Design Buy Build Issue 35 2018 | Page 12

London Council Chooses Warmshell And PH15 Energy-Efficient Timber Frame System For Social Housing Paul Samuel White Photography The recently completed social housing project at Akerman Road for Lambeth Council, includes three new-build Passivhaus certified terrace houses, and six highly energy efficient retrofit flats within a locally listed building. The construction solutions and details were carried out by the 15- 40 Architectural Collective. Ensuring vapour open construction was a priority. Highly insulated houses must consider moisture management, moisture damage being the greatest risk factor to the building fabric. The new-build terraces were constructed using the PH15 Timber Frame System which uniquely offers a natural insulations solution to Passivhaus projects, ensuring the building can ‘breathe’ and that moisture can escape externally through the structure. With the PH15 Timber Frame System, products are used that are known to enable water vapour to escape externally – this includes Lime Green’s Warmshell render system applied directly to external wood fibre insulating boards. 12 Lime Green renders are highly breathable and elastic, with low water absorption, which means they will provide a very durable finish and importantly have far less embodied energy than other render systems. Lime Green Products offer approved installers to ensure their lime based products are applied correctly on site, important given that this is a natural product. Lime Green also provide excellent technical support and training. A wide variety of colours and finishes are possible.