Timber framer impressed by Actis Hybris’ simplicity of use and potential cost savings

Birmingham based Timber Innovations is one of the latest to try out the new Hybris insulation panels – as part of a trial to compare their installation and performance with that of traditional PIR board.

The installation process has also provided a handy how to installation guide for other timber framers considering including the product in their own insulation portfolios.

The trial saw 125mm thick Hybris panels delivered to their Birmingham factory and installed in the walls of what will become a 130 sq m self build home.

The original project specification was for a conventional timber frame solution using PIR insulation.

But Timber Innovations, which uses a variety of technical response teams to look into more efficient and cost effective alternative materials, called in a SIG360 technical team to see what it suggested instead of the traditional approach.

Ian MacCarthy, Timber Innovations’ business development manager explained:

“This job was already "in the system" as a conventional timber frame solution and therefore had been priced and negotiated with the client as PIR insulation. We had SIG360 technical data for the usual PIR stuff though, and with the new Hybris thermal information we were able to roll out sufficient comparative data to keep the client satisfied.

“The client also needed assurance that the performance was equal to or better than the negotiated specification and that he wouldn’t be at risk from any consideration of fire, structural, thermal, durability, or appearance issues.

“Hybris is the nearest equivalent to PIR in a form suitable for timber framing - and therefore the easiest to demonstrate to clients as a substitute solution for similar performance.”

While Hybris has been designed to be used as part of an overall three in one Hybrid system with sister products insulating breather membrane Boost’R Hybrid and insulating vapour control layer HControl Hybrid, it can also be used alongside other membranes. And for the purposes of the trial Timber Innovations stuck with the original, single layer membrane specifications.

As with many other Actis Hybrid users, Timber Innovations found Hybris’ ease of use one of its key benefits.

“We like the prospect of its simplicity to store and to cut to size, the avoidance of dust and crumbly waste during handling, less weight in the finished panels, and potential for reduced manufacture cost overall,” added Ian.

While the superstructure has been installed at the home’s plot in Doncaster, the project is still awaiting the attentions of various other trades before Timber Innovations can comprehensively assess the efficacy of using Hybris.

But if the results perform as anticipated and if it offers a commercially more effective way of achieving an excellent thermal result then other clients will be given the option of using Hybris in the future.

“There is scope for us to amend our timber frame solutions, to incorporate Hybris instead of PIR materials. If it is commercially better to use Hybris in lieu of PIR, and if it makes sense in the factory environment then we can easily increase the proportion of timber frame projects that are converted to Hybris - subject to always securing client acceptance of the change. We will find other self build schemes that can be converted from PIR to Hybris and will continue to look for commercial project opportunities likewise,” explained Ian.

Timber frame manufacturers will still construct a panel the conventional way: the 140mm frame is created on tables with Oriented Strand Board (OSB) fitted to the upper face followed by external breather paper and tracer tapes to locate studs. Timber Innovations has specialist kit to flip the panel so its upper face becomes the inside surface, into which the 125mm Hybris is installed between studs and fixed hard up against the OSB layer, starting at the panel head and infilling each void to panel base. The whole inner surface is then covered with reflective vapour-control layer plus 25mm service-void battens, before being stacked for despatch.

The frame is then installed on site, at which point plasterboard is added and the blockwork is laid around the timber structure leaving a 50mm air cavity.

Actis UK and Ireland commercial director Mark Cooper added:

“Timber frame homes have a typically far shorter construction period than their brick and block equivalents. Creating the panels and associated services offsite is far quicker, while the on site component requires around 20% fewer labour days than a traditional build.

“The added benefit is that all necessary “on site” trades (bricklaying for example) then represent a smaller percentage of the overall build time, freeing up more skilled man hours which can be spent on building the next property, and so on. Many builders report time savings of 25 to 50%.

“The Actis Hybrid system, which consists of insulation, vapour control layer and breather membrane, can be installed effectively with ease by someone who has had minimal training which can even be delivered via an online tutorial, in a factory environment, which equates to better productivity and reduced waste.”