Consultancy
Andy provides consultancy services to domestic clients, other Architects & designers, contractors, timber frame designers, and other industry professionals. This includes:​
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Technical Advice
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​Reviews of other Architects/designers' detail drawings when using natural building materials;
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Assistance complying with Building Control;
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PHPP Modelling to predict a building's energy use (even if not targetting a performance standard such as Passivhaus/AECB CarbonLite);
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Assistance with developing contractor/timber frame supplier's standard details​;
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U-Value Calculations & typical construction build-ups;
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Modeling U-values using the BRE U-Value Calculator;
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Standard construction build-ups (e.g. wall/roof/floor constructions), for small projects using natural materials;
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PHPP Modelling - including when not aiming for Passivhaus/CarbonLite.
Thermal Bridge Calculations
Wall/roof junction (eaves) thermal bridge calcualtion.
​What is a Thermal Bridge?
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Thermal Bridges are points in building fabric where more heat is lost than is calculated in U-value calculations, this can be due to the geometry of the building, such as a wall corner or wall/roof join, or because of a junction between two elements (e.g. around a window opening), or interruption in an otherwise continuous thermal element (e.g. where a balcony fixes into a wall);
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U-values are a measurement of heat lost per square metre of building fabric (e.g. wall/roof/floor) per degree of temperature difference from inside to outside assuming a constant temperature difference, so thermal bridge calculations are essentially a correction to U-values and therefore need to be specific to a build-up and U-value;
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Thermal bridges can be repeating, (e.g. timber wall, roof rafters, or cavity wall ties in masonry) in which case they can be included in a U-value calculation, or linear / point thermal bridges, which need to be calculated and accounted for separately.
When do you need thermal bridge calculations?
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​If you need to look at the risk of condensation at a junction;
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If targeting Passivhaus, EnerPHit, or AECB CarbonLite, you may need thermal bridge calcualtions to enter into PHPP for some, or all, of the junctions;
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To comply with Building regulations Part L. New buildings generally need to have Thermal Bridge calculations to enter into SAP for all major junctions:
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If using a standard construction or manufacturer's details, you may be able to use their standard calculations, however if you vary from these details, you may need bespoke thermal bridge calcualtions;
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Building Control used to allow Accredited Details and their accompanying thermal bridge calculations to be used;
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The Accreddited details have now been withdrawn, so you will either need to use a manufacturer's standard construction & details if they already have calculations, or you will need to get bespoke calculations done.
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Wall/intermediate floor junction thermal bridge calcualtion.
Wall/floor junction thermal bridge calcualtion.
How can Andy Hales help?
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Using Flixo, Andy can model thermal bridges in 2D for all junctions and around window/door openings to provide thermal bridge calculations required for SAP/PHPP;
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Provide fRsi figures for condensation risk assessment.
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Andy can:
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Either model thermal bridges based on the details specific to your project;
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Or model a supplier/contractor's standard details with a range of build-ups and options to cover most situations to satisfy building control and Passivhaus requirements.
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AECB CarbonLite
Services
Andy is an AECB CarbonLite Approved Certifier & Modeller for New Buildings, and can:
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Model your building in PHPP and use the CarbonLite spreadsheet to check your project is on target to meet the standard;
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Provide design and detailing advice to help meet the standard;
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Calculate thermal bridges and condensation risk (fRsi) as required;
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Provide site assistance during construction;
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Assist you in preparing the information required for certification during and after construction;
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Collate the information required and certify the project;
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Register the project on the AECB Low Energy Building Database.