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EVT Technology Provides Standard Solution for Housing
4 March 2005

Excel Building Solutions' proven EVT Technology has been specified for the construction a forward-looking house design concept that simplifies the build process and minimises energy consumption and environmental impact, while offering total freedom of internal layout and architectural style.  The first use of the concept, devised by architects, 'Gn2 Design' has been employed in the construction of a five bedroom, 300 m² contemporary house built in Chelmsford, Essex.

Such is the simplicity of the design, however, that Gn2 Design is now working to develop homes for the affordable housing market using the same system.

The structure of the house is based on a glulam post and beam frame, which supports the entire weight of the house, avoiding the need for internal loadbearing walls.  The frame uses a standardised grid system, with spans corresponding to standard sheathing panel sizes.  In addition, the entire frame is produced from a single size section and only one connection type.

Excel EVT panels were used to create the entire external envelope of the building; walls, floors and roof.  Based on 250mm deep Engineered I Beams (the same size as the glulam frame section), the panels were constructed between the frame elements, with the floors suspended on hangers, to finish flush with the glulam frame.

The EVT panels were insulated to their full depth with Warmcel 500 high performance insulation.  Manufactured from 100% recycled newspaper, Warmcel has the lowest embodied energy of all mainstream insulation materials.  Simple, non-hazardous compounds added to the newspaper provide extreme resistance to fire.  Warmcel is non-toxic and is free from CFCs, VOCs or other harmful substances.

Panelvent external sheathing and plasterboard on the internal face complete the EVT panels.  This construction delivers U values of 0.14 W/m²K, 0.14 W/m²K and 0.25 W/m²K for the walls, roof and ground floor respectively.

Externally the house is finished in a combination of white render and oak cladding, with the curve of the stairwell clad in polished aluminium.

Completed in only 65 days by a team of just four people, the house features an open plan design downstairs, with the five bedrooms, two en-suite bathrooms and a main bathroom upstairs.  Because the house features an insulated, 'warm' roof, insulation at loft level is not required.  As such the first floor rooms are open to roof height and feature dramatic 4m high vaulted ceilings.

Over 80% lighter than a brick and block structure, the house is supported on simple 1m³ concrete pad foundations.

Both the front and rear of the house feature large double-glazed elevations, providing natural daylight to reduce the requirement for artificial light and to provide solar gain.  Solar panels integrated into the natural slate roof satisfy the majority of the house's hot water needs, while rainwater recycling provides water for the toilets and for garden irrigation.

Electric underfloor heating was installed in the Warmcel-insulated ground floor, which is suspended 300mm above the ground.

An EVT construction (used as a structural wall or roof) combines high levels of insulation with the ability to control the migration of any moisture that gets into the structure (which happens in any inhabited building) to the external side of the structure where it is harmlessly expelled to the atmosphere.  This action, known as ‘Enhance Vapour Transfer’ or EVT, ensures that interstitial condensation does not occur, thereby protecting the timber structure throughout the lifetime of the building.

Excel Building Solutions is a division of Excel Industries Limited, based in Rhymney, Gwent and is the UK’s leading supplier of innovative building solutions.  The company manufactures high performance insulation products, Warmcel 500 for walls and Warmcel 300 for lofts; along with high performance sheathing boards: Panelvent and Paneline; and Sarket roof sarking.  Together, these components combine to form the high performance EVT Technology Solution for walls, floors and roofs and the factory-produced TRADIS range of wall panels, floor cassettes and roof plates.  In addition to building solutions, Excel manufactures a range of speciality fibres for road making and diverse industrial applications.