Case Studies

Redrow Homes

Sites throughout the UK.

“By including low psi value Hi-therm+ Lintels into our group specification, the improved performance within SAP calculations allowed us to achieve overall significant cost savings by reviewing the ground floor insulation specification whilst still meeting the requirements of Part L Regulations.

The Hi-therm+ lintel has proven to be a cost effective solution to tackle concentrated areas of heat loss and contribute to the energy performance of our group house type range.”

Jonathan Moss
Group Technical Manager, Redrow Homes Ltd

Hi-therm+ Solution

• By switching from standard lintels to Hi-therm+ lintels. Redrow Homes benefited from improved thermal performance, helping them to meet SAP requirements without the need for additional insulation.

• The use of Hi-therm saved Redrow Homes an average of £200 per plot.

• Based on an average of 5,800 plots built by Redrow last year that could equate to a yearly saving of £1,160,000.

New Barratt Homes

Sites throughout the UK.

“ When the government unveiled its changes to Part L 2013 building regulations Barratts analysed a range of sustainable solutions in order to comply with the mandatory minimum fabric performance standard (Target Fabric Energy Efficiency, TFEE). The Hi-therm lintel has proved to offer a cost effective option as part of a suite of specification upgrades. ”

Michael Finn
Group Design & Technical Director
Barratt Homes

Hi-therm Solution

• Full technical support and site-specific Psi value calculations provided.

• Hi-therm significantly reduces the thermal bridging through window & door head junctions to achieve class leading values.

• Hi-therm lintels are single piece and fitted in the same method as a standard steel lintel, so require no special arrangements on-site.

Oakgrove Village

Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.

“ We specified Hi-therm lintels on our Oakgrove development in Milton Keynes where we are required to meet Level 4 of the CfSH. Crest Nicholson traditionally take the approach of achieving the carbon and energy saving required on a development through a fabric first approach and the Hi-therm lintel contributes to this approach by significantly reducing the thermal bridging through the window and door head junction, making it a cost effective option on this Code 4 site. ”

Darren Dancey
Group Technical & Quality Director
Crest Nicholson

Hi-therm Solution

• Full technical support and site-specific Psi value calculations provided.

• Hi-therm significantly reduced the thermal bridging through all window & door head junctions across all house types in the development.

• Hi-therm lintels are fitted in the same method as a standard steel lintel, so had no impact on the construction sequencing.

Gospel Oak

Tipton, West Midlands.

“ As an experienced builder of eco-friendly homes, we were very impressed with the innovation of the Hi-therm lintel’s fabric first approach. With the new Part L 2013 regulations tightening we are always looking for cost effective solutions to improving the building’s overall thermal performance. No other single lintel product has enabled us to reduce thermal bridging as much as Hi-therm. This fabric first approach has enabled us meet the new regulations without the need for costly renewable technology or wider cavities. ”

Richard Southgate
Project Co-ordinator/Owner
Wrekin Eco Homes

Hi-therm Solution

• The use of Hi-therm saved more than £200 per plot by enabling the use of a 100mm cavity instead of a 125mm width.

• Hi-therm dramatically improved the fabric performance without any additional or specialist build techniques.

• Hi-therm does not require any of the maintenance associated with many other sustainable technologies.

Coxon’s Mews

Ashby-De-La-Zouch, Leicestershire.

“When split lintels were specified for this project I looked for an alternative product to avoid the increased handling and site work they would involve. Ashby Energy, our energy assessor, introduced the Hi-therm lintel which significantly lowered the amount of thermal bridging, helping us to meet level 4 in the code for sustainable homes with the simple installation of single piece lintels. ”

Frank Sandkey
Buyer
Lychgate Homes

Hi-therm Solution

• By using Hi-therm as a fabric first solution, thermal bridging was significantly reduced enabling the energy target to be met without the use of wider cavities or PV units.

• The use of Hi-therm saved £1000’s by negating the use of the costly alternatives.

• Hi-therm was simple to install, avoiding the complexity of split lintels.

• No ongoing maintenance required.

Berewood

Waterlooville, Hampshire.

