an educational kit building
Last year Lakes College in Cumbria approached us asking if we could build a small eco-house that could be assembled and disassembled as part of the learning process for Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and sustainable building practices. They wanted a true ‘kit’ building that would have some functional elements and that could be erected inside or outside.
MMC is a term that describes the use of modern building materials, equipment, and techniques to build a structure, building or home. This method has been adopted by many industries across the world because it offers a wide array of benefits for both contractors and consumers. It’s comprised of a seven-category ‘Framework’ focusing on processes from pre-manufacturing, to site process led labour.
This particular project is largely based on Category 2 of the Framework – ‘Pre-manufacturing (2D primary structural systems)’ – the creation of 2D panelised and framing systems away from site that are assembled on site to create the structure of a building. The entire building comes apart with no single piece being larger than 1.2 x 3 metres in size.
In addition to the methodology or process of building, we were also keen to ensure the project demonstrates the importance of ‘fabric first’. It is really important to focus on the building fabric (the roof, walls, floors, doors and windows) to minimise heat loss by insulating well and making it airtight. It is also vital to check that there is no risk of condensation inside the building fabric (known as interstitial condensation). This can be achieved by using an effective combination of building materials together with high quality membranes that control moisture vapour movement through the building fabric.
Further consideration needs to be taken for the carbon footprint of all the materials used – it’s great to use low-carbon technologies such as PV solar panels and heat pumps, but the carbon used to create the building itself, is carbon already ‘spent’. Timber is a fantastic material (so long as it’s from a sustainable source) as it is regenerative and stores carbon. We also need to be mindful to use healthy materials – nothing in the building contains harmful toxins or VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
Once we have a home that ‘passively’ stays warm, cool and provides plenty of daylight, we need ‘active’ services and systems that provide the extra heating, ventilation and lighting, plus power for our appliances and consumer electronics. To reduce our carbon emissions, we need to urgently move away from energy produced from fossil-fuels (coal, oil and gas) and use energy from renewable sources, such as PV solar panels, wind or electricity generated from nuclear power. With the highest use of energy in the home being space heating (66% on average) followed by hot water (around 17%), our source of heat has to be as energy efficient and as low-carbon as possible. A heat pump, often called an ‘energy multiplier’, is a really great option. But it is only an option.
The project exhibits some examples of components and systems that can be used in a sustainable home, but there are many others that could have appeared – these include a ground source heat pump, a biomass boiler, solar water heating, a small wind turbine, waste water heat recovery, infrared heaters, etc.
The biggest challenge by far with the project was working out how it could be easily (and safely) built and later disassembled by the students. A number of different fixings were adopted.
The main panels used sliding (interlocking) aluminium connectors between each of the vertical planes of the – the panels literally just slot together. Vertical bolts are then used at the horizontal junctions, with access holes (where required) to allow nuts and washers to be added and tightened. Because the the sliding connectors create a 20mm gap between the panels, to make the building waterproof, whilst still being able to easily disassemble it, push-in rubber seals are then added.
With some of the electrical services in the building working these Click Flow cable connectors allow all the electrical plug sockets and light fittings to be easily connected and disconnected from the electrical mains (or off-grid battery) supply.
Finally, all of the internal wall and ceiling panels, plus some of the fittings, are fixed in position using three types of Button-fix connectors.
Our small team travelled up to Cumbria last week to assemble the building, which we did over 3 days. It was certainly a challenging but really rewarding project… never mind educating students, throughout the project we learned so much ourselves!!Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
