Stewart Milne sustainable housing solution

Stewart Milne Timber Systems, the UK's leading timber system provider, is shaping the future of the sustainable housing market with the launch of its flagship Sigma II Build System.

The innovative Sigma II Build System has been created following an in-depth research programme in conjunction with Oxford Brookes University to understand more about the key elements required for low energy low carbon buildings.

The research included a real life family occupation of the company's Code Level 5 Sigma Home, built as a prototype by the company to meet the Government's Code for Sustainable Homes.

The newly launched product offers a 'fit and forget' fabric solution and incorporates Swedish space stud technology, a first in the UK.

It includes a unique bonded EPS bead insulation system and the option to factory fit windows resulting in greater energy efficiency.

Key benefits of the new system include a more cost effective build programme and minimum aftercare thus providing efficient whole-life solutions.

Commenting on the launch of the Sigma II Build System, Gary Yeoman, Sales and Marketing Director of Stewart Milne Timber Systems, said: "This is the first time a low energy low carbon home has been the subject of such in-depth research, and the results have been vital in developing our new build system".

"Sigma II Build System has been designed specifically to meet market demand for more sustainable housing and provides an airtight solution with maximum benefit from the outset of a project and minimal ongoing maintenance".

Sigma II Build System is based on high performance space stud technology developed in Sweden and used extensively in Scandinavian countries.

Space stud technology provides the capacity to achieve superior thermal bridging and significantly improved detailing, which will be increasingly important through the forthcoming changes to SAP.

Air tightness is improved through the option of factory fitting windows with pre-fitted air seals, factory fitted seals and lock joints at all panel junctions.

Optional floor and ceiling cassettes systems have been developed which provide the ability to achieve a fully insulated, secure, weather tight and air tight structure.

This allows the potential for air testing immediately after the erection process, with the system achieving an air tightness performance expectation of 3m3/h/m2 at 50pa.

3D thermal modeling of junction details allows data to be entered into SAP for each building design, reducing CO2 emissions, estimated to be equivalent to a y-factor of 0.02.

A further innovation is the inclusion of a unique pre-fitted blown insulation system based on bonded expanded polystyrene beads which delivers high thermal performance in a cost effective way, with raw materials procured direct from source.

Designed to achieve U-Value of 0.15 W/m2/k with a lambda value of 0.032, the insulation offers high water resistance, long term durability and carries a Green Guide A rating.

The panels are fully closed with services zones factory fitted, increasing fire protection during the build period and simplifying the fitting of services.

The Sigma II Build System is finished with conventional brickwork, 50mm cavity and dry lining internally, ensuring existing materials and trade skills are fully maximised.

Gary Yeoman concluded: "The pressure is on the industry to meet the Code for Sustainable Homes in England and Wales, and to achieve regulations due to come into force in Scotland in late 2010, that demand a 30% reduction in carbon".

"We are poised to meet those challenges, ahead of the regulations, with our new and innovative Sigma II Build System, now on the market".

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