Yorkon Exceeds Targets for Air Permeability by up to 70 per cent
Full-scale tests for air permeability carried out by award-winning off-site construction specialist and Portakabin subsidiary, Yorkon, have shown that its buildings consistently perform up to 70 per cent better than traditional site-based construction. These latest figures are further evidence that building off site is a more sustainable method of construction.
The air pressure tests were carried out on a wide range of completed Yorkon buildings in accordance with Building Regulations Part L and demonstrate how its steel-framed modular technology can achieve a higher degree of precision, leading to improved thermal efficiency, lower running costs, and reduced carbon emissions.
One of the most pressing challenges the construction industry has to address is sustainability. Inefficient buildings are responsible for half of the UK’s carbon emissions, which the Government has pledged to reduce by 20 per cent by 2010 and 60 per cent by 2050. Reducing air leakage is one of the most effective ways of achieving these targets.
Air leaking into and out of a building greatly inhibits the energy efficiency of its structure and easily undermines the best thermal insulation. By minimising air leakage in its buildings through the design of its modular system and the use of off-site manufacturing, Yorkon provides warm, draught-free internal environments with lower running costs, reduced capital equipment costs, and the corresponding reductions in carbon dioxide emissions.
"Our buildings are factory built off site to quality controlled standards, using highly trained operatives and with a high degree of repeatability", said David Johnson, Director and General Manager of Yorkon. "There are no wet trades so shrinkage and structural movement after the building has been sited are also highly unlikely. These factors mean that Yorkon modular buildings perform well in excess of the minimum standards set out in the Building Regulations." /continued…
He added, "We are currently looking at the benefits of low or zero carbon technology to further enhance the environmental performance of our buildings, as part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability."
The Yorkon modular system uses a cold steel-framed design to minimise thermal bridges and make the buildings easier to heat. A composite panel construction also ensures continuity of insulation across the building envelope, ensuring there are no cavities associated with loose-fill insulation. This design feature reduces the risk of condensation, which can reduce the thermal effectiveness of a building, and is unique to Yorkon in the modular industry.
Editor’s Notes
1. The Yorkon approach to construction offers a wide range of sustainability benefits and new environmental initiatives, including:
- enhanced thermal efficiency and significant reductions in air leakage
- 65 per cent of waste generated is recycled
- up to 67 per cent less energy is required to produce a modular building compared to an equivalent traditionally built project (source: Arup Research and Development)
- up to 90 per cent fewer vehicle movements to site (source: Mtech)
- the use of the most advanced and comprehensive building simulation software to assess the impact of specification decisions on energy consumption, carbon emissions and running costs, over the life cycle of a building – a modular industry first
- the first off-site specialist to commit to working towards the Sustainability Charter introduced by the Major Contractors Group
- work with the Carbon Trust to reduce the amount of compressed air and energy used in the manufacturing process
- an Employee Awareness Scheme to reduce waste and energy consumption across the business.
2. Off-site construction involves the manufacture of steel-framed modules in a controlled factory environment, using production line technology, whilst the foundation works are completed on site. The modules are delivered to site by road where they are craned into position in just a few days ready for fitting out.
