SOCIAL HOUSING
Delivering a new-build pilot constructed to PassivHaus standards
Located at a vacant site in Sunningdale Gardens, Belfast, the new development consists of six semi-detached, three- person, two-bedroom dwellings constructed to PassivHaus Standard in accordance with the Housing Association Guide Standards and to Lifetime Homes Standards. AT THE OUTSET THE AIM OF THE SCHEME FOR NIHE WAS TO: • Deliver a new-build pilot that consists of social housing units constructed to PassivHaus standard, by utilising modern methods of construction and ultra-low energy building techniques, whilst including the incorporation of passive building systems. • Help address new international/ UK targets aimed at reducing carbon emissions/greenhouse gases with construction to a standard beyond that of the current Building Regulations of Northern Ireland. PROPERTIES COMPRISES: • External walls constructed using a single skin of aerated blockwork, as a rapid-build technique or on-site MMC, with 225mm EPS external wall insulation with a rendered finish and a 50mm internal service void with 25mm PIR insulation installed. • Dual-pitched trussed roof construction with concrete interlocking roof tiles on timber battens and a polypropylene roofing membrane, with a cold roof build-up consisting of 800mm mineral fibre insulation. • Ground-floor build-up of sand/ cement screed on a suspended concrete slab on 300mm EPS insulation. THE EXTERNAL ENVELOPE OF THE
• Triple-glazed, PassivHaus standard doors and windows are incorporated along with specialist materials to act as thermal breaks at junctions such as at the entrance canopies, cills and thresholds to all properties. A continuous seal is incorporated around the internal fabric of the external envelope to eliminate unwanted air leakage, aided by a continuous service void to the external walls and ceilings to drastically reduce the likelihood of disturbing the airtightness layer. Due to the high level of air tightness, a mechanical ventilation system is therefore required. This has been designed into the incorporation of passive building systems, which consist of a combined whole house heating and ventilating system which has an air-sourced heat pump, with an integrated mechanical ventilation heat-recovery unit and hot water cylinder. OTHER MAIN ELEMENTS OF WORK ARE AS FOLLOWS: • Front and rear gardens incorporating hard and soft landscaping and external drying areas. Terraces provided to rear, enclosed by low level brickwork plinths with mild steel balustrading. • Boundary treatments and associated evergreen hedging/ slow-growing trees, with a combination of facing brick walls to the front and side elevations and timber fencing between the units and at the rear. • The provision of three new on- street car parking spaces, along with new pedestrian footpaths and modification to the existing highway, all in accordance with DFI Roads and Private Streets Determination requirements.
Gerard Flynn, NIHE North Belfast Manager, hands the keys to a new home at Sunningdale Gardens to tenant Jacqueline Lowry and daughter Keeley-Rose.
“The ultra-low energy building methods used to construct these houses means that our tenants will now benefit from improved energy efficiency and a reduction in carbon emissions, lower heating bills, savings from reduced fuel costs and more comfortable homes.” The Minister said, “This is not just the Housing Executive delivering new homes, it is the Housing Executive leading and innovating for Northern Ireland. “The Modern Methods of Construction approach and the PassivHaus standard that NIHE has achieved will together bring learning for the whole social housing sector here. “I commend all those involved in this development and wish the residents every happiness in their new homes.” The Housing Centre, 2 Adelaide Street, Belfast BT2 8PB T: +44 (0)3448 920 900 E: information@nihe.gov.uk www.nihe.gov.uk “Our tenants will now benefit from improved energy efficiency and a reduction in carbon emissions, lower heating bills, savings from reduced fuel costs and more comfortable homes.”
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