Actis helps create building control U-value guide

Insulation specialist Actis has been working with Hertfordshire Building Control to create a home extension insulation specification guide.
 
The U-value of Elements New Gold Guide has been produced with help from a number of insulation and concrete block manufacturers and is aimed at helping specifiers comply with Part L of the building regulations.
 
All Actis products - its long standing and popular Hybrid range and its new two-in-one reflective insulation with integrated vapour barrier, Eolis HC – are referenced in the guide, with precise details on how they can be used to achieve compliant U-values.
 
The guide shows in detail different solutions in a range of scenarios, such as timber frame walls, pitched and flat roofs with warm and cold decks and floors.
 
Actis UK and Ireland technical director Thomas Wiedmer said: “We were delighted to work with Hertfordshire Building Control who wanted to create a comprehensive booklet offering the best possible advice to architects and specifiers working throughout the county.”
 
Charts show, for example, that one way in which to achieve the required U-value of 0.18 in a timber frame wall is to use 50mm Actis Hybris along with insulating vapour control layer HControl Hybrid and insulating breather member BoostR Hybrid.
 
One solution for a vented pitched roof with a required U-value of 0.15 would be to use new Eolis HC and insulated plasterboard. An alternative would be to use a combination of Hybris and HControl Hybrid, with each solution suiting both 400mm and 600mm centres.
 
Among options suggested to achieve a U-value of 0.15 in a warm pitched roof is the use of BoostR Hybrid Roof, which contains a lap and built-in adhesive tape for ease of installation, 90mm Hybris and HControl Hybrid. While this is the solution for 600mm centres, the Hybris thickness would need to increase to 105mm when working with 400mm centres.
 
Building control organisations across the UK regularly request Actis’ expertise on how to achieve the best U-values, by booking its RIBA-approved CPDs Tomorrow’s Insulation Solutions for Future Homes Standards and Addressing the Performance Gap using Reflective Insulation.
 
You can receive a copy of the guide here.