“ The main living space of the house contains a feature rammed earth wall that supports the
concrete roof terrace structure above .
EDITOR ’ S CHOICE
THE AVOIDANCE OF THERMAL BRIDGING WAS CRITICAL
Special consideration had to be given to the avoidance of thermal bridging , particularly with the parapets and columns . The architecture and structure of Field House are closely integrated and as a result there was a high degree of collaboration between Bath and London based Integral Engineering Design and South Wales based Loyn + Co Architects . James Stroud , a director at Loyn + Co comments : “ Minimising the risk of thermal bridging at critical connectivity areas throughout was an important consideration . We had no doubts that the Schöck product solutions used would exceed the performance requirements . As a result we incorporated the Isokorb XT type A as parapet thermal breaks and the Sconnex type W where columns needed to be thermally broken ”.
THE SCHÖCK ISOKORB AS PARAPET THERMAL BREAKS
Parapets allow conductive materials to transfer energy through the thermal barrier and are therefore just as prone to the problems of thermal bridging as balconies . In the majority of cases , the conventional method of insulating parapets is to wrap the perimeter of the wall with an insulation barrier . However , the Schöck Isokorb XT type A offers an altogether more thermally efficient and cost-effective alternative . It permits a more sophisticated construction opportunity for greater freedom of design , allows flexible distance between elements according to load requirements , is extremely durable and impermeable to water – so no maintenance is required . The 120 mm insulation thickness of the XT type A significantly reduces heat loss , also the product is assessed as a ‘ Certified Passive House Component ’, provides BBA Certification , LABC Registration and NHBC approval – while meeting full compliance with the relevant UK building regulations .
THE NEW SCHÖCK SOLUTION FOR REINFORCED CONCRETE WALLS
The recently introduced Schöck Sconnex type W minimises the thermal bridge between the exterior wall insulation and the
A graphic of the XT type A in position
insulation above the floor slab . Around 40 % of all thermal bridges in a building are caused by walls and supports , which in turn are responsible for about 10 % of heating energy losses . The Schöck solution offers an application-friendly , high-quality solution . Heating costs are lower , a pleasant room climate is created and the linear thermal transmittance ( Psi ) of the connected reinforced concrete wall is reduced by up to 90 percent . This outstanding insulation performance is combined with an excellent loadbearing capacity , which transmits very high pressure , tensile and shear forces in the longitudinal and transverse direction . This is made possible by the use of a pressure buffer consisting of ultra-high performance fibre reinforced concrete , which achieves compressive strength in excess of 175 N / mm2 – but with extremely good flexural strength as well . There is also a significant cost reduction involved when compared to installing insulation beneath the floor slab .
For full information on the entire range of Schöck structural building components contact the company on 01865 290 890 ; or visit the website at www . schoeck . com
Field House
Field House images courtesy of Loyn + Co and SEED Landscape
PAGE 21 - ARCHETECH