Warm - Low Energy Building Practice

Fan test number 3 We finally got to carry out the next air tightness test! The team were joined by delegates from the Plymouth Carbonlite training course, getting a hands-on visit to the EnerPHit site as part of the Building Services training. The results we get each time are key to moving the whole project [...]

My first impression going on site today is that a big step forward has been taken since last week. Even though there’s still a long way to go it’s definitely in the early stages of starting to look like an office space now. I hope this encourages the build team who are in there day [...]

It’s been a week of frustrations and setbacks, albeit fortunately just small ones. Putting in the windows has thrown up some surprises and the rain has caused a few problems too. But the team have been working really hard and overall the site is showing its potential for a great office space already. Corroded lintels [...]

The AECB’s CarbonLite programme is really excited to have arranged a Passivhaus Design course specifically tailored for University architect students. This has been a big dream for a couple of years and it’s great to be able to actually make it happen. Proving the rise in popularity and awareness of Passivhaus design, we have 56 [...]

Rationel windows Our lovely new triple glazed windows arrived this week, for both the office and the shop underneath. They are super heavy – the windows for the shop come in at 220kg each! The windows are Rationel AuraPlus and were kindly donated.  They complement our choice of a window that can take a triple [...]

Since the last air test the team have been concentrating on finishing the super insulated roof. Happily after the initial setback with the tape the job has gone pretty smoothly since then! It’s been a big job though and there is a palpable sense of relief to be ready to move on to the next [...]

In our quest to further understand the Passivhaus standard Karl has found these gems of translation:   ‘Who does not know her, enduring the tiresome discussion during the school years: Window auf! on! – Fenster zu! – Window!’ (Google Translation of a PHI Document)   ‘Be enough de piping’ ‘De long pipeline’ (online translations of [...]

Just continuing from where Emma left off last week!  We carried out an air tightness test on Friday and received some pretty illuminating results.  In short, we achieved a figure of 4.5 air changes per hour (ach), which is significantly better than our last result of 6.4, but still means that we’ve got a task [...]

Hello!  My name’s Liam and I’ve just joined WARM.  At the moment, I’m learning lots about the Passivhaus (PH) methodology in general, but I’ll increasingly be trained up by Pete and Sally in mechanical services specification, and I’m really looking forward to all this learning, and then being able to contribute in my own right.  [...]

Work is focusing this week on finishing the roof structure, which has brought plenty of challenges. We talked last week about how difficult it has been to ensure that the OSB could be laid flat enough on such a wonky structure. It has taken a huge amount of time and effort for the team to [...]