A new report from the government’s chief construction adviser detailing recommendations relating to the installation of solid wall insulation has been published…
Chief construction adviser Peter Hansford has published a new report on solid wall insulation. The report, which was put together for the government and the Green Construction Board, delivers a series of recommendations.
The construction sector, which has made an ambitious pledge to reduce emissions within the built environment by 50 per cent by 2025 is under pressure to meet these targets. Creating more efficient buildings is one of the main routes to reducing this.
The report sets out ways in which the 26 million existing properties across the UK can improve their solid wall insulation to improve efficiency. The review aimed to leverage the potential within the construction industry to develop more innovative products and to increase the demand for solid wall insulation.
Among the recommendations was the need for more robust accreditation of assessors and qualified installers. Hansford also called for a campaign to increase awareness of retrofitting, the creation of a Retrofit Hub to provide technical advice, and the establishment of a retrofit co-ordinator.
Furthermore, Hansford said the government must provide more consistency within policy, as well as any efficiency incentives offered.
Opening the publication, Green Construction Board Chairman Mike Putnam said: “Given that there are around 26 million existing homes in the United Kingdom and over eight million of these with solid walls, adopting solid wall insulation as a solution for much of our existing housing stock makes good business sense.
“I urge industry and government to study the recommendations made by Peter Hansford and to grasp the huge business opportunities inherent in them.
“Measures such as ‘taking a co-ordinated and holistic approach to solid wall homes’ and ‘accreditation of assessors and qualified installers’, when implemented, will reap sustainable ways of achieving a greener environment.”
Solid wall insulation (SWI) is undoubtedly beneficial. The report noted that aside from reducing carbon levels, it can also increase comfort, health, and wellbeing, support fuel security, regenerate neighbourhoods, and reduce maintenance costs.
The report called for a co-ordinated and holistic approach to insulating solid wall homes, a focus on researching areas that are not fully understood, as well as a review of standards for statutory compliance.
“Current demand for SWI is depressed for a variety of policy and technical reasons,” the report stated.
“At the same time, SWI has developed somewhat of a poor reputation due to numerous examples of inadequate installation and poor workmanship.
“If SWI is to be promoted as an effective retrofit solution, these areas need to be addressed with urgency.”
It added: “Government policy impacting SWI has often lacked consistency, which appears to have resulted in a degree of confusion and misunderstanding, particularly by homeowners.
“Similarly, the stop-start nature of policies and funding streams has resulted in a shortage of industry investment in this area.
“With so many property archetypes existing, there is no single solution that would apply to all properties. This adds to the confusion by householders of what is the correct solution for their individual properties.”
The report noted the top 12 domestic property archetypes in the UK made up around 15.5 million homes, representing around 60 per cent of the UK’s total housing stock. These properties also contributed to 57 per cent of its greenhouse gas emissions.
Of the 15.5 million homes mentioned, the report said around 23 per cent, some 3.5 million, were suitable for SWI.
Hansford said in the report: “It is clear to me that correct specification, detailing and proper installation is paramount. I have been shown many examples of poor detailing and of inadequate installation. This area needs attention, but it is perfectly soluble.
“For many archetypes, this could be through a robust assessment framework with pattern book solutions and appropriate training. For other archetypes and in more challenging situations, quite considerable work is required to establish robust approaches suitable for mainstream installation delivery.”
He also said action needed to be taken by the industry, as well as the government to address the problems facing the sector.
“I am aware that work is already underway in Government to address some of the issues that I have raised in this report. And I believe that industry can take early action to play its part in addressing others, without necessarily waiting for Government’s response.
“I look forward to seeing an increase in the use of SWI as an effective retrofit solution, and to a dramatic improvement in the way in which it is installed and its quality assured.”
For more information view the report, ‘Solid Wall Insulation: Unlocking Demand and Driving up Standards’.
