There are over 1500 Passivhaus buildings in the UK and their popularity is continuing to grow. With this in mind, it is important for subcontractors to prepare for how their products will impact Passivhaus standards.
In a nutshell:
- The number of Passivhaus developments has grown significantly in the UK.
- The translation for Passivhaus is ‘Passive House’ and refers to the building’s self-sufficiency.
- Passivhaus buildings conserve energy as opposed to generating it, resulting in a range of benefits.
- They are designed to maintain comfortable temperature levels all year round.
- Subcontractors must optimise their products to Passivhaus standards to keep up with the growing demand.
- To meet Passivhaus standards, products must reach the required U-values and have a fire rating of A1/A2.
In 2021, the UK government set a climate change target of cutting emissions by 78% by 2035 compared to 1990 levels and achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050 and Passivhaus developments are a big part of achieving this.
The term ‘Passivhaus’ stems from the German translation ‘Passive House’. The name is a reference to the self-sufficient nature of the buildings as they are able to provide comfortable living conditions with very little energy usage. Passivhaus buildings work by retaining heat from the sun and the activities of their occupants.
As a result, Passivhaus buildings offer a range of benefits which has a positive knock-on effect for several stakeholders. For example, as the buildings are designed to conserve energy rather than generate it, this leads to a lower demand for energy, which results in lower carbon emissions for the environment and reduced bills for the occupants.
The Passivhaus design also includes an effective ventilation system which keeps the building cool during the summer, meaning that it provides optimum levels of comfort all year round.
Click here to find out more about the many benefits of Passivhaus.
It is clear why Passivhaus buildings are becoming a major component in the future of the construction industry, which explains why they are also an important consideration for both architects and contractors. All elements of the building must meet the required U values in order to achieve the Passivhaus goal of delivering net-zero-ready new and existing buildings that are designed for a decarbonised grid whilst still providing optimum comfort.
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