Pushing the Envelope

 

To achieve a truly energy efficient building, you have to begin by looking at the envelope. It doesn’t matter how much you incorporate renewable technology or adopt efficient operational practices – if the building envelope isn’t up to scratch, the building won’t be fit for purpose. Put simply, an airtight, thermally-efficient envelope is the foundation for a better building.

Fortunately, getting an optimised building envelope is relatively straightforward. By following a holistic design process, and choosing products carefully, it is possible to get an envelope that is the hardest-working element of the building in terms of energy efficiency.

The four key things to consider are below:

• Determine appropriate panel thickness based on building energy consumption
• Understand thermal transmission at junctions
• Minimise air leakage through installation
• Optimise the roof design to balance natural lighting through rooflights, thermal performance, and space for rooftop solar photovoltaics

Fundamental to this process is getting the right insulation. Choosing the right product and system, and making sure it is installed properly, reduces air permeability and improves the overall thermal performance of a building.

The effects of this improved thermal performance lead to more comfortable buildings, better environmental credentials and significant reductions in heating and cooling costs; both operationally and in terms of the capital investment required for smaller HVAC plant in better-insulated buildings. This leads to further efficiency investments, as reduced costs boost yields and asset values – a virtuous circle.

Using insulated panels with an IPN-QuadCore insulation core helps to create the most advanced, high-performing building envelopes in the world. With its unmatched thermal performance, fire certification, environmental credentials and long-life guarantee, IPN-QuadCore sets a new standard for insulation that, in turn, makes the business case for a better envelope even more compelling. A recent study by energy consultants AECOM showed how IPN-QuadCore can reduce building annual energy demand by up to 14% compared with a notional Part L2A warehouse, when incorporated as part of an optimised building envelope design.

As the market evolves, and building owners, tenants and society demands more from the performance of our built environment, the spotlight will fall on building envelopes more and more. Innovations like IPN-QuadCore, used in market-leading insulated panel system technology like Kingspan’s, are helping to meet this growing need. IPN-QuadCore is redefining what insulation can and should do for a building.

 

The Development of IPN-QuadCore

IPN-QuadCore is the bespoke new hybrid insulation technology from Kingspan Insulated Panels. Launched in August 2015, IPN-QuadCore represents a significant step change in insulated panel performance.

Here, Divisional Building Technology Director Mark Harris tells some of the story behind the development of IPN-QuadCore.

What’s the story behind IPN-QuadCore?

The IPN-QuadCore story began in 1995, when we first developed our polyisocyanurate (PIR) core technology for insulated panels. This core was the first to achieve approval from the UK Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB) and FM Global – a step up from the previous polyurethane (PUR) system.

Since then, we have focused on continually developing our insulation core technology. For example, in 2004 we began working with a number of universities on projects to improve our standard PIR core. These academic studies informed a number of trials, and resulted in the 2006 launch of our ECOsafe insulation core. That product achieved superior thermal performance without the use of high global warming potential blowing agents.

Following on from this, we began working with a dedicated in-house polymer development department within Kingspan Insulated Panels. This resulted in further improvements to the thermal and fire performance of our polymer matrix, developments which eventually led to the creation of IPN-QuadCore.

Next came years of extensive testing – it takes a long time to gain approval to use new materials in construction. There were lots of manufacturing trials, and much work behind the scenes to obtain the best possible third party approval, especially for fire performance.

Will IPN-QuadCore be used in every panel product from Kingspan Insulated Panels?

Eventually, yes. For the time being, IPN-QuadCore is exclusively available in our coldstore panel range, where the reception has been very positive. We have plans to launch it in other Kingspan Insulated Panels ranges over the coming year, with a view to eventually rolling it out as our main core material if customer uptake demands it.

Talkin’ bout a Revolution

As the Tracy Chapman song goes, finally the tables are starting to turn. The ‘Rethinking Lighting Design’ panel discussion at Friday’s LEAF event suggests the lighting revolution has already started.

Together with my fellow panellists Mark Rides of BDP and Kristofer Karlsson of Buro Happold Engineering – and the attending audience of leading architects, contractors, engineers and consultants – we covered a wide range of topics that all pointed to a major shift in the lighting industry. The out-dated, inefficient, and disconnected approach to lighting commercial buildings is being replaced with a more holistic perspective that has potential to deliver huge benefits to building owners and occupiers.

The Retail Revolution: The Changing Nature of UK Retail Specifications

Tony Ryan, Divisional Building Technology Manager, Kingspan Insulated Panels. One of the most profound changes to the UK’s architectural landscape over the past 20 years has been the proliferation of large retail premises. The shift towards online and out-of-town shopping has driven the creation of millions of square metres of retail and distribution space across the nation, fuelling demand in the construction industry.

Praise the Roof: Making roof replacements work for the public sector

The nation’s public sector roofs are in a parlous state, particularly on some of the more functional buildings that underpin the public sector, such as school halls, council depots and departmental offices. Many of the roofs on these buildings are life-expired, and have been patched up more times than they were ever designed to be.

Achieving Net-Zero Energy Buildings

Achieving truly energy-efficient buildings requires a holistic understanding of energy consumption. It’s tempting to jump straight to on-site renewables when seeking to improve the energy performance of a building, but this can often mean more impactful and simpler measures are missed. Mark Harris from Kingspan Insulated Panels explains the need for a smart balance between insulation and generation to achieve Net-Zero Energy, and how following the process correctly can lead to a compelling business case for efficiency investment.

Solar Q&A

What are the obstacles holding back home owners and businesses from switching to solar?

The greatest obstacle holding businesses back from switching to solar power is capital cost. That is why Kingspan Energy has launched a fully-funded solution, to remove this barrier for owners and occupiers of large buildings.

How schools and colleges are joining the solar revolution

Peter Turley, Business Unit Manager, Kingspan Energy. Years of successive budget cuts have drastically reduced funding reserves for schools, colleges and local authorities, causing non-essential work to be postponed indefinitely. Measures to improve energy efficiency have traditionally fallen into this camp, as they are not seen as a priority in such straitened times.

Rooftop Solar: An Obvious Boost to Public Sector Finances

A study released by Kingspan Energy showed the enormous energy potential of the UK’s large-scale roof space. One of the key findings of the study, based on Government data and analysis of existing system performance, was that the entire 199,738GWh of annual electricity demand of the private and public sectors could be met by installing rooftop Photovoltaic (PV) on just 61% of the UK’s 2,500km² of south-facing large-scale roof space. But until now, take-up of large scale rooftop solar PV has been disappointing compared with other nations. In this piece, Peter Turley from Kingspan Energy explains what they are doing to help drive the uptake of rooftop solar PV in the public sector and beyond, and makes a compelling case for all organisations to install solar now.

Shedding Light on Lighting Sheds: How Rooflights can help Warehouses pass the 2018 EPC Challenge

By Jonathan Dore, Kingspan Ltd. You only have to look at the uptake of the Government’s Green Deal Home Improvement Fund to see the effect cold hard cash can have on energy efficiency initiatives. We’d all like to live and work in greener buildings, but the desire for energy efficiency is still outweighed by a relentless need to keep costs as low as possible.