Masonry still has the cool factor

Masonry construction has come up trumps in a new report commissioned by the DTI on how climate change will affect the UK's existing buildings.

Masonry construction has come up trumps in a new report commissioned by the DTI on how climate change will affect the UK's existing buildings.

The report is based on research conducted by Arup and is one of the first to make a quantative assessment of the effect of climate change on the built environment.

The study predicts that by 2080 the temperatures in the average home in the UK will soar and that the construction method that homes are built by could have a dramatic effect on the temperature of the average home, in some case making the living environment unbearable.

In lightweight prefabricated homes, the Government's current preferred build method, temperatures could reach as much as 40 degrees C, way in excess of the 28 degrees C deemed acceptable as a maximum internal temperature.

By comparison buildings with high levels of thermal mass such as traditionally constructed brick and block homes will remain much cooler.

Arup used computer modelling to compare a house with a low mass construction - using timber frame with timber cladding on the outside, timber stud and plasterboard internal walls and timber floors - with a high thermal mass house of brick and block construction with precast concrete floors.

The study found that the masonry constructed house performed better than the lightweight house.

The temperature in the low mass house increased well above the 28 degreees C limit, whereas the masonry house moderated the internal temperature keeping it cooler and much closer to the acceptable limit.

Barry Holmes executive director, of the THB explains why brick and block performs much better than lightweight alternatives: "The density of the material results in it achieving a higher thermal mass which helps to regulate the temperature.

This means that brick and block is easier to adapt to cope with climate change".

Gavin Davies associate director at Arup Research and Development explains how the report's findings contradict the Government's predilection for lightweight construction as its preferred build type: The existing building stock has not been developed for future climate changes.

If you are looking at buildings designed for the long term then lightweight construction is going to be very susceptible to climate change.

Barry Holmes supports this view: "The THB is extremely concerned that the glut of lightweight constructed homes have not been developed to take into account future climate change.

These homes will end up costing homeowners and the taxpayer millions to adapt them for comfortable habitation with domestic air conditioning or mechanical ventilation to cool the building at night, which will only contribute further to global warming in the long run.

In contrast, homes constructed in brick and block can be easily adapted with the introduction of Mediterranean style cooling measures such as external shading such as louvers or shutters.

The Government has an obligation to ensure that the homes it builds today are holistically sustainable to last for generations to come.

This means looking at the building's performance over its projected lifetime taking into account the climatic and usage changes that may arise".

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