Schöck verifiable performance fits nicely with Bouygues

Two large affordable housing developments in Wembley and Harrow incorporate Schöck Isokorb modules throughout to prevent any risk of thermal bridging problems and help optimise the sustainable nature of the buildings. The completed design and build developments are part of a scheme being delivered throughout the borough for the Brent Private Finance Initiative (PFI) housing project by Bouygues UK in partnership with Hyde Housing. The two developments in question respectively offer 88 Flats and Maisonettes over four floors; and 44 flats over nine floors.

The specific Isokorb used on the two sites is the type KS14, which is a load-bearing, thermal insulating element for connecting cantilevered steel components to reinforced concrete. An independent investigation into the performance criteria concerning the effectiveness of steel balcony connections to concrete slabs has been carried out by the Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development, at Oxford Brookes University. The OISD found the Isokorb type KS14 to be a superior thermal insulating element for connecting cantilevered steel components to reinforced concrete, with other comparable solutions failing to obtain the minimum amount of performance required by Part L of the Building regulations(1).

Loic Menard, Project Director for Bouygues UK, Brent Social Housing & Regeneration PFI commented: "Schöck Isokorbs provide energy efficient thermal breaks that comply with our design and build sustainability requirements. The product's functionality meets our objectives in achieving high performance buildings whilst reducing CO2 emissions during production and for the end user".

The Schöck Isokorb range of modules offer exceptional thermal performance ratings and are the only products of their type to allow connectivity between concrete-to-concrete, concrete-to-steel and steel-to-steel – and also provide BBA Certification and LABC Registration.

The modules offer designers and engineers complete peace of mind, as all units meet full compliance with the relevant UK building regulations. The requirement described in BRE IP1/06 – a document cited in Building Regulations Approved Documents Part L1 and L2 and Section 6 in Scotland – that the temperature factor used to indicate condensation risk (fRSI) must be greater than, or equal to, 0.75 for residential buildings, is easily met by incorporating the Isokorb.

(1) To request a free copy of the OISD report (Reference: 120927SCH – 27/09/12); or the Specifiers Guide and / or Technical Guide; contact Schöck Ltd on: 01865 290 890 / email: design@schoeck.co.uk / or visit www.schoeck.co.uk