A half-day session exploring the theory and practice of achieving higher levels of airtightness - how to ‘build tight and ventilate right’

Buildings that achieve higher levels of airtightness tend to also be built and executed to a much higher quality level. While airtightness is essential to ensure thermal insulation performs to its optimum and to reduce condensation risk, it must also be combined with an effective ventilation strategy, be it by passive or mechanical means.

At its most basic, airtightness aims to eliminate any unintended gaps or cracks in the external fabric of the building. Ventilation focuses on replacing the stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air to meet the occupant’s needs. The key is to ‘build tight and ventilate right’!

More demanding building regulations not only require an improvement in individual skills but require a change in attitude to working collectively with a focused, co-operative approach to achieve compliance with regulations. Higher performing buildings, be it new build or retrofit, require good site control and communication between all trades. The production of truly low energy buildings require diligent attention to detail and co-operation between all trades involved in the construction and renovation processes. All trades should view the house as a system, rather than the sum of its parts. Trades must work as a team. All works must be co-ordinated.

The current fractured approach to building must be changed to a systems-based approach to building, in a similar manner to Passivhaus building principles and the quality standards, which are often observed on low energy or Passivhaus projects in the UK and Germany.

This seminar is part of a series of 3 events on "A fabric first approach to healthier more energy efficient new and existing buildings" and includes:

• How to Internally Insulate Solid Stone and Brick Walls
• Roofs, External Walls & Floors
• Achieving Airtightness

Each event can be attended as a stand alone course, or if attending the whole series they will complement each other.

Special offers

• Book all 3 in the series for a reduced rate: £110 for members, £150 non-members - a saving of over 10% compared to booking separately!
  To book for the whole series please visit the page for Session 1.
• Book 3 places for the price of 2. Use this discount code when registering: 342
  The 342 discount can only be used for 3 people from the same organisation booking a place at the same event / whole series of events

About the trainers

Ilias Igoumenidis, Technical Support Engineer, Ecological Building Systems

Born and raised in Greece, Ilias graduated from the Polytechnic school of Civil Engineers of Patras University and for many years ran his own Design and Construction company prior to moving to the UK. Since 2013, he has been heavily involved with low energy consumption in building projects.  He was the first person in the Hellenic Passive House Institute to gain the International Certification of a Certified Passive House Designer. Ilias played a significant part of the first Certified Passive House project [Enerphit] in the south eastern Mediterranean area “Passivistas”.  Recent projects that Ilias has been involved with include:

• Agar Grove, London Borough of Camden, 500 affordable homes for new and existing tenants, putting energy performance and fuel poverty top of the agenda, Hawkins\Brown Architects.
• Glen Cottage, Allonby, Cumbria, internal and external renovation of solid stone property with Diathonite Evolution system.
• St Leonards, Chelsea, London, renovation with Diathonite Evolution and Calsitherm climate board systems, Design & Visual Concepts contractors.

Joe Fitzgerald, Technical Specification Manager, Ecological Building Systems 

Joe has worked with Ecological Building Systems since 2017 after completing his studies, with undergraduate qualifications in both Sustainable Construction and Energy Management and a postgraduate qualification in Green Engineering. More recently, Joe has also added postgraduate qualifications in advanced thermal modelling and hygrothermal risk assessment.

What have previous delegates said about this seminar?

"Excellent diagrams clearly explaining the concepts and practical examples and common problem descriptions."
"Very clear, helpful and very well done!"
"Excellent ... good mix of technical and practical demonstration."

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