Dynamic Insulation provides outstanding as-built thermal performance for Lovell Partnership’s new build housing

A Jablite DYNAMIC INSULATION system installed by Lovell Partnerships has exceeded the as-designed performance derived via SAP Appendix Q.

The project saw one of the company’s new build Raglan house types – a semi detached dwelling – at Bassaleg, South Wales fitted with JDC-075 partial cavity insulation boards supplied by Jablite in conjunction with an Energyflo Drimaster 365 PIV system supplied by Nuaire.

Spanning 34% (26m²) of the dwelling’s wall area, the dynamic wall averaged a U value of 0.081W/m².K(compared to a dynamic U value of 0.11W/m² as forecasted using the SAP Appendix Q methodology). The 125mm cavity construction was found to have a composite U value of 0.15W/m².

This improvement in U value manifested itself as an increased temperature uplift compared to the forecasted value. The temperature input from the dynamic system to the dwelling ventilation air was recorded as being 4.3°C compared to a forecasted value of 3.2°C.

The thermal performance of the dynamic wall was further improved when solar gain was included in the assessment.  The input from solar gain to the dynamic air channels was equivalent to 0.09W/m².K causing the U value of the dynamic wall to reduce to -0.009W/m².K (i.e. indicating an adiabatic wall).

Stuart James, Regional Buyer from Lovell, said: "The findings of the monitoring report provide tangible evidence that we made the right choice with Dynamic Insulation and we see this as a viable solution in the future for achieving our energy performance targets.”

Andrew Peacock, Technical Director from Energyflo, added “One of the thorniest problems today for house builders like Lovell is how to meet the ever-increasing demands for carbon reduction. Cost is invariably the deciding factor when choosing which energy-saving technology to incorporate.

"A recent “as designed” study found Dynamic Insulation to be the most cost-effective building fabric option for improving energy efficiency after relatively conventional measures such as improving glazing U value from 1.8 to 1.4W/m².k and installing 250mm of loft insulation.  Energyflo are delighted that the monitoring at Lovell's Bassaleg development confirms this superior performance in an “as-built” condition."