'IDEAL House' with 8 Homestar Design Rating Features INTELLO Membrane

The 'IDEAL House' in Beachlands is proven positive energy, Passive House Certified, and built with a 'mainstream' budget. Designed for a family of five, the aim was for it to be comfortable and healthy, as well as being able to produce a surplus of energy which is fed back onto the grid. Key features of the home include a high level of insulation, airtightness, triple glazed windows, heat exchanged ventilation, water harvesting and conservation, as well as specific energy-efficient design. The house has achieved an 8 Homestar Design rating and is in the final stages of Passive House certification.

The concrete slab was designed using a polystyrene pod system based on the original Rib Raft which was designed by Firth. The insulation was placed above the slab using a system called Batten and Cradle, offering noise absorption qualities and a service cavity used for the central vacuum system and some cabling.

Earthwool glasswool insulation was used to provide R5.2 in the ceiling between 900mm spaced I-beams. Pro clima's roofing underlay, SOLITEX MENTO, was used directly over the insulation in the skillion roof. The common 25mm air gap is not required as a non-porous membrane does not allow wicking of moisture through into the insulation. This means that designers can maximise the R-value within a given skillion roof cavity space.

Passive House requires a measured level of airtightness, which was achieved through the use of pro clima's INTELLO membrane. R2.8 batts were installed in the 90mm wall frame (R3.2 in a 140mm wall on the south side) after which the INTELLO was used to line the walls and ceiling. A 50mm service cavity was created with horizontal battens which was then filled with R1.4 Earthwool. This service cavity allows for improved thermal efficiency and ease of installing services. A blower door test was performed and the home achieved 0.45 air changes per hour (ACH) at 50 pascals which is well within the Passive House requirement of 0.6 ACH. The INTELLO offers the additional benefit of avoiding any chance of moisture loading into the insulation layer from internal sources, thereby avoiding interstitial condensation.

Ventilation is a key factor to maintaining a healthy environment in any home and is generally expected through the use of windows and doors. The IDEAL house included a Zhender balanced pressure ventilation system which brings in fresh air from the outside and passes it through a heat exchanger to recover the energy and heat the fresh incoming air. Of course, the use of this does not prevent doors and windows being opened.

A triple glazed airtight PVC window suite with low-e, argon filled glass was specified to achieve high levels of insulation as well as maintaining airtightness.

Sensors have been installed to monitor temperature, humidity and CO2 levels, and are managed by the University of Auckland.

The IDEAL house is regularly open to view. For further information, view the Ideal House website .

Intelligent Airtightness Membrane (INTELLO PLUS)

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The pro clima airtightness system prevents uncontrolled air infiltration or leakage through the building envelope, and assists the drying capacity of the building through its unique moisture control properties.

Suitable for all construction and where there is risk of interstitial condensation
The protection of insulation from air movement
Preventing uncontrollable air flow though the building envelope
An optional continuous cavity for electrical and plumbing services can be created on the inside face of the external wall by fixing battens horizontally over the INTELLO membrane before installing the wall lining
The main advantage of a service cavity is to shift the plumbing and wiring out of the insulation layer
A service cavity also reduces the penetrations through the airtightness membrane allowing easy and fast installation of services
This also eliminates pressure points on inner lining (eg. plasterboard) from insulation expansion

The NZBC requires only that airtightness be considered, not measured. INTELLO directly assists with meeting the following requirements:

Clause E3.1 INTERNAL MOISTURE: Buildings must safeguard people against illness, injury, or loss of amenity that could result from the accumulation of internal moisture
Clause E3.2 INTERNAL MOISTURE: Buildings must avoid the likelihood of fungal growth or the accumulation of contaminants on linings and other building elements
Clause E2 EXTERNAL MOISTURE: Concealed spaces and cavities in buildings must be constructed in a way that prevents external moisture being accumulated or transferred and causing condensation, fungal growth, or degradation of building elements
Clause E2 EXTERNAL MOISTURE: Building elements must make due allowance for the following: (a) the consequences of failure, (c) variation in the properties of materials and in the characteristics of the site
Clause E2 EXTERNAL MOISTURE: Interior linings with all joints stopped require barriers to airflow
Clause H1 : ENERGY EFFICIENCY: The building must be constructed to limit uncontrollable airflow
Clause H1 : ENERGY EFFICIENCY: Account must be taken of physical conditions likely to affect energy performance of buildings; (c) Airtightness of the building envelope.
Clause B2 : DURABILITY: Performance B2.3.1(a), not less than 50 years, B2.3.1(b), 15 years and B2.3.2

BRANZ Appraised

Roof Underlay (SOLITEX MENTO 3000)

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SOLITEX MENTO 3000 roof underlay is a three-layer roof underlay designed to be used with most typical roof cladding systems. While providing temporary weather protection it can remain exposed for up to 90 days.

SOLITEX MENTO 3000 has been appraised for use as a self-supporting roof underlay on buildings within the following scope:

the scope of limitations of NZBC Acceptable Solution E2/AS1, Paragraph 1.1 with regards to building height and floor plan area; and,
with masonry tile roof cladding; and,
with metal tile and profiles metal roof cladding; and,
suited to NZS 3604 Wind Zones up to, and including Extra High.

In the opinion of BRANZ, SOLITEX MENTO 3000, if used, designed, installed and maintained in accordance with the statements and conditions of the BRANZ Appraisal, will meet, or contribute to meeting the following provisions of the NZBC:

Clause B2 DURABILITY: Performance B2.3.1(a), not less than 50 years, B2.3.1(b), 15 years and B2.3.2 SOLITEX MENTO 3000 meets these requirements. See Paragraphs 9.1 and 9.2 of the BRANZ Appraisal.
Clause F2 HAZARDOUS BUILDING MATERIALS: Performance F2.3.1 SOLITEX MENTO 3000 meets this requirement and will not present a health hazard to people.
Clause E2 EXTERNAL MOISTURE: Performance E2.3.2 When used as part of the cladding system, SOLITEX MENTO 3000 will contribute to meeting this requirement. See Paragraphs 12.1 and 12.2 of the BRANZ Appraisal.

BRANZ Appraised

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