Ventilation Masterclass for the STBA
Seminars, Training

Ventilation Masterclass for the STBA

Sep 10, 2016
The second in the STBA series of Masterclasses took place in September, with over 30 delegates learning from Ian Mawditt of fourwalls. Ventilation in retrofit projects is often one of the most overlooked considerations.  Yet ignoring ventilation is high risk, both in terms of occupant health and minimising moisture risk to the building fabric. Most retrofits, by their very nature, will automatically have a dramatic reduction effect on air leakage. However, it can be quite confusing to work out how best to ventilate - natural, mechanical - centralised or decentralised. A number of factors will dictate the most appropriate strategy,…
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Zero Carbon Hub Ventilation Study
Publications, Research

Zero Carbon Hub Ventilation Study

Apr 07, 2016
fourwalls were part of the project team for this study, led by the Zero Carbon Hub. The study team visited 33 dwellings across 6 construction sites in 2015 to see how effectively their mechanical ventilation systems were designed, installed, commissioned and handed over to occupants. In summary, we found things going wrong at multiple stages of the construction process at every site. The cumulative effect of these issues ultimately outweighed any good practice, as the systems we tested showed significant under-performance. At 5 of the 6 sites, fans were operating at only half the required duty or lower, i.e. flow…
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Characteristics and Performance of MVHR Systems
Publications, Research

Characteristics and Performance of MVHR Systems

Mar 04, 2016
A long time in the making, but we are pleased to announce that the MVHR meta study has now been published. The meta-study was commissioned by Innovate UK as part of the Building Performance Evaluation (BPE) Programme to provide an overview of the performance and use of whole-house heat recovery ventilation (MVHR) systems in domestic projects. With increasing requirements for energy reduction, the impact of ventilation strategies has increased in importance, both in terms of energy reduction and indoor air quality (IAQ). The primary aims of this meta-study are to: Review the characteristics of installed systems in relation to air…
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Bristolian’s Solid Wall Insulation Guide
Publications

Bristolian’s Solid Wall Insulation Guide

Nov 29, 2015
We are pleased to announce that the Bristolian's Guide to Solid Wall Insulation was launched last week. The guidance, which includes a video and an online tool as well a the guidance document, was commissioned by Bristol City Council and led by the Sustainable and Traditional Buildings Alliance (STBA). The new and user-friendly online tool and complimentary guide are available for those living in Bristol to help them make more informed decisions about how to insulate their homes in a responsible way.  By showing residents what to look out for, Bristol City Council believes that the uptake of one of…
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don’t forget to check ‘my fourwalls’
House Blog

don’t forget to check ‘my fourwalls’

Sep 22, 2015
'My fourwalls' is a blog set up by Ian Mawditt of fourwalls to chart the progress and performance of a deep retrofit that he undertook on his own home in Bristol. His house is being monitored and he intends to continue to post energy and environmental performance data periodically. 'My fourwalls' can be accessed from our main menu, or by clicking here. Please feel free to send Ian a message if you like him to post about anything in particular from his retrofit. Even a prompt to him to update the site - at least he knows people are reading…
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Indoor Air Quality Research
Research

Indoor Air Quality Research

Jun 30, 2015
We need your help... fourwalls are working together with AECOM  to undertake a study of indoor air quality in naturally ventilated homes in England constructed to Part L / F 2010 of the Building Regulations. The study, which has been commissioned by the Government, will help inform future ventilation standards, and accompanying technical guidance such that they are appropriate for the health and wellbeing of occupants living in increasingly airtight homes.  We are currently approaching developers and housing providers to request their assistance with identifying suitable homes. We will be carrying out the monitoring in recruited homes during the winter…
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Zero Carbon Hub – Ventilation Study
Research

Zero Carbon Hub – Ventilation Study

May 25, 2015
fourwalls is pleased to be working with the Zero Carbon Hub on their In-Use Performance of Ventilation Systems in New Homes Study. The aims is to gather sufficient evidence in relation to design, installation and commissioning issues, which can lead to poor performance, both in air quality terms, and energy use. fourwalls is providing a technical lead role in the field work, which includes walkthrough evaluations, volume air flow measurements and tracer gas air exchange measurements. For more information about this study, see the Zero Carbon Hub page here or download the study summary here.
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Building Performance Evaluation in the South West
Seminars, Twitter

Building Performance Evaluation in the South West

May 13, 2015
Ian Mawditt from fourwalls presented 'how to evaluate buildings - the lessons we have learnt from the Building Performance Evaluation programme' at this event on behalf of Innovate UK. Watch the video here. Through the BPE programme it has become evident that new buildings are rarely evaluated and fine-tuned, and that there is a lack of feedback between the building owner, and the design and construction teams. This can often result in impressive-looking buildings with dissatisfied occupants, and higher-than-expected energy bills. The programme has encouraged capacity building of BPE processes within the industry, and has helped the teams to develop…
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MVHR meta-study talk at Ecobuild
Seminars

MVHR meta-study talk at Ecobuild

Feb 19, 2015
Ian Mawditt from fourwalls has been working in partnership with Professor Tim Sharpe from the Mackintosh Environmental Architecture Research Unit and Professor Rajat Gupta from Oxford Brookes University on a meta-study of domestic heat recovery ventilation systems. The study, funded by Innovate UK, uses project data from the recent Building Performance Evaluation Programme to assess the air flow characteristics, energy and comfort performance, and user engagement of over 40 installed systems. The study is ongoing, but some of the key findings will be presented at Ecobuild on the 3rd March 2015 in the Building Performance Seminar session. Come along -…
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fourwalls partner with STBA in Bristol
Uncategorised

fourwalls partner with STBA in Bristol

Jan 21, 2015
fourwalls are pleased to be working in partnership with the Sustainable and Traditional Buildings Alliance (STBA) in Bristol. The STBA were awarded the contract by Bristol City Council (BCC) to develop the 'design and technical guidance' to support a city-wide retrofitting initiative. The BCC 'Warm Up Bristol' scheme, commences in earnest this year - the same year that Bristol holds the European Green Capital status. It will be the biggest energy-efficiency scheme in the country, with a total estimated value of £60M. The qualifying retrofit houses will be solid wall, privately-owned properties, which can be difficult to treat. The funding…
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