Builders

Thermal Performance of Walls

In Sydney (Climate Zones 5 & 6) commercial buildings require an R-value of R2.8 for the external walls. A common misconception is that a double brick wall will achieve that. Unfortunately brick is not a good insulator. It does have thermal mass, an advantage which is recognised in some situations, but commonly commercial buildings require

Thermal Performance of Walls Read More »

Proving Compliance

Occasionally a certificate purporting that a design complies with Section J is submitted yet there is no evidence to show that it does. Application Solutions checked up on a certificate recently only to find the person concerned didn’t have a copy of Section J and didn’t know what it contained. That didn’t stop him claiming

Proving Compliance Read More »

Bulk Insulation

The R-Value of bulk insulation is reduced if it is compressed. The allocated space for bulk insulation must allow the insulation to be installed so that it maintains its correct thickness. This is particularly relevant to wall and cathedral ceiling framing whose members can only accommodate a limited thickness of insulation. In some instances, larger

Bulk Insulation Read More »

Cradle to Cradle – Carpet

Back in 2008 the Green Building Council of Australia ran the Green Cities Conference. At that conference there was an inspirational presentation by Michael Braungart, co-author of the book ‘Cradle to Cradle’. Michael outlined an entirely different way of thinking about technology modelled on a technological cycle which mimics the biological cycle. In this cycle

Cradle to Cradle – Carpet Read More »

Retrofit Double Glazing

Another option for improving energy efficiency in existing buildings is to install double glazing. Double glazing improves the insulation property of glazing. However, to replace existing glazing is a very expensive option. The Magnetite systems utilises the existing glazing and adds an inner glazed panel. This panel is made of polycarbonate and is light and

Retrofit Double Glazing Read More »

Green Star Buildings

Green Star has become a default standard for the design of environmentally sustainable buildings. As it is a voluntary rating system it has been, until recently, confined to CBD buildings being developed with a visionary zeal. As time has passed many tenants have evolved their own environmental standards for buildings they lease and are starting

Green Star Buildings Read More »

Glazing

Sometimes the results of the glazing calculations seem counter intuitive. For example improving the thermal performance of the glazing (using lower U and SHGC values than required) should, you would think, improve compliance. This is not always the case. In some climate zones (eg Climate Zone 6) the calculator looks for some solar heat gain

Glazing Read More »

Scroll to Top