“The Waterlooville site was required to meet Level 4 of the code for sustainable homes. We wanted to achieve compliance and deliver the energy savings with a cost effective fabric first approach rather than the use of complex and expensive renewable technologies. Having discussed this with our energy assessor and our lintel supplier we decided to specify the Hi-therm lintel. This choice delivered reduced thermal bridging at the head junctions and openings allowing us to meet our carbon targets. We particularly valued the fact that no changes to our construction practices on-site were required.”

Phil Jackson
Group R&D Manager
Bloor Homes

Hi-therm Solution

• The use of Hi-therm was a significant contributor to the achievement of Level 4, Code for sustainable homes.

• Full technical support provided to develop a suitable specification for the site.

• Hi-therm does not require any special installation techniques.

St. Inns

Moira, Co. Armagh.

“ Using the Hi-therm lintel helped us to achieve a pass rating keeping the air test above 5, therefore removing the need for mechanical whole house ventilation/heat recovery, or alternatively other renewable energy products such as PV. Whilst the Hi-therm was not the only resolution, it is a combination of various products and u-values etc. which achieve the pass; Hi-therm helped to achieve the pass in this instance. ”

Chris Carroll
Quantity Surveyor
Lagan Homes

Hi-therm Solution

• Full technical support and site-specific Psi value calculations provided.

• Hi-therm’s performance contributed to the saving of upwards of £1000 per plot on other sustainable technology.

• Hi-therm does not require any ongoing maintenance, unlike many alternative sustainability solutions.

Martello Park

Felixstowe, Suffolk.

“The Felixstowe seafront site had to be built to the enhanced standards required to withstand coastal conditions. This traditionally includes the use of stainless steel lintels to prevent corrosion. However we specified the innovative new Hi-therm lintel with its corrosion proof GRP outer leaf which is NHBC approved for use in coastal areas. We liked the way that Hi-therm builds like a normal steel lintel but also delivers considerable improvements in SAP, delivering an overall cost effective specification. ”

Phil Jackson
Group R&D Manager
Bloor Homes

Hi-therm Solution

• The use of Hi-therm was a more efficient solution than stainless steel lintels and was NHBC compliant.

• Hi-therm also dramatically improved the fabric energy performance compared to the use of stainless steel lintels.

• Hi-therm does not require any specialinstallation techniques.

Saxon Place

Penwortham, Lancashire.

“ At Rowland we aim to build a better home for our house buyers which will lower their energy costs and minimise maintenance. That’s why we were so impressed by what the Hi-therm lintel offered us in terms of thermal performance while at the same time being extremely cost effective to build. ”

Scott Warley
Senior Buyer
Rowland Homes

Hi-therm Solution

• By utilizing Hi-therm’s thermal performance and enhanced psi value, Rowland was able to re-assess the overall fabric specification.

• The use of Hi-therm saved over £300 per plot by enabling the wall insulation cost to be reduced from 0.32w/m/h to 0.36w/m/h.

• Hi-therm was specified on all house types within the development, providing £1,000’s of savings overall.

New Jelson Homes

Sites throughout the UK.

When introduced to Hi-therm, Jelson’s energy assessors discovered they could considerably enhance the energy performance of the houses by adopting the use of Hi-therm in all their house types. The increase in performance was so substantial that it enabled the assessors to still meet the building codes while removing one to two PV panels per plot at a saving of £350 – £400 per panel.

As a result of these cost efficiencies, Jelson now include Hi-therm sustainability lintels in the specification of all new builds going forward.

Additional Issues

• Unlike other sustainability technologies, Hi-therm lintel does not require any ongoing maintenance throughout the life of the building.

New Developments

East Riding PHASE 4 Housing.

“Within the Building Design department of East Riding of Yorkshire Council we are constantly looking at products which will enhance the quality and performance of our buildings. We were specifying a split lintel solution with 150mm wide cavities for our affordable housing developments to help lower thermal bridging and meet building regulations.

Unlike other sustainability technologies, Hi-therm lintel does not require any ongoing maintenance throughout the life of the building. However, the split lintel option was causing installation issues on site with the insulation and DPC detail around the split lintels and therefore were looking for a solution to ease the installation and maintain the thermal insulation continuity.

We were introduced to the Hi-therm Lintel which our technical team and Energy Assessor recognised would offer benefits over split lintels from a technical and building construction perspective. As a result, we have now specified the Hi-therm Lintel for our next phase of affordable homes.”

Mark Thomas
Senior Architect,
ERI&F Building Design