We all know how important it is to insulate our buildings, whether it is a new build or retrofit project.

But there are many choices – how much insulation, whether to choose natural or synthetic material, where in the building element the insulation is best placed.

Added to this, the challenges of delivering thermal performance through the use of insulation are becoming ever more complex as we try to address the interrelated issues of:

• Moisture movement and the damage it can do to the building fabric
• Fire – the Grenfell disaster has raised so many pressing questions
• Overheating - a problem for the 21st century. Appropriate choice of insulation can help to prevent internal temperatures become dangerously high
• Health and wellbeing, with bad housing reportedly costing the NHS £1.4B/

In this Bite-Size Session, trainer Andrew Mitchell of Natural Building Technologies will give you a first principle approach to understanding how to specify insulation correctly without creating unintended negative consequences.

Who is the session for?
Designers, architects, specifiers and contractors.

What will the session cover?

• Basic Thermal Dynamics and the principles of heat loss. How heat transfer and heat loss occurs within a building.
• Review of current insulation products and solutions.
• Understanding the wider, multiple functions insulation should provide and the consiquenses when it doesn’t.
• The unintended consequences associated with thermal performance. As we improve the thermal performance of a building we can find that we have solved one problem only to create several new ones, such as summertime overheating and ‘sweating buildings’!
• To understand this better we will look at:
  - The dynamics of moisture within building fabric and how to design ‘fail safe’ solutions that regulate building fabric moisture levels. Understanding moisture, heat transfer and the interaction of both with building materials.
  - The dynamics of overheating, understanding how summer time overheating occurs within buildings and how to mitigate against it with building fabric solutions that regulate internal temperature levels.

About the trainer

Andrew Mitchell

Andrew is the Managing Director of Natural Building Technologies (NBT). NBT are a leading distributor of product solutions that deliver thermal performance, alongside moisture, acoustic and overheating control.

Andrew’s background and training include; engineering, product and building design, with many years of experience developing and leading businesses based within these disciplines. Andrew heads up Natural Building Technologies as they continue to develop and provide solutions for the complex demands of a low energy built environment.

What did delegates say about previous Bite Size sessions?

"The micro session idea is brilliant as full days can be very, very difficult"
"Excellent coverage for both established Green Register members and novices"
"Informed recommendations and some myths debunked"
"Lots of stuff I didn’t know! Enjoyed the interactive format"

More about Bite Size sessions

The Green Register's Bite Size sessions offer an alternative, flexible route to Green Register membership through a series of shorter training sessions designed to give concise training at a time to suit busy working professionals. Attend 2 sessions to qualify for membership.

All sessions start at 16.45 for registration with training running 17.00 - 19.00.

This event is held in partnership with: