Applying Fabric First principles: Complying with UK energy efficiency requirements FB 80
BRE (Building Research Establishment) is an independent, research-based consultancy, testing and training organisation, operating in the built environment and associated industries.
On 31 March 2016, BRE published; Applying Fabric First principles: Complying with UK energy efficiency requirements (FB 80), written by Steven Stenlund.
The 40-page guide provides an understanding of the principles of a 'Fabric First' approach to help developers and house builders design and build homes to meet energy efficiency requirements - including possible future zero carbon or near zero energy homes). It explains how improved thermal performance, examined with reference to SAP 2009 (Standard Assessment Procedure) calculations for a sample housing development, can lead to optimising the fabric design of dwellings.
This includes:
- Position and orientation of dwelling types.
- Fabric improvements.
- Airtightness.
- Thermal bridging.
- Services improvements.
- Developing a standard main specification for application across the site.
The contents of the guide are:
- Executive summary
- Introduction.
- Technical appraisal.
- Determining a site-wide compliance specification.
- Further considerations.
- Appendix: Site scenarios.
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- Fabric first investigation into net zero for existing buildings.
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