Retreat Rooms, Intelligent space. Basement, Loft and Garage Conversions

Construction Physics

One of the principle laws of physics is that energy cannot be destroyed only converted. As wind power is converted into electricity on a wind farm. Which when used to power machinery, produces heat or sound, other forms of energy. This conversion process can be regarded as recycling. Preserving the earth’s resources, harnessing and converting them through the built environment is the essence of construction physics.

To a casual observer a building is regarded as a haven against an external environment. Traditionally protecting its occupants from the effects of wind, rain, sound, fire, vermin, infestations and the two extremes of temperature, heat and cold. To this list we are nowadays able to add ultra violet radiation through a depleted ozone layer and other harmful effects of a changing climate, greenhouse gasses.

Yet to building professionals this is only half of the story.

A building also produces an internal climate or to be more accurate the occupants produce an internal climate which has the potential to create a similarly hostile environment. The occupation of a building results in the creation of its own gasses, moisture vapour. Central heating creates an environment warmer than outside and consumes the earth’s resources in the form of burning of fossil fuels to generate it. We consume more resources as we cook food, wash ourselves and our clothing and along with the essential process of breathing collectively generates a large amount of moisture vapour inside the building, much greater than outside. These gasses have the potential to damage the building fabric if left to their own devises in the form of condensation.

Retreat Rooms Ltd acknowledges the science of physics and understands these conflicting forces and seeks to harness both the internal and external environments to create a sustainable built environment taking into account individually, sustainability and the need to preserve the earth’s resources.

Harnessing, managing and recycling both the internal and external environments is the very essence of construction physics.

U Value

Loosely, U values reflect the amount of heat transference across a structure. It is a way to quantify how much heat energy is lost through the fabric of a building across different materials and thicknesses. With U values the lower the value achieved the better in terms of saving energy. This is why whenever new building regulations and amendments are brought out the U value needed to be met is invariably lowered. Indeed, the goal post on U values has been moved greatly over the last decade and is on a path to be even more stringent in the future which will require fundamental changes in building design to accommodate these tough new U value regulations. The lower the U value achieved the lower the energy bill will be to heat the building.

A U value is a measurement of the overall heat energy transfer rate (under standard conditions) through a particular section of construction material, e.g. roof, walls, glazing etc.

It is defined as the rate of heat flow in watts (W) through an area of 1 square metre (m) for a temperature difference across the structure of 1 C degree centigrade or Kelvin (K).

The U value measurement units are written as W/m2K. It includes conduction through solids, and convection and radiation through air gaps in the construction and at the surfaces. Standard conditions enable comparisons of products of different materials and manufacturers. They include particular moisture contents and surface resistances.

Typical U values in W/m2K:

• Solid brickwork, no insulation 2.5
• Cavity wall, no insulation 1.6
• Cavity wall with insulation 0.5
• Single glazing 5.7
• Double glazing 2.8
• Double glazing with low-Iμ coating 1.8

Passivhaus

Basic Principles

A dwelling which achieves the PassivHaus standard typically includes:

By specifying these features the design heat load is limited to the load that can be transported by the minimum required ventilation air. Thus, a PassivHaus does not need a traditional heating system or active cooling to be comfortable to live in - the small heating demand can be typically met using a compact services unit which integrates heating, hot water and ventilation in one unit (although there are a variety of alternative solutions).

For Europe (40o - 60o Northern latitudes), a dwelling is deemed to satisfy the PassivHaus criteria if:

• the total energy demand for space heating and cooling is less than 15 kWh/m2/yr treated floor area;
• the total primary energy use for all appliances, domestic hot water and space heating and cooling is less than 120 kWh/m2/yr

These figures are verified at the design stage using tcche PassivHaus Planning Package.

It is also essential to follow a quality control procedure to avoid onsite problems which may prevent excellent levels of airtightness and thermal insulation being achieved.

Outline specification for a PassivHaus in the UK

Please note that the following information is for guidance only, compliance with the PassivHaus standard must be assessed using the PassivHaus Planning Package.

