Homes and workplaces should be functional spaces where you can live and work comfortably. Nowadays they also need to be energy efficient, satisfying the essential demands needed for a reduction in carbon emissions.
Building Regulations require the floors of most buildings to have excellent insulation levels – often using unhealthy, and environmentally harmful materials that can also be detrimental to many building types.
They also have high compressive strength as well as impermeable damp proof membranes (DPM) to prevent moisture migration.
So how do you improve standards of insulation, air-tightness and management of moisture in buildings sympathetically – particularly traditional properties?
When you are installing a new floor, one option is to use a system based on Limecrete or Glasscrete which is much more sympathetic and functional (compared to modern floor systems).
Limecrete floors can comfortably meet modern insulation requirements and can therefore ensure maximum efficiency of under-floor heating (UFH) systems.
Although not essential, you can use insulation values based on requirements set by Building Regulations as the goal for many floor systems that incorporate underfloor heating. However, regulations can be a little more flexible for old buildings if there are justifiable reasons not to conform.
Preventing ground water penetration requires some form of capillary break.
This is achieved in conventional floor systems by using an impermeable damp-proof membrane. Insulation in the form of modern, PIR boards made from carcinogenic petrochemicals are also often included.
Use GEOCELL Foam Glass (Glasscrete) or Techniclay expanded clay (Limecrete) as a loose fill sub-base in buildings to offer an alternative functional and environmentally friendly solution.
Guidelines
It is important to match the design of the limecrete to the needs of the building. Factors include the type of construction for both floor and walls, floor area and groundwater levels.
We can advise on the thickness of each component of the floor system for your specific project.
Mike Wye Limecrete and Glasscrete® are LABC registered floor systems. LABC represents all local authority building control teams in England and Wales. Members work cooperatively with building owners, home owners, architects, plan drawers, developers building contractors and other professionals to ensure buildings are safe, healthy and efficient to meet the standards set by the building regulations.
DESIGN & QUOTE SERVICE
Calculating volumes and insulation U-values can be complicated. Just tell us what you need and we will work it out. We will calculate all the design information you need for your floor, thicknesses, insulation values etc. using our accredited design programme. As well as providing quotations, including delivery for all the components.
