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Green Building Bible, Fourth Edition
Green Building Bible, fourth edition (both books)
These two books are the perfect starting place to help you get to grips with one of the most vitally important aspects of our society - our homes and living environment.

PLEASE NOTE: A download link for Volume 1 will be sent to you by email and Volume 2 will be sent to you by post as a book.

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    • CommentAuthorJC48
    • CommentTimeSep 7th 2013
     
    I am working out my air brick requirements for my under block and beam floor . I want to use cast iron air bricks as I will have a cotswold wall outer finish and think the black cast iron will look more traditional - at a price ! . I need 84000mm2 of vents based on the area which depending on the air flow comes out at a minimum 11 air bricks which gives an average spacing of 4.9M but the telescopic vent guides published by the manufacturers suggest a max spacing of 2M for the air bricks which would mean 27 air bricks which seems excessive and costly . Any thoughts ?
  1.  
    wouldn't a ground supported slab, if possible, be a more energy efficient design .
    Vent BB floor means potential designed in unnecessary heat loss
    • CommentAuthorJC48
    • CommentTimeSep 7th 2013
     
    Thanks James have gone with the Tetris system with a U of .15 which I tihnk is ok . The NHBC Recommendation is below which means 25 Air bricks may not be able to have the cast Iron at £30 each ! As N.H.B.C recommendations state “Ventilators should be placed at not more
    than 3 metre centres and within 450mm of each end of any wall”.
    • CommentAuthortony
    • CommentTimeSep 7th 2013
     
    Easy then.

    You could consider filling the entire void with polystyrene beads then there would be no void and so it would not need ventilating. This would cost more initially but would save the cost and hassle of air vents.

    In all cases you will need a floor air tightness barrier to stop unwanted draughts entering your home.
    • CommentAuthorJC48
    • CommentTimeSep 7th 2013
     
    Thanks Tony interesting idea any one done this on the forum ? and also what is the cost per M3 ?
    • CommentAuthorargy
    • CommentTimeSep 7th 2013
     
    I've just finished our slab and the timber frame is now being built

    I had the Tetris system and UFH installed into the slab, which seemed like a good idea at the time but now I'm not so sure

    It is difficult to get a snug fit between the ground beams and even harder not to leave gaps between the insulation and the closure blocks. I spent a lot of time filling the gaps with expanding foam

    Even though everyone said that it was not affected by water I didn't feel comfortable about that (water trapped in the very small gaps will not evaporate in my view even though the cavity underneath is ventilated)

    Black plastic sheet went on top with ufh on top of that. Problem is the plastic is perforated by the ufh clips (no problem per the manufacturer) and needs careful taping - otherwise again water ingress when in rains

    Mesh goes on top of the heating coils (support it as much as possible and be very careful of any sharp edges touching the pipes and any movement of the mesh as the concrete is poured) then concrete poured on top. However careful you are the mesh and pipes get some pretty rough treatment by the groundworkers

    During this time the manifold needs support and protection (hard when concrete is being poured around it) and of course it is susceptible to damage, theft etc as it is basically unprotected throughout the remainder of the build

    And to cap it all the timber frame erectors were told that no nails into the floor then promptly nailed their cross braces into it!

    I personally think that Tetris and the others look very simple to install in their computer animations but in practice are on the limit of what the heavy trades such as groundworkers and the weather can throw at this method of construction
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeSep 7th 2013
     
    <blockquote><cite>Posted By: JC48</cite>cost per M3 ?</blockquote>Try http://www.diamondbead.co.uk
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