Achieving Energy Compliance with Eurowall® +: Insights from EP Architects
Eurowall® + embodies the drive for insulation products that help achieve energy compliant buildings and inspire smarter working practices. In this Q&A, Daniel Kemp, Director at EP Architects, gives his appraisal of Eurowall® +, having specified the rigid full-fill insulation board for a recent private building project.
Tell us about yourself, your background and what projects you have used Recticel’s Eurowall® + product on?
I’m a director at EP Architects, a small practice in Maidstone, Kent. We recently used Eurowall® + on a modern detached home, which was approved in the Green Belt. Its performance on this project was integral to achieving U-value targets without the wall construction becoming excessive.
How important was the specification of materials to this project?
Being a modern, bespoke home for a private self-build client the specification of materials for the project was a key consideration. Eurowall® + allowed us to achieve excellent thermal performance in a 350mm thick wall.
Were there any unique features or challenges during the planning stages that Eurowall® + helped you overcome?
As the site is located in the Green Belt we agreed on a strong design ethos with the clients from the start of the design phase. This involved partially excavating the site and the lower ground floor’s two retaining walls. The waterproofing system, proposed by the specialist supplier, allowed us to work closely with Recticel to ensure we could use the same Eurowall® + product in the retaining and external wall constructions.
Why was Eurowall® + specified for this project?
To achieve excellent thermal performance in a 350mm thick wall. Recticel’s technical team confirmed the board’s suitability to be used with a retaining structure, alongside a specialist specified tanking system.The interlocking system also adds another layer of security for our clients.
How easy/challenging was Eurowall® + to install?
We haven’t had any complaints from our contractors on this or any other projects we have specified the product for.
How important was it that the insulation specified had a tongue and groove finish?
As an architectural practice, we feel any product design development that easily improves workmanship, can only be positive.With this project, however, the tongue and groove design further benefitted our clients when using Eurowall® + alongside the retaining wall’s waterproofing.
What would you say to another architect/specifier/building professional that is considering using Eurowall® + in their next project?
With the ever-increasing demand for thermal improvement and our clients’ desire to ‘maximise potential’, this system meets each requirement without compromising on quality.
How has the specification of Eurowall® + helped you achieve any sustainability targets in this project?
We have used Eurowall® + on a variety of projects from one-off-house builds to housing developments and single-storey extensions.We no longer specify partial fill or mineral wool products in cavity walls, unless there is a specific reason.
With the challenges in the industry following the road to net zero, how has your approach to insulation products changed to overcome these technical challenges?
We have been working closely with our energy assessor and a number of companies which provide solutions that reduce energy loss in several ways.
The biggest challenges we face in private projects of this scale are with the uptake and cost of emerging technologies and the development of more efficient glazing systems.
Were new Part L regulations a factor when specifying an insulation product for this project?
Yes. The Eurowall® + board’s excellent thermal performance was key to its selection.
Do you think the industry has been slow to pick up on the benefits of correctly installed insulation?
A resounding, ‘Yes’. The industry has focused on selling its products to specifiers in warm offices for too long, ignoring the knowledge gap around product performance and correct installation on site. We still see small domestic projects where clients have been misled – whether intentionally or not – by contractors who substitute inferior products for a ‘cost saving’. Savings passed on, however, are often less than 50% of the real cost difference. This leaves the client out of pocket during the build and they will be paying the cost, through higher energy bills, for the life of the building.
