qub insulation issues jan 2015 a
TRANSCRIPT
Poor Housing, Fuel poverty and Ineffective Insulation
in Northern Ireland: The Way AheadJohn Ross
21st January 2015
The issues
Cold “hard to heat” homes
Fuel Poverty
Damp and Mould
Health Issues
John Ross SERC 2015
3 Years of Research
John Ross SERC 2015
Agenda:
Initial research SERC, UUJ & Energystore
Research Surveys and Inspections
MountEagles Estate February 2013
Northern Ireland Housing Executive Tender 2014 (206 homes)
Public Health Agency 11 Council Area homes
Results and findings, case studies
Climatic conditions and the effects on thermal performance
Visual & Invasive inspection:-
Whole property Thermal imaging Cavity Wifi Boroscope & Ipad
John Ross SERC 2015
Early Inspection phase with UUJ Staff
13 Brerton Crescent, Belfast
Thermal image of the gable wall
John Ross SERC 2015
13 Brerton Crescent, Belfast
Bricks removed no viable insulation Thermal view after bricks removed
John Ross SERC 2015
MountEagles: The horrible situation for residents
John Ross SERC 2015
MountEagles examples
John Ross SERC 2015
MountEagles (inspection surveys)
A well filled fibre insulated cavity
(found in the cavities)
John Ross SERC 2015
Local Council Area Homes
John Ross SERC 2015
PHA Local Council Homes
John Ross SERC 2015
John Ross SERC 2015
PHA Home: Urea Formaldehyde Foam
Bangor Home Cavity with UFFIHealth Issues?
Power & Telephone cables in cavity?
John Ross SERC 2015
Empty cavity UFe dust only
Extremes
John Ross SERC 2015
John Ross SERC 2015
Other Mould and cavity inspection views
Bangor homes
John Ross SERC 2015
Why do we allow a Child to live in this?
John Ross SERC 2015
Large Private Home, Rathfriland
John Ross SERC 2015
Living room in the house
John Ross SERC 2015
John Ross SERC 2015
Northern Ireland Housing Executive
John Ross SERC 2015
In August 2013 SERC were successful in winning the research tender into the quality of cavity insulation in NIHE homes taken from the 2009 – 2011 Home Condition Survey
The findings were stark and mirrored what we had encountered in other inspections across the country
206 homes across Northern Ireland were surveyed, 9.2% were found appropriate
NIHE home survey facts
John Ross SERC 2015
Health Issues
John Ross SERC 2015
Important pointers
Fact, in 2001 “Mould” was classified as a Category 1 risk by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the same dangerous level as “asbestos”
Urea Formaldehyde Foam (UFFI) classified as a major health risk (dust a unknown dangerous quantity)Dr Derrick Crump IEH / IEHRF, Cranfield University [email protected]
John Ross SERC 2015
Health and Poor Housing Conditions
John Ross SERC 2015
Poor housing conditions have a detrimental impact on health, costing the NHS at least£600 million per year. (Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology)
The relationship between poor housing and ill health is a complicated one which involves many different factors. Evidence suggests that living in poor housing can lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular and respiratory disease as well as to anxiety and depression. (Chartered Institute of Environmental Health CIEH January 2011)
The highest risks to health in housing are attached to cold, damp and mouldy conditionsPOOR HOUSING AND ILL HEALTH A SUMMARY OF RESEARCH EVIDENCE The Scottish Office
25 per cent of children who persistently lived in accommodation in poor state of repair had a long-standing illness or disability compared to 19 per cent who lived in this type of bad housing on a short-term basis. (National Centre for Social Research (2008) The Dynamics of Bad Housing)
Landlord responsibilities:- http://www.nidirect.gov.uk
To provide a safe, secure and healthy living environment
What is the landlord responsible for?
Repairs to the structure and exterior of the property, heating and hot water
systems, basins, sinks, baths and other sanitaryware
The safety of gas and electrical appliances
The fire safety of furniture and furnishings provided under the tenancy.
