cavity walls

Callum Thornton, the Fenestration Product Manager for SFS UK, explains why specifiers and property managers should consider continuity of insulation around window openings as a priority in both new build and retrofit situations.

ISO Chemie’s thermal insulating and load bearing bracket support system and sealing tapes have been specified for a new energy improvement initiative being carried out by a northern housing association.
 
The move sees WINFRAMER units being retrofitted at three 1940s – 1960s built houses in Northallerton and Stokesley as part of Yorkshire-based Broadacre Housing Association’s (BHA) pilot project. This will eventually bring hundreds of poorly insulated properties up to zero carbon ready standards and provide improved housing for BHA customers along with long-term cost savings.

When it comes to masonry wall constructions, cavity trays play an essential role alongside key elements such as cavity barriers and fire stops. They are designed to keep moisture at bay, ensuring that any rain that penetrates the cavity does not reach the inner leaf, thereby reducing the risk of internal damp which can cause serious problems for buildings and occupants alike. But for cavity trays to be effective, it is important to understand how they work, what the installation requirements are, and also when other considerations need to be taken into account when integrating them with products such as cavity barriers and fire stops.

Findings detailed in an updated Daylighting White Paper from Kingspan Insualtion has highlighted a connection between insulation performance and daylighting.