Natural Building Technologies (NBT) is looking to further demonstrate the benefits of breathable building envelopes after investing in WUFI advanced moisture modelling software.
NBT says the software will allow it to demonstrate the “prolonged integrity” of its wood fibre insulation systems in any given situation – particularly important for timber frame buildings and for internal insulation applications where the risks of trapped moisture is greatest.
NBT believes the software, developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics, will enable architects and developers to specify the correct materials to safeguard buildings against moisture damage.
The software takes the properties of each individual material within a designed envelope into consideration, as well as the building location, orientation and local climate, according to actual measured weather data.
NBT chief executive Neil May told TTJ at the recent Ecobuild show that understanding about the breathability concept was “finally coming into the construction sector”.
Installations of NBT’s wood fibre insulation boards now number in the hundreds of housing projects.
“Wood fibre will be seen as one of the prime products for timber frame construction in the future rather than in just niche eco construction because of its ability to prevent overheating, moisture problems and thermal bridging,” he said.
Mr May said the company was looking at more use of its products in offsite construction, with render applied direct to Diffutherm boards in the factory.
“Delivering performance is vital,” he said. “We feel we can help close the gap between the design and build of homes.”
Mr May said onsite monitoring of building performance, such as airtightness and thermal bridging, was becoming increasingly important and believed it would be included in Building Regulations within a few years.