“Ensuring that the property is fit for habitation”
Repairing and keeping in working order the room and water heating equipment
The common areas in multi-occupancy dwellings
John Ross SERC 2015
John Ross SERC 2015
Widespread Common factors
More than 600 homes have been identified and treated
206 NIHE surveyed homes only 9% deemed fit for purpose
Public Health Agency 11 homes report complete
UUJ report on MountEagles minimum 30% improvementwith Extraction
2 x Case studies in Dundonald and Bangor
Many more homes across the country found to have issues
Homes in MountEagles Estate, help from Energystore
Reasons for the Defective Thermal Protection
John Ross SERC 2015
Historic Practices
Materials
Methods of install
Climatic conditions
Building defects
Future Improved inspection and survey methods, Materials & TechnologyIndustry training
Climatic ConditionsHeating Burden
John Ross SERC 2014
Climatic ConditionsAnnual Sunshine hours (drying time)
John Ross SERC 2014
Yellow coloured areas average around 450 hours more sunshine annually than the dark Grey areas
Important for drying building fabrics
Climatic Conditions
Annual Rainfall considerations
John Ross SERC 2014
Brown coloured areas can have as much as 900mm -1300mm less rainfall than the dark blue areas
Add local climate conditions and this is a major concern i.e. top of a hill, North facing walls etc
Annual Ground Frost
John Ross SERC 2015
Ground frost days as much as 75 to 80 days difference
Add local climate conditions and this is a major concern
Fibre, Bead, Board & Foam
John Ross SERC 2014
BuildDesk analysis of Fibre materials(Larne as the waypoint, East side of the country)
John Ross SERC 2015
Interstitial condensation analysis showing
seven months moisture retention
“Should never be used in local homes”
What Can Be Done?
Extraction and refill with modern bonded bead insulationJohn Ross SERC 2015
MountEagles Extraction & Refill
John Ross SERC 2015
John Ross SERC 2015
Front before treatment Front “after treatment”
Removal and Preparation during UUJ Heat Test 2013
John Ross MSc SERC
Cavity wall insulation removalMount Eagles fibre cavity insulation after removal (damp)
Fill capacity for the home should have seen around 30 bags of materials installed
Only 7 were removed from the home
UUJ Site Tests Before & After Refill
John Ross MSc SERC
Heat flux sensors and temperature sensors
Fibre Insulating figures
John Ross SERC 2015
Density, kg/m3 Conductivity, W/mK
10 0.042
20 0.035
30 0.033
40 0.032
50 0.031 (best based on materials)
100 0.032
150 0.033
i.e. 30 kg/m3 properly installed would equate to Grey bead value
No correlated “U” Values with defective insulation
John Ross SERC 2015
There is no way to provide a “U” value for homes with defective insulation
Floor Plan 200m² home with 100mm cavity, cavity area 20m³ for fill purposes (ignoring roof gables) U value 0.33 required = 30kg per m³ = 600kgs of insulation materials
Roof areas not calculated for this sample
John Ross SERC 2015
206 NIHE homes only 9% deemed fit for purpose 91%?
Public Health Agency 11 homes in 11 council areas
Case studies in Dundonald and Bangor
Across the country many homes have the exact same issues
600 + Homes in MountEagles Estate virtually all with issues
UUJ report on MountEagles minimum @30% thermal improvement with extraction and refill treatments
Totals treated? Countrywide over 600 extractions and refill’s, one negative issue so far in the last 2 years
Widespread Common factors
Summary
John Ross SERC 2015
Historic Practices: Key to issues, job creation, lack of skills
Materials: Certain materials were never fit for purpose
Methods of install: crude and unregulated, no quality scheme
Climatic conditions: Major concern totally ignored
Building defects: Materials, lack of importance attached practice
Future ProvisionImproved inspection and survey methods, Materials & TechnologyIndustry training, Quality led schemes BBA and CIGA
Summary
John Ross SERC 2015
Ongoing Interventions
The Industry recognises the need for change
Ongoing extractions and refills being carried out by certified staff
Government schemes recognise the need for extraction of defective insulation
Boiler Replacement Scheme:Double Glazing:Real benefits unrealised
“ Energy Interventions are questionable without
consideration of the state of the fabric:
Boilers replacement, windows etc”
Summary
Major chance to address Poor Housing Conditions: Health
issues, Fuel Poverty, High energy costs, reduce fossil fuel
dependency.
There are clear health issues with living in sub-standard
accommodation, 3 x Identifiable pointers to insulation issues:-
1. The home is “Hard to heat”
2. The home cools quickly when the heating system turns off
3. Mould and/or excess condensation on windows, walls etc
John Ross SERC 2015