The detached two-storey Barna House was in need of a revamp, and the owner decided to take this as an opportunity to retrofit their house to passive house standards. The owner’s goal was to build a home offering a super-efficient energy performance and superior thermal comfort while preserving the structure’s historic character. Super-insulation, thermal-bridge-free construction, an airtight building envelope, and mechanical ventilation with energy recovery, were central to the project’s...

Project Description This residential project in Vermont - US, consists of a four-tiered energy-modeling approach using a safe, durable measure for vapor control and airtightness for both internal and external structures. The Vermont energy code offers five “packages” or combinations of different insulation levels for compliance. Based on each level of efficiency modelled, the energy use of each level of performance was prepared in advance. For this project, Montpelier Construction...

Partel is involved in the construction process of two rapid build hospital extensions located in Ireland, by supplying the external product system that meets the building regulations in regards to the spread of fire. The construction of a new public building demands the highest standards of both safety and durability. As part of the steel frame system structure, Partel EXOPERM™ MONO DURO 200, an advanced fire-rated membrane, was chosen and installed to...

The term airtightness leads us to think of a stuffy, hermetically sealed house, but airtight houses are extremely healthy and economical to run. WHAT IS AIRTIGHTNESS AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT? Airtightness is the resistance of the building envelope to inward or outward air leakage. Air leakage is driven by differential pressures across the building envelope. Excessive air leakage results in increased energy consumption and can create a draughty, unhealthy,...