Kingspan Insulation becomes patron member of PHAI

This article was originally published in issue 17 of Passive House Plus magazine. Want immediate access to all back issues and exclusive extra content? Click here to subscribe for as little as €10, or click here to receive the next issue free of charge

“At Kingspan Insulation we strive to be at the forefront of innovation and to continuously improve our products energy efficiency performance. We want to help not just our customers but the Irish construction industry achieve low energy design buildings,” a company statement read.

“We want to collaborate with people and organisations who work tirelessly to create highly efficient and environmentally friendly ideas and buildings which will sustain us into the future and set a standard to which future generations can build upon.

“With this in mind we are delighted to announce we are the first Irish insulation manufacturer company to become a PHAI patron member,” the statement continued. “Kingspan are delighted to join with other like-minded companies within the industry to help promote the PHAI and increase awareness of the opportunities and benefits of low energy design.”

The company emphasised the fact that the passive house standard can all but eliminate the need for heating systems in buildings. “This science-based construction standard ensures high comfort levels, indoor air quality and durability. Building to this standard offers a sustainable solution that not only improves the building quality for the occupants but also has less of an impact on the environment.”

The Castleblayney-based manufacturer emphasised the standard’s simple focus on high performance building fabric, at a time when the industry is attempting to work out how to build low energy buildings to satisfy tightening building regulations. “The passive house standard places a significant focus on performance of the building fabric where insulation is of ultimate importance – a fabric-first approach backed up by scientific principles.” The company added that the standard can complement rather than conflict with renewable energy technologies.

“Along with the highly insulated building fabric, continuity of the junctions of the various fabric elements and airtightness combine to minimise heat demand – the small residual heat and hot water demand can then be easily achieved by renewable or low energy sources.”