Reducing Energy Consumption
Structural building performance
SCI has maintained a very active role in a major project sponsored by Corus and the DTI’s Technology Programme. The aim of the project is to effect a step change in the energy performance of buildings through the development of a new generation of steel cladding products. The project initially considered the likely requirements of building envelopes over the coming 15 years and is now focused on the development of the technologies required to meet these requirements. Advanced insulation materials, options for long-spanning integrated structure and off-site construction are being considered.
The project is also examining building design issues, such as the influence of the building shape and structural form, and the incorporation of renewable energy sources. Next year we expect to prototype cladding panels in readiness for full scale evaluation and onward commercial development by our industry partners.
Reducing CO2 emission
In other projects, SCI is exploring innovative ways of reducing CO2 emissions from the built environment. Specifically:
· Air-cooled floors, including physical tests on the Airdek system
· Water-cooled structures, including the use of a tubular steel frame to circulate water and a tubular ‘brise soleil’ for night-time purging
· Double skin façade and roofing systems to act as a thermal ‘buffer’ and provide free heating in winter
· Modern highly insulated façades and the reduction of ‘cold bridging’ at balconies, brick attachments, etc.
Impact of insulation thickness and thermal performance
The impact of increasing insulation thickness on the load-carrying capacity of built-up building envelopes is a strong theme in SCI’s work and we provide general recommendations for the industry, while simultaneously offering tailor-made guidance and solutions for individual manufacturers’ products.
SCI has responded to the publication of Approved Document Part L Conservation of Fuel and Power with a number of guidance documents to explain and assist with compliance with the new regulations for both existing and new buildings. We also have developed guidance on the application of Low and Zero Carbon Technologies and we chaired the Industrial Framed Buildings Group which is coordinating the sector’s response to the Simplified Building Energy Model (SBEM), the CO2 emissions compliance checking tool.
With sponsorship from Corus Colors, SCI responded on behalf of the sector to the government’s call for model designs to meet the requirements of Part L. These, along with much of our guidance on improving the thermal performance of buildings have been aggregated into a publicly available website www.modeldesigninsteel.com. It includes CO2 emission calculations, product specifications for the building envelope and services and best practice details.