EWI and Passive House Issues

kboc

Can somebody please help with some questions I have.

1. Can I put a stove into a passive house? If yes, which ones? If no, why?
2. Where can I get a certified passive external door? Why are they so dear? Surely not value for money.
3. What dept of insulation is the norm on EWI installations?
4. If you know any GOOD reputable exponents of the EWI trade can you PM me their contact details
5. If you know any GODD reputable expontents of plastering onto EWI can you pm me their contact details

Lastly, which is best value for money in short, medium and long term, a 300 mm cavity wall house or an EWI.

Thanks
K

sas

As I'm currently building an EWI passive house I can help a little here.

kboc wrote: »

Can somebody please help with some questions I have.
1. Can I put a stove into a passive house? If yes, which ones? If no, why?

Yes you can. Mine is a 10kw timber stove, 7 to the boiler, 3 to the room.
I'll pm you the model.

kboc wrote: »

2. Where can I get a certified passive external door? Why are they so dear? Surely not value for money.

My front door isn't certified. It's still damn expensive though. For the certification you are not required to use certified components. It makes it easier though. The doors I got (front and side) are made from components that are the exact same as the windows. Any of the PH certified window suppliers should be able to help on this.

kboc wrote: »

3. What dept of insulation is the norm on EWI installations?

There is no norm. The PHPP will determine this for you. However, if you are going with EPS, it's going to be at least 200mm I'd imagine. Mine is 300mm of a higher grade white EPS.

kboc wrote: »

4. If you know any GOOD reputable exponents of the EWI trade can you PM me their contact details

PM away

kboc wrote: »

5. If you know any GODD reputable expontents of plastering onto EWI can you pm me their contact details

External wall insulation comes as systems i.e. the adhesive, boards, base coat, mesh and finishing coat are all applied by the same company. This is not like and ICF build where there is a walling erector and a rendering contractor.

kboc wrote: »

Lastly, which is best value for money in short, medium and long term, a 300 mm cavity wall house or an EWI.

No one can tell you this for certain as it will depend on the rise in the price of oil etc. However, as it stands right now, if I were starting again in the morning I would go with a wide cavity, good detailing and not go certified passive. I personally don't believe there is the return on investment when you are borrowing the money to build the house. I'd really love to be proven wrong on this one though.

BryanF

sas wrote: »

No one can tell you this for certain as it will depend on the rise in the price of oil etc. However, as it stands right now, if I were starting again in the morning I would go with a wide cavity, good detailing and not go certified passive. I personally don't believe there is the return on investment when you are borrowing the money to build the house. I'd really love to be proven wrong on this one though.

kboc, may I just reiterate what is often forgotten about the passive concept and that's 'good detailing', something which does not have to cost the earth but will make a huge difference if done right.

lots of people say this or similar, and I reckon there are more environmental & cost savings by been sensible about the build materials and design process.

sas, would you acknowledge that the phpp tool and the early Passive design process (orientation, limiting d length of services etc) is worth it in-lieu of anything better?

there are those who just go 'its too expensive' (sas this not a dig at you) without taking advantage of the PH knowledge benefits: the design approach, the reduced energy philosophy including appropriate ventilation, thermal comfort and air-tightness. all of which are still ahead of the current Bregs.

fclauson

BryanF wrote: »

....
sas, would you acknowledge that the phpp tool and the early Passive design process (orientation, limiting d length of services etc) is worth it in-lieu of anything better?

there are those who just go 'its too expensive' (sas this not a dig at you) without taking advantage of the PH knowledge benefits: the design approach, the reduced energy philosophy including appropriate ventilation, thermal comfort and air-tightness. all of which are still ahead of the current Bregs.

BrianF - I would agree

Stick to my mantra of the balanced “P” model
"Passive, Performance, Pragmatic, Practical, and Price"

fclauson

kboc wrote: »

.....

1. Can I put a stove into a passive house? If yes, which ones? If no, why?
....

I am also struggling with this - with a 6.5Kw total house demand at minus -17C (yes I frigged the PHPPP climate just to see what the demand would be) I am struggling to find an aesthetic pleasing, low output stove i.e. 2 to 4Kw WHICH has an acceptable detailing on its external air supply (REMEMBER CO kills silently)

I have as yet not resolved this one - ideas welcome

Francis

Do-more

fclauson wrote: »

I am also struggling with this - with a 6.5Kw total house demand at minus -17C (yes I frigged the PHPPP climate just to see what the demand would be) I am struggling to find an aesthetic pleasing, low output stove i.e. 2 to 4Kw WHICH has an acceptable detailing on its external air supply (REMEMBER CO kills silently)

I have as yet not resolved this one - ideas welcome

Francis

I intend to resolve the issue with one of these...



Burns pure ethanol which is certified as safe to use without a flue so no chimney or air supply required so less cost and cold bridges.

I haven't independently calculated the emissions to verify but the usual claim is that it's the same as burning 4 large candles.

Gives off a few kw's of heat but the reality for me is that it is unlikely to be lit more than a handful of times a year.

BryanF

Do-more wrote: »

Burns pure ethanol which is certified as safe to use without a flue so no chimney or air supply required so less cost and cold bridges.

I haven't independently calculated the emissions to verify but the usual claim is that it's the same as burning 4 large candles.

Gives off a few kw's of heat but the reality for me is that it is unlikely to be lit more than a handful of times a year.

Booo:eek: what about the renewable resource of timber:)

Stove Fan

fclauson wrote: »

I am also struggling with this - with a 6.5Kw total house demand at minus -17C (yes I frigged the PHPPP climate just to see what the demand would be) I am struggling to find an aesthetic pleasing, low output stove i.e. 2 to 4Kw WHICH has an acceptable detailing on its external air supply (REMEMBER CO kills silently)

I have as yet not resolved this one - ideas welcome

Francis

Are you looking for a boiler stove?

What heat requirement do you need to the boiler and the room that the stove is installed in. Are you looking for a stove thats a traditional design or contempoary? Wood use only or multifuel?

Stove Fan:)

Do-more

BryanF wrote: »

Booo:eek: what about the renewable resource of timber:)

It's bio-ethanol!

BryanF

Do-more wrote: »

It's bio-ethanol!

:rolleyes: food v fuel

sas

BryanF wrote: »

sas, would you acknowledge that the phpp tool and the early Passive design process (orientation, limiting d length of services etc) is worth it in-lieu of anything better?

Absolutely agree. The PHPP is a great tool to validate the energy demand of your home. I would simply use it to aim for a more cost effective target.

BryanF wrote: »

there are those who just go 'its too expensive' (sas this not a dig at you) without taking advantage of the PH knowledge benefits: the design approach, the reduced energy philosophy including appropriate ventilation, thermal comfort and air-tightness. all of which are still ahead of the current Bregs.

No offence taken. My opinion is that it's not cost effective, especially in this cheap building labour economy. On a PH you are dealing with niche companys and hence incur a premium for their service. This being one of the reasons they are not cost effective in my opinion. You would hit somewhere that is say 25kw (versus PHI 15kw) for alot less than I'm spending in my opinion.

Do-more

BryanF wrote: »

:rolleyes: food v fuel

Where's the "shakes head" smiley?

In Ireland bio-ethanol is produced from whey a by-product of the milk industry which would otherwise be a waste stream.

It displaces zero food production.

BryanF

Do-more wrote: »

Where's the "shakes head" smiley?

In Ireland bio-ethanol is.....