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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.

Buy individually or both books together. Delivery is free!


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    • CommentAuthoradwindrum
    • CommentTimeFeb 16th 2010
     
    I helped build a fairly airtight house and on the day the fan came to test we spent ages taping up leaks and making sure everything was spot on tight. Obviously months/weeks/years down the line these are going to fail....mice/rats/beetles will chew through membranes, tape will come unstuck, the earth will move (certainly under my house :wink: ),nails will be driven through by unsuspecting owners etc

    Has anyone had an air tightness retest done 5 or 10 years down the line?

    Is air tightness a geeks phenomenon that isn’t expected to endure the test of time...
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeFeb 16th 2010
     
    It's essential to develop ways of in-depth or inherent airtightness, that are robust and accident-proof. Tapes and membranes - what chance of lasting 100yrs - and why even assume the building won't last forever? Only the smallest failure hits overall airtightness hard, especially if it's in a fragile tape/membrane - the hole can only grow, won't self-heal, will get repeated elsewhere.

    Alternatives exist - e.g. blown-in Warmcel, which won't match the initial airtightness of a membrane, but remains in compression forever, unless it gets wet and rots, and is completely tolerant of nail penetration etc. Correctly detailed, it doesn't slump - the old bogey of Warmcel. Another robust and repairable one is OSB glued and screwed. It all gets much easier if the detailing allows the airtight layer to be continuous and accessible, for installation - one of the many advantages of insulation by EWI.
    • CommentAuthorsinnerboy
    • CommentTimeFeb 16th 2010
     
    I have heard anecdotally that houses built around Dublin in the 1950s and earlier are testing quite well for air tightness i.e. Q50 4 ~ 3 . Typically single leaf construction 215 concrete block sand and cement rendered internally and externally . Faulty areas are as as you would expect - around windows and services penetrations . It seems the drive which kicked off in later years , to use as many dry materials as possible during construction like plasterboard on battens or dabs whilst making life easier during the build in fact left a legacy of leaky buildings .
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