Full House of Northern Ireland Construction Professionals for Thermal Bridging CPD Seminar

Our recent RIBA approved CPD Seminar held in Seamus Heaney Homeplace in Bellaghy saw a full house in attendance. There was a mix of Architects, Quantity Surveyors, Specifier and other construction professionals in the room to hear about How to Save Construction Costs with Effective Thermal Bridging Solutions.

Our guest speaker on the day was Andrew Lundberg, one of Ireland’s leading Passive House and thermal bridging experts. Andrew spoke of how standards are changing, and whilst, with Brexit on the horizon, it may no longer be compulsory for a Northern Ireland government to introduce nZEB standards into legislation, this may still happen. Recent news featured in Passive House Plus magazine highlights that Scotland and Wales remain committed to introducing the planned legislation, and we may see Northern Ireland follow suit.

Even if nZEB regulations are not adopted in Northern Ireland, the landscape is changing in terms of the demand for more sustainable buildings. So, law or no law, the local construction industry should still be prepared to move towards nZEB standards or similar, in order to meet the growing demand.

Andrew went on to discuss Thermal Bridging solutions, and highlighted this as a key way to move easily towards nZEB, and Passive House, standards. Looking at some examples, Andrew showed how effective Thermal Bridging Solutions can help significantly improve the thermal performance of a building.

Jason Martin, our Specification and Product Development Manager talked further about Thermal Bridging solutions, and looked at how standard, poorly detailed junctions, with high levels of heat loss through thermal bridging can be significantly improved through the use of our Quinn Lite Accredited Construction Details.

Jason highlighted an example of one domestic dwelling which managed to save £7,000 on construction costs through the effective specification of Quinn Lite blocks at the thermal bridges.

After lunch, the seminar attendees were treated to a free tour of the Seamus Heaney Homeplace, itself an impressive example of a Passive Building, which has also used Quinn Lite blocks effectively in its construction.