Sixty-three Cornish Type-1 homes in Chippenham are in the process of having a Wetherby EWI system installed, as part of an government backed energy saving scheme.
The houses were built in the 1950’s to address the United Kingdom’s post World War Two housing shortage. These particular precast reinforced concrete homes, which have medium-pitched hipped roofs, have been designated defective and are renowned for problems associated with severe horizontal and vertical cracking of the PRC columns, and cracking of the horizontal PC panels and the first floor ring beams. These properties also suffer from high roles of carbonation and significant levels of chloride in the PRC columns, which is not supported by their rural location.
The client, Green Square Group, have been visiting the non-externally insulated PRC homes for many years with the thought of upgrading, however, it was decided that the only resolution was to brick them up. Whist upgrading the homes would benefit their appearance, there would be a large cost attached using this method. The properties have a high heat loss and tenant satisfaction on these particular homes is very low.
Renewable energy company, Solar Advanced Systems, identified Wetherby as a capex solution to Green Square’s requirements. Both Green Square and Solar Advanced Systems specified that the Wetherby system is a successfully tried and tested solution which would benefit the properties and having EWI installed on the homes will result in them becoming mortgage-able.
To insulate the exteriors of the homes, WBS Insulated Render System, incorporating 60mm phenolic insulation and finished with a cream silicone render has been specified as the ideal system. Due to the build of these houses, only the lower level will have EWI fitted. The thermal properties of the insulation will considerably reduce the U-values of the homes from 3.14W/m²K to an impressive 0.30W/m²K meaning that the properties would be much less expensive to heat.
The project is currently underway and is scheduled to be finished within a 10 week timeframe.
Marc Brooker, Project Surveyor at Green Square Group praised the project, saying “Green Square Group is delighted to have been able to secure 100% ECO funding for this Wetherby EWI system to be installed by Solar Advanced Systems. It will make a huge difference to the lives and running costs of heating for our residents that live in Cornish style PRC homes”.
Kevin Downes, Commercial Director at Solar Advanced Systems added, “We are delighted to be able to offer a cost effective energy saving solution for these troublesome properties” adding, “a professional approach, knowledgeable product support and tenant liaison are crucial in ensuring a trouble free project.”