Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
Sustainable Business Solutions (SBS), the specialist division of builders merchant Travis Perkins Group is now providing a cost-effective solution for anyone building new homes.
The group has launched a set of thermally-modelled standard construction drawings designed to maximise the contribution of the new home fabric under SAP and minimising thermal conductivity.
It should mean that by using the SBS system, house-builders could find passing the SAP process much easier.
The practical benefits were demonstrated in an 80sq m mid-terrace new build: using the SAP Accredited values for the junctions the house failed SAP testing by 5.7%; however, when using the same materials via the Travis Perkinssystem the house passed SAP testing by 1.4%.
To achieve a positive SAP Test result using the Accredited values required the addition of a 1m2 solar thermal panel using a 180 litre combined solar hot water cylinder, at a cost of approximately £1,800 and a loss of 1m2 of internal space.
Another key benefit of the drawings is that they are all based on standard building materials and only require very small simple changes to standard building methods. Furthermore, the details avoid generic text descriptions of materials and instead list product codes so the builder knows exactly what to use to meet the required performance in a cost efficient way.
Paul Joyner, director of SBS, said: “This is a game changer in terms of merchants’ relationships with builders in looking to partner to tackle the sustainability challenge. Our standard construction drawings have been created to provide a simple base line for all domestic construction
“We are confident that these drawings offer architects, specifiers, builders and contractors a complete solution for their construction details which can help them navigate the maze of building regulations and maximise the use of building fabric.”
The new drawings have been independently verified by the BRE and the NHBC and accredited by the LABC. Each is available as a CAD drawing. All products included in the plans are specified and available from Travis Perkins with a unique 6 digit product code.
The drawings will be regularly updated and future-proofed to take into account the 2013 Building Regulations and the potential impact of the anticipated 2016 Build Regulations. SBS provides a range of associated building services which are linked to the diagrams.
The launch of the scheme was supported by HBF and the New Homes Marketing Board.
