Draughtproofing Solutions and Benefits:

Gaps which open up as a result of an interruption in a roof package and/or an unsealed wall can give rise to the following problems:

• Ingress of heat in the summer, making the structure uncomfortable.
• Loss of heat in the winter due to natural convection of warm air and the ingress of cold wind/draughts from the outside
• Condensation in the outer layers in winter, where warm air coming from inside the building cools down and may condense
• Condensation in the inner layers in summer, where humid air from outside cools down and may condense
• Reduction in internal room comfort due to draughts
• Exposure to noise

To minimise or eliminate these problems, if you specify and install the Synergie Airtightness system, you will get all of the following benefits:

• Removes Draughts
• Cuts Heating Bills
• Prevents condensation
• Protects and improves the performance of your thermal insulation
• Protects from damage caused by mould – Health Benefits
• Ventilation system works more efficiently
• Lower CO2 emissions
• Helps lock out odours, noise and unpleasant summer heat
• Safe and quick to install
• Environmentally friendly
• No harmful toxins or solvents
• Helps attain good Building Energy Rating (BER)
• Helps increase the value of your property

Research shows that up to half of all heat loss in buildings can be due to uncontrolled ventilation and air leakage through the external fabric of the building envelope. Despite increased insulation values due to improved building regulations, warm air can leak out and cold air can still enter through joints in the building fabric in the form of draughts. The main air leakage points that attention should be paid to are:

• Joints between walls, roofs and ceilings
• Joints between foundation and wood structure in timberframe
• Overlaps and interruption of membranes
• Joints between walls and window/door frames
• Penetrations in the external envelope – pipes, cables etc.
• Unplastered blockwork, such as between intermediate timber floor joists

A well installed airtightness system is the control of this air leakage.

Cuts Heating bills.
Due to air leakage in the fabric of the building an average house needs to heat up to 4-5 times more air than is actually required to reach a comfortable living temperature. Heated air which can be expensive to produce is still escaping and can be pinpointed as a major source of energy loss. Proper insulation and a well installed airtightness system reduces this heated air loss, which in turn saves energy and reduces heating bills.

Prevents Condensation and Mould Growth.
More central to all this is living healthily and comfortably. There are well documented risks associated with the presence of mould in buildings. Fresh, clean air is always highly desirable. Condensation, if unchecked, can lead to damp and mould forming which can have an adverse effect on both the building’s and the occupant’s health. Installing an airtightness system minimizes condensation risk, thus ensuring no structural damage from moisture, mould and damp.

Protects the Thermal Insulation.
Warm air rises. Warm air carries vapour. Heat that escapes from buildings carry a significant amount of moisture. As this warm, vapour-laden, air passes through insulation it can leave behind the humidity that it carries which will weaken the u-value or thermal performance of the insulation. If this moisture cannot dry out quickly it could lead to further damage in the fabric of the building. By installing an airtight vapour layer you are protecting the insulation, thus enhancing the thermal performance of the building.

Ventilation Systems work Efficiently.
As we build more airtight and thermally efficient buildings the need for proper ventilation increases. Without a fully functional, well designed, ventilation system to remove high levels of humidity from our airtight buildings, condensation can quickly form. The ventilation system can range from simple natural ventilation right up to mechanical systems for low energy/passive standard house design. If you have a mechanical ventilation system installed, your building must be particularly airtight in order for that system to work efficiently, and to enjoy healthy, comfortable buildings. The mantra is to Build tight, Ventilate Right.

Enhanced Building Energy Rating.
A lot of emphasis is placed on the use of renewable heating sources in order to achieve good BER Ratings. Careful attention should also be paid to “fabric first” principle regarding the external building envelope, in order to achieve efficient and resilient structures, thereby ensuring that the renewable heat sources achieve their full potential. Houses are well insulated now, under building regulations, and must meet minimum U-value calculations. However, a badly fitted airtight layer, or unrepaired damage to the airtight layer will reduce the U-value calculation. On the other hand, a well installed airtightness system will ensure that the desired U-value is attained and will lead to optimum BER results for the lifetime of the building.