'The Solar Heat Gain Co-efficient (SHGC) is provided as a guide, it can be adjusted for glazing on different facades. This can help either reduce heat loss on sheltered sides/ north facing glazing, or alternatively help to reduce the likelihood of overheating when specified in conjunction with other features/strategies (please note that the SHGC of a window usually decreases as the U-value improves).

Insulation

The current building regulations 2009 ask for a U value of 0.35. A standard house without insulation is somewhere between 2.5 and 4.0 depending on the structure and materials. Retreat Rooms aim to achieve a minimum of 0.21 on all walls, ceilings and floors using the latest CFC free insulation currently over exceeding building regulations. Significant changes to the building regulations in April 2010 requires a U value of 0.26, we still over exceed these requirements.

Windows

Retreat Rooms can offer a variety of windows from UPVC, softwood or hardwood. A standard window achieves a U value of 1.8, we can install PassivHaus windows and doors with a U value of between 0.65 – 0.80 which is 2-3 times more energy efficient (see PassivHaus section). We use a British company for all our windows and doors which cuts down on transportation costs and carbon emissions.

Please click the numbers on the image to the left to display the appropriate information.

1. FSC 100% certified

100% FSC European Redwood or European Oak

2. High performance design

Flush sash, dual groove, sash integrated seal

3. Engineered timber

Laminated and finger jointed

4. Natural timber finishes

OSMO natural plant based finishes with no biocides

5. Nail-less bead fixing

Patented clipping system completely eliminates the need for nailed beads

6. Warm edge option

Termix insulated spacer option

7. Drained and ventilated rebate

For longer life and minimal maintenance

8. Boron timber treatment

Safe, effective and environmentally friendly

9. High security

Locking and hinge systems designed for security compliance with BS7950 and Secure by Design

10. Stainless steel hardware

Multipoint espagnolette locking and friction hinges

11. Night-vent locking

Allows background ventillation and security

12. Glazing

Ultra efficient glazing

Please click the numbers on the image to the left to display the appropriate information.

1. FSC 100% certified

100% FSC European Redwood or European Oak

2. High performance design

Flush sash, dual groove, sash integrated seal

3. Engineered timber

Laminated and finger jointed

4. Natural timber finishes

OSMO natural plant based finishes with no biocides

5.Fully hung doors with adjustable hinges

High quality German fully adjustable hinges make it easy to keep doorsets working perfectly

6. Nail-less bead fixing

Patented clipping system completely eliminates the need for nailed beads.

7. Drained and ventilated lower rebate

Panelled doors normally include our solid oak ventilated lower bead as standard, while fully glazed and half glazed doors are available with aluminium or timber bead

8. Boron timber treatment

Environmentally friendly

9. Threshold

Solid Oak or mobility threshold

10. Insulated panels

Solid boarded or inset birch plywood

11. High quality and security locking system

High security Yale multipoint hookbolt system, with stainless steel faceplate and adjustable keeps for enhanced durability.

12. Suited door furniture

Door handles and letterboxes to match our window handles.

13. Warm edge option

Thermix insulated spacer option

14. Iplus Safety units

Ultra efficient safety glazing units in clear or obscure glazing

We can provide section details and samples of doors on request.

A choice of finishings are available to suit your requirements.

Solar Thermal

Retreat Rooms offer solar packages tailored for each project. An average of only 2/3 panels are required for a typical 4 bedroom property with 4/5 occupants, with a 300 – 1000 litre storage dependent upon family requirements. The benefit of solar hot water is that it will provide 60% of hot water free for all year round using only solar energy to achieve this. Incentive schemes are available of up to £400 for each solar installation.

Solar water heating helps the environment.

It reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 3 tonnes compared to other water heater systems - the equivalent of taking a small car off the road

Some local authorities and central Governments in the UK offer further rebates to encourage the use of solar water heating.

When these incentives are taken into account you can incluse Solar Water heating systems in your homes for not a lot more than conventional water heating.

Lighting

Retreat Rooms offers the latest lighting technology and products with the lowest running costs. The low energy lights are dedicating lighting that cannot accept other types of fitment. Low energy light lasts up to 12 times longer than a standard light fitment and over a period of one year can have a substantial saving on running costs and reduce your CO2 emissions. Lighting typically accounts for up to 30% of the total electricity costs of your home, by installing dedicated energy efficient lighting you can save £9 per luminare. We provide a range of spot lights, up lighters and mirror lights and external lighting. All of our inset lightings are fire rated fittings.

