Teplotie Wall Ties used in zero-carbon retrofit

Ancon Teplotie, the low thermal conductivity Wall Tie, has been used in the UK's first retrofit to achieve zero-carbon Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.

Teplotie wall ties are well-suited for retrofit projects as they can be resin-fixed into existing walls.

Improving the energy efficiency of the UK's housing stock is essential in order to make serious reductions to its carbon emissions.

The project involved the refurbishment of a semi-detached home, built in the 1840s with solid brick walls.

The front elevation is internally insulated to preserve the original brickwork.

The U-value of the walls is now 0.11W/mK2, 16 times better than before.

Almost every thermal bridge was designed out, including all metal fixings.

Teplotie cavity wall ties are manufactured from extruded basalt fibres and have a thermal conductivity of just 0.7Wmk.

There were three key elements to the success of this project; creating a super-insulated envelope, achieving high airtightness levels and installing renewable energy systems.

This project qualified under the Code for Sustainable Homes as more than half was new build.

The design has been audited by the BRE and verified to Zero-Carbon Level 6.

The project received a RIBA award for Architecture in May 2010.

The UK is committed to reducing carbon emissions to 80 per cent of its 1990 level by 2050.

The built environment is expected to account for about half of this reduction.

While programmes are in place to drive energy efficiency in the new-build market, the real challenge is in enhancing those buildings that already exist, the vast majority of which will still be in use in 2050.

It is estimated that this will involve the refurbishment of 26 million homes and two million non-domestic buildings.

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