What can we learn about 'as-built' performance from JRHT's new energy-efficient homes?
Many processes and cultures within the house-building industry and its supply chain need to change if zero carbon housing is to become a reality in 2016.
The Coalition Government is supporting compliance through 'as-built' performance, achieved by a combination of on-site verification and assured procedures. This a new challenge to the house-building industry, which has previously demonstrated Building Regulations compliance through carbon emission calculations submitted during the design stage.
This report presents impartial evidence and learning for policy-makers and housing professionals from the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust’s new-build homes at 54 and 69 Temple Avenue in York, including:
- Housing providers need to be more committed to ensuring that claims made by designers, contractors, developers and suppliers are supported by evidence.
- Design processes should be improved to increase the robustness of detailed design and thermal calculations.
- The sequence of construction processes and operations needs to be planned in more detail to include in-production testing.
- Information provided by suppliers should reflect 'as-built' rather than laboratory performance.
Read Leeds Metropolitan University's technical report.
Summary