Underfloor Heating

Underfloor heating works by circulating warm water through a series of continuous pipe loops fitted underneath the floor. The pipework creates a large radiant surface which heats the home from the floor upwards. This radiant form of heating is very different to the convected heat provided by radiators. Radiators work by drawing cold air across the floor heating it and then cenvecting it upwards towards the ceiling.

The main advantage of underfloor heating is it is high level of performance. Radiant heat means that the warmth is concentrated where it’s needed most. Room temperatures higher up are usually around 2oC lower than at floor level.

Underfloor heating is also extremely discrete. With nothing showing above floor level, it does not interfere with either living space or decor, therefore every square foot of the floor and wall space can be made of use.

Although installation costs are generally higher than traditional heating methods, underfloor heating’s superior efficiency means that running costs will be significantly lowered so the ongoing savings on energy bills quickly outweigh higher initial outlay.

Underfloor heating can be used with most types of floors and floor coverings. It is suitable for use with all sorts of wet central heating systems. It is easy to install and gives a number of usage options. It can be installed throughout the home, on one level only or in individual rooms. It can be used alone or combined with radiators or other heating systems elsewhere in the home.

Air Source Heat Pumps

Retreat Rooms use the latest high efficiency air source heat pumps. The air source heat pump works by extracting the heat from the outside air, raising the heat to a higher temperature and then distributing warm air around the heating system; at the heart of the system lies an air to water heat pump.

Because of the advanced technology, three quarters of the heat generated by the heat pump is absolutely free. The air to water heat pump is today’s answer to the current and future problems associated with conventional heating systems, such as increasing primary energy costs and an unacceptably high environmental impact.

Air source heat pumps are placed externally and look like an air conditioning unit, however the internal controls appear the same as a conventional system.

The key benefits are environmental impact and3-4 times more efficient than a conventional heating system working very well with a well insulated living space.

A grant is available of up to £900 to help towards the installation of this type of system.

Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery (MVHR)

The key benefit of MVHR system is removing condensation from the air and replacing it with fresh filtered air.

The building regulations set out requires adequate aeration in a building and recommends the use of energy efficient and “heat recovery devices” in the ventilation system. There is special emphasis on the control of ventilation to maintain air quality and avoid wasting energy (compliant with Building Regulations 2006 Park F). This system gives a complete air change of 0.8 every hour. The latest MVHR system we use is fitted with inverter technology making them 50% more efficient than most systems on the market.

Please click the image to see how Heat Recovery Works

Wood Burning Stoves

A wood burning stove combined with an MVHR system can significantly reduce heating costs by extracting the warm air from the stove and re-circulating it throughout your living area.

By installing woodburning stoves we are encouraging the use of wood as a fuel. We feel that this is an important step towards lowering carbon emissions. We try to encourage our customers to burn wood as opposed to coal or peat.

This is also an excellent feature for your basement/garden room.

Green Roof

Green roofs cannot be given a U-value at present. However they have been shown to significantly reduce the need for air conditioning in summer and can provide a degree of insulation in winter.

Green roofs involve growing plants on rooftops, thus replacing the vegetated footprint that was destroyed when the building was constructed.

A major benefit of green roofs is their ability to absorb stormwater and release it slowly over a period of several hours. Green roof systems have been shown to retain 60-100% of the stormwater they receive. In addition, green roofs have a longer life-span than standard roofs because they are protected from ultraviolet radiation and the extreme fluctuations in temperature that cause roof membranes to deteriorate.

A green roof is essentially the growing of plants on our roof tops. Green roofs can be anything from a layer of sedum and mosses to plants and shrubs. The insulation offered by green roofs considerably lowers cooling bills.

Sedum Roofs

They are created from pre-grown sedum mats or from cuttings or plug plants.

Meadow Roofs

These roofs are based on a minimum of 70-100mm substrate depth. They are usually created with seed mixes of wildflower and grasses that are typical of dry habitats.