JDDK Millmount News - Winter Edition 2023 - Magazine - Page 18
T H E D E L I V E RY
What are the challenges?
One of the main challenges when designing a Passivhaus building is
meeting the high standards. Due to the focus on energy ef昀椀ciency,
a lot of consideration goes into minimising the energy lost through
the junctions between two parts of the building fabric called thermal
bridges. Once the heat loss from these thermal bridges is added
together, this can signi昀椀cantly impact the energy ef昀椀ciency of a
building.
We’ve reframed this challenge into a specialism, as our Certi昀椀ed
Passivhaus Designers can carry out thermal bridge calculations inhouse using our thermal bridge modelling software, Flixo. This isn’t
just useful for Passivhaus projects either – building regulations now
require thermal bridges to be modelled, albeit to a lower standard.
Many architects subcontract this stage of a project, but having
this service in-house means we can offer clients a more joined up,
better value, design service. Our team doing the thermal bridge
calculations also better understand the performance of the building
overall.
Any competent contractor can deliver Passivhaus designs on site so
the skills of the wider construction industry shouldn’t be a barrier to
opting for this route. What it does require is an understanding of the
processes and why a different approach is important. The level of
supervision on site is also key. For example, if a tradesperson drills
a hole through an airtight barrier and it doesn’t get sealed before
it is covered over, then the building will likely fail the rigorous air
tightness test. JDDK are supporting our clients by offering them
introductory sessions to Passivhaus and helping their site managers
and tradespeople to understand issues such as airtightness.
A Passivhaus project requires more ‘upfront’ design, with key
decisions made earlier in the process than many designers are used
to. This means that stakeholders in the project team who provide
technical input, like Engineers and Architectural Technicians, will
likely need to be involved at an early stage. It’s also vital to appoint
and liaise with the Passivhaus Certi昀椀er as soon as possible.
Watch Adam and Tristan
discuss the impact of
Passivhaus design
Watch now
18 Millmount. Winter 2023.