Glidevale Protect helps achieve compliance to Building Regulations Part L

Following the uplift of the Building Regulation Part L Conservation of fuel and power last year, the transition period for buildings that were still in the planning process ended on 15^th June 2023. Glidevale Protect’s extensive range of construction membranes has been designed to enhance the building fabric and can help developers meet the new airtightness and U-value targets as outlined by Part L, creating homes that are more energy-efficient and cost-effective to heat.

Glidevale Protect offers a system of low emissivity reflective membrane solutions that improves thermal efficiency, creates an airtight fabric to limit heat loss and reduces the risk of condensation and damp. This is supported by in-house technical expertise and full transparency on all product information as well as third party certified performance so that specifiers can be confident that the products they specify work in both theory and practice.

For improved airtightness and condensation control, a specialist air and vapour control layer membrane (AVCL) such as Glidevale Protect’s VC Foil Ultra can be installed on internal walls, the warm side of the insulation to further limit heat loss, with all junctions and membrane laps sealed. Installing a reflective wall membrane so the foil surface faces into a still air cavity will reflect radiant heat back inside the home, effectively blocking the infra-red radiation and offering a thermal resistance to heat flow through the wall. Alternatively, an airtightness membrane with vapour control properties such as Protect BarriAir, can be installed on the wall, floor, or ceiling to increase airtightness levels and is ideal to help achieve more stringent targets like Passivhaus.

Glidevale Protect’s range of airtightness membranes and vapour control layers is complemented by a selection of adhesive tapes to minimise uncontrolled air leakage, as well as external wall reflective breather membranes with either W1 or W2 (no leak) water tightness performance characteristics to again create thermal enhancement and control condensation risk. Its collection of complementary airtightness products such as specialist loft hatches which feature robust seals to reduce heat loss are also available, providing designers with the flexibility to factor in essential and practical features without having to worry about heat and moisture escaping into the roof space.

With Building Regulations Part L focusing on a 31% reduction in carbon emissions and the increased requirement to test every property on a new build development for airtightness, Glidevale Protect can also provide support at the installation stage to help bridge the ‘performance gap’. With a product collection that allows specifiers to find the perfect ‘fit’ for their project, practical support is also available for installers to ensure that they have everything they need for an accurate installation. This includes providing technical support via toolbox talks both on and off site, U-values for wall build ups, condensation risk analysis and take offs.

To discover how Glidevale Protect can deliver a full solution to help build tight yet also ventilate right, email info@glidevaleprotect.com or follow Glidevale Protect on LinkedIn.