standards that help to prevent such damage. These standards often form the basis of statutory guidance and certification processes. However, most of these standards have been developed for new buildings, with little attention being paid to retrofitting old buildings. Because older buildings are often made of solid wall construction, they present different issues in terms of moisture movement.
The most effective approach is based on a whole-building approach. It incorporates principles and modelling and focuses on the interactions between fabric, services, and occupants.
Durable air barriers
When designing a building, it is important to ensure that airtightness is achieved by specifying durable air barriers. These barriers should be continuous, accessible and made of materials that do not permit air to penetrate through. During the construction phase, the barriers should be tested, so that they are as airtight as possible. If the air barrier fails, it can lead to expensive uncovering and remedial work.
There are two main types of air barriers: internal and external. The former is more common in the UK and North America, and requires specialist components. The latter requires fewer components and has fewer penetrations. For the former, the air barrier can be made of OSB, which is relatively airtight. Specialised OSB components are designed to form airtight layers.
