Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

Building a house at the moment

  • 28-11-2013 10:31AM
    #1
    Glenman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 978 ✭✭✭


    We are building house at the moment and I am surprised at what we need to do to meet the BER under the new planning regulations since 2011. Here is just a taste of what we need to do. We need a minimum of 100mm insulation in our 150mm cavity. We need a 12.5mm tapered edge gypsum based plasterboard facing bonded to 50mm phenolic insulant sheets on the inside of the external walls. We need windows with a U-Value of 0.85W/m squared.K. (triple glazed required)
    We need ventilation to be provided be balanced while-house mechanical ventilation with heat recovery. The primary oil boiler must have an efficiency of 97%. The capacity of the hot water cylinder should be 400 litres. We also need a high spec solar panel to meet Part L.
    Is there any way around this? Do all new houses now have to meet specs similar to the above?


Comments

  • #2
    Gumbo
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 42,602 Mod ✭✭✭✭Gumbo


    Glenman wrote: »
    We are building house at the moment and I am surprised at what we need to do to meet the BER under the new planning regulations since 2011. Here is just a taste of what we need to do. We need a minimum of 100mm insulation in our 150mm cavity. We need a 12.5mm tapered edge gypsum based plasterboard facing bonded to 50mm phenolic insulant sheets on the inside of the external walls. We need windows with a U-Value of 0.85W/m squared.K. (triple glazed required)
    We need ventilation to be provided be balanced while-house mechanical ventilation with heat recovery. The primary oil boiler must have an efficiency of 97%. The capacity of the hot water cylinder should be 400 litres. We also need a high spec solar panel to meet Part L.
    Is there any way around this? Do all new houses now have to meet specs similar to the above?

    Sounds about standard.
    it has added about 15k to the cost of building a house since 2008.


  • #3
    mfceiling
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,003 ✭✭✭✭mfceiling


    Why would you want to "get around this"...

    Surely with energy prices going steadily upwards, it makes sense to make your house as energy efficient as possible?

    Have you not noticed how all new cars are very fuel efficient compared to the older models....why not the same with houses?


  • #4
    BryanF
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 10,146 Mod ✭✭✭✭BryanF


    Glenman wrote: »
    We are building house at the moment and I am surprised at what we need to do to meet the BER under the new planning regulations since 2011. Here is just a taste of what we need to do. We need a minimum of 100mm insulation in our 150mm cavity. We need a 12.5mm tapered edge gypsum based plasterboard facing bonded to 50mm phenolic insulant sheets on the inside of the external walls. We need windows with a U-Value of 0.85W/m squared.K. (triple glazed required)
    We need ventilation to be provided be balanced while-house mechanical ventilation with heat recovery. The primary oil boiler must have an efficiency of 97%. The capacity of the hot water cylinder should be 400 litres. We also need a high spec solar panel to meet Part L.
    Is there any way around this? Do all new houses now have to meet specs similar to the above?
    no way around this,
    why were you surprised? did you employ an architect who told you about this early on at design stage? dry-lining isn't a great solution, can you widen the cavity? are you sure solar will meet renewable requirements on its own? you neglected to mention the air-tightness requirements? and whether your having a stove (wood burning only can help renewable %)


  • #5
    mickdw
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,918 ✭✭✭✭mickdw


    Yes that is a typical enough spec but to be clear, its only very recently that part L 2011 is applying to all builds as 2008 regs still applied to many builds. Indeed, if your planning was applied for prior to 30 november 2011 and your external walls are complete by 30 november 2013, Part L 2008 can be used and this would amount is a reasonable cost saving but as has been said earlier, its in your interests to spend on energy efficiency at this stage.
    Under 08 regs, you would be able to reduce the spec on some of the items you list and likely not require hrv system.


  • #6
    Glenman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 978 ✭✭✭Glenman


    Thanks for all the feedback. We applied for planning in Spring of this year and it was approved in August. Yes, it's probably best to invest in the insulation now and hopefully cost down heating costs in the future.


  • Advertisement
  • #7
    fclauson
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,691 ✭✭✭fclauson


    Glenman wrote: »
    We are building house at the moment and I am surprised at what we need to do to meet the BER under the new planning regulations since 2011. Here is just a taste of what we need to do. We need a minimum of 100mm insulation in our 150mm cavity. We need a 12.5mm tapered edge gypsum based plasterboard facing bonded to 50mm phenolic insulant sheets on the inside of the external walls. We need windows with a U-Value of 0.85W/m squared.K. (triple glazed required)
    We need ventilation to be provided be balanced while-house mechanical ventilation with heat recovery. The primary oil boiler must have an efficiency of 97%. The capacity of the hot water cylinder should be 400 litres. We also need a high spec solar panel to meet Part L.
    Is there any way around this? Do all new houses now have to meet specs similar to the above?

    why has it been suggested to put just 100mm in the cav and then 50mm on the inside leaf ?


  • #8
    Glenman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 978 ✭✭✭Glenman


    fclauson wrote: »
    why has it been suggested to put just 100mm in the cav and then 50mm on the inside leaf ?

    Not sure, that's what in the spec we got from our engineer. He inputs all these specs and data into the Part L calculator and you either comply or you don't. However, we have decided to pump the cavity along with the 50mm on the inside leaf.


  • #9
    kkelliher
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,583 ✭✭✭kkelliher


    kceire wrote: »
    Sounds about standard.
    it has added about 15k to the cost of building a house since 2008.

    and yet we still have people quoting building figures cheaper than ever.


  • #10
    fclauson
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,691 ✭✭✭fclauson


    Glenman wrote: »
    Not sure, that's what in the spec we got from our engineer. He inputs all these specs and data into the Part L calculator and you either comply or you don't. However, we have decided to pump the cavity along with the 50mm on the inside leaf.

    If you do this then ask your engineer if he has done a dew point calculation and if he is going to calculate the psi number for each of the junctions for use within the Part L calculator - (called DEAP - more info at http://www.seai.ie/Your_Building/EPBD/DEAP/


  • #11
    MicktheMan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,953 ✭✭✭MicktheMan


    Glenman wrote: »
    We need ventilation to be provided be balanced while-house mechanical ventilation with heat recovery.

    For mvhr to be effective you need good airtightness. What is your airtightness target and strategy to get there?


  • Advertisement
Advertisement