Recent Press Releases

Excel Brings Viscocel to Hillhead: 28 March 2007
Helping to Make Carbon Neutral Homes A Reality: 27 February 2007
Warmcel brings Zero Heat to Ecobuild 2007: 27 February 2007
Excel Safeguards Quality with New Assurance Scheme: 26 January 2007
Insulation of Choice for Green Self Builders: 18 December 2006
Excel Reports Export Success: 29 November 2006

Press Release Archive...

For Further Press information, please contact:
Chris Hamer at Triangle PR
0161 873 8009
chris.hamer@trianglepr.co.uk

Warmcel used in Redrow 'Zero Heat' Home Trials
16 January 2004

Excel Building Solutions' Warmcel 500 high performance insulation has been used in a trial of 'zero heat' timber frame properties for Redrow Homes in Ruchazie, in Glasgow. Excel's Warmcel insulation was put forward by Vernon Monaghan Architects as the solution to Redrow's requirement for a sustainable, highly effective insulation material for the two detached 'zero heat' houses.

The aim of the project was to demonstrate the economic viability of 'zero heat' specification homes within the private sector for volume house builders. Forming part of a competition-winning project of urban regeneration, the construction of the properties was promoted and fund-assisted by Communities Scotland (formerly Scottish Homes) through their 'Gro-Grant' initiative.

To achieve the aim of ultimate energy efficiency, the 300mm deep walls and the 350mm roof plates were TurboFill injected by Clyde Installation Contracts with high-performance Warmcel, providing excellent insulation with a U-value of 0.12W/m2K for both the roof and the walls. The ground floor is insulated with 200mm polystyrene board below the slab to give a U-value of 0.14 W/m2K. The structure of each property is provided by I-profile beams to provide maximum strength with the minimum of weight and cold bridging.

Warmcel was chosen for the project at Ruchazie because of its sustainability. Because it is manufactured from 100 per cent recycled newspapers, it meets this criteria. Warmcel also has extremely low embodied energy, using far less energy to produce than any other mainstream insulation material, and provides superb insulation, both important factors in the scheme.

Externally, the timber frame has been sheathed using Panelvent, completing the EVT Technology structure. EVT ensures that any moisture that enters the structure of the building is harmlessly expelled to the external atmosphere, thereby removing the risk of interstitial condensation, and safeguarding the integrity of the structure.

Commenting on the scheme, Vernon Monaghan, principal at Vernon Monaghan Architects said: "To complement the excellent insulation provided by the Warmcel wall and roof insulation, we also specified argon-filled triple glazed windows, solar panels to provide hot water, a highly efficient gas boiler and also a heat recovery ventilation system.

"The project has been a great success, with both houses sold from the drawings alone, demonstrating that sustainable, 'zero heat' specification houses are economically viable for not only social housing, but also for volume house builders in the private sector."

Gökay Deveci, specialist architect in the development of 'zero heat' housing from Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, was retained on the project at Ruchazie, in agreement with Communities Scotland, to advise on the systems for achieving energy efficiency. Previously, Gökay was also involved in the development of a 'zero heat' five bedroomed house in Aberdeen, using Excel Building Solutions' EVT Technology.