OCTOBER 2013 - GEBRIK TO BE USED ON UK’S FIRST LARGE SCALE PASSIVHAUS RETROFIT PROJECT IN OCCUPIED PROPERTIES.

Aquarian Cladding Systems are delighted to have secured an order to supply the off-site manufactured Gebrik insulating brick cladding system for use on the UK's first large scale PassivHaus project to be undertaken in occupied properties. Working closely with North Yorkshire-based, specialist cladding contractor Speedclad, Aquarian will be supplying Gebrik in Smooth Black and Smooth Grey brick slip finishes in late 2013 where client Eastlands Homes will be refurbishing thirty-two maisonettes in Longsight, Manchester to the highly energy-efficient PassivHaus standard, as part of its Decent Homes programme. It is the first large-scale adoption in the UK of this approach, and also the first time it has been carried out while residents continue living in the properties. The Project Team of Rochdale-based main contractor Casey have undergone specialist PassivHaus training to ensure competence and compliance with the standard, and the testing and inspection regime will be championed and rigorously monitored from the outset. Excellent resident liaison will be key to this scheme, and Casey’s Resident Liaison Team will be working hard to ensure a high quality finish with minimum disruption. Casey is working with Consultants, R-Gen Developments, who are overseeing the scheme, 2E Architects, and Simon Fenton and Partners to deliver the scheme over a 35 week period. The programme of works comprises an external envelope upgrade to PassivHause Enerphit standards, including new flat roof, Gebrik insulated cladding, high performance windows and doors, improvements to communal areas, new waste management area and associated hard and soft landscaping works including a bespoke community led public realm scheme. Internal improvements include enhanced insulation and general Decent Homes works comprising new kitchen, bathroom, associated electrical and plumbing works, insulation of solid floors, decoration and a new mechanical heat recovery system. PassivHaus homes have to be extremely air-tight and installed with high thermal insulation, making it an expensive and difficult standard to achieve. Previously, PassivHaus retrofits have only been attempted in heavily subsidised, small-scale pilots. David Williams, Deputy Chief Executive of Eastlands Homes, said, "There is no getting away from the fact that it's expensive, but the maisonettes are the poorest in our housing stock and we would have had to do considerable work to get the homes up to Decent Homes standard anyway." Eastlands Homes hopes to be able to cut carbon emissions by 80% and slash energy bills for tenants from £1,540 per year to just £270 per year. This project will cost around £40,000 per property - almost four times as expensive as the average amount spent per property under Decent Homes, though far cheaper than previous PassivHaus retrofits.