WT4026/36 Blog

  Passive Design Stairs In my design for my home I have a second floor, with it being a story and a half, so there must by a way to access this floor. I have decided just to use stairs as it is the most effective solution, a lift would conserve some space however requires a complex installation process, where stairs are simple and can also be a defining feature of a home. Below you can see in my floor plan where I have decided to put my stairs in my dwellings and have decided to use a quarter-turn form to conserve space. Performance criteria for stairs includes: Safety - they should be safe to use. durability - they should resist the wear and tear of everyday use. fire - the stair should be enclosed with fire-resisting storey-height construction. aesthetic- they should add to the space and its appreciation. Safety Although I have most of the choice when it comes to the form, materials and little details that make a feature of the stairs, the main practical features in a stair like ...

Passive Design  Regulations on building  One thing I thought would be important to know is the building regulations surrounding the installation of an MHRV system. What should be used to pump the air around the house, how should they be layed out and should they be insulated. Below is an extract taken directly from the Technical Guidance document F - Ventilation, which explains how MHRV system ducting should be installed. "The use of rigid ductwork improves robustness and reduces risks of leaks. Use of flexible ductwork should be avoided and should only be used in very short lengths and mainly to connect rigid ductwork to diffusers/units or to overcome particular obstructions. All flexible ducting should be pulled taut to minimize system resistance. No peaks or troughs should occur in ductwork. The cross sectional area of the ductwork Diagram 2a: Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery – House Diagram 2c: Natural Ventilation with intermittent fans mechanical extract - House ...