Building control and insulation

[Bitstreams]

I've just had an odd conversation with Building Control. I want to open up a bricked up window and have a local joiner quoting for a wooden window to match the other Victorian fixed window in the room. I called Building Control because it's going to need a new concrete lintel outside.
His first reaction was that the window will have to be double-glazed. When I explained that this might look out of place he suggest that if the conservation officer insisted it had to be single glazed, then we would have to make up for the loss of insulation elsewhere. Perhaps in the loft .

This seems a little daft. Our house is draftier than a.. well a very drafty thing. Has anyone else had to go through this - i.e stuff some insulation somewhere to compensate for single glazing. All seems a little hit and miss.

Simon

 

[Pford75]

Agree that it seems a little hit and miss....but many BCO's seem incapable of independant thought and can only play things by the rule book. Be thankful that he isn't insisting on DG.

 

[biffvernon]

It may appear a bit hit and miss - but if you don't like that you could use a very complicated software packege to calculate all the hits and misses. In fact your BCO might even suggest that this is done, or, more sensibly, he might just say insulate the loft better to compensate.

And surely it's not going to need a new concrete lintel outside. Such things were not used on Victorian houses. If it really needs a lintel use oak not concrete. That way you will be sequestering CO2 rather than emitting it. If you insist on single glazing the least you should do is stop using concrete.

 

[skier-hughes]

And of course by not using concrete and using Oak you are already helping with those emmsisions as Biff says, so you can add that to your arguement for single glazing.
You could also say you are going to have a good heavy curtain to cover the window, thus also helping to stop heat loss.
At least your BCO says you can have SG if your CO insists, I went througha massive amount of work to be told no.

 

[Penners]

if the conservation officer insisted it had to be single glazed, then we would have to make up for the loss of insulation elsewhere. Perhaps in the loft .

This seems a little daft.

Your mention of the Conservation Officer suggests that the house is either listed, or in a conservation area. Is that the case? If so, then you'll obviously be needing the CO's permission for the window anyway.

But I don't see why you think the BCO's 'offset' suggestion is daft. Surely, even if you don't want to DG this window, you're interested in improving the general energy efficiency of the house, aren't you - for the sake of the planet and your own bank balance?

 

[JoceAndChris]

it's going to need a new concrete lintel outside.

Dear Simon,

Using the c word on this forum is highly inadvisable.

Joce

 

[Bitstreams]

The house is not listed but is in a conservation area.

I'm all for reducing the loss of heat etc etc, but we only have one 'loft' - it's above the most modern bit of the house which was once a double garage and that's already insulated. We don't have any other lofts. The walls are stone. I don't want to DG the window because of the look of the thing - it would be the only double glazed window in the room and pretty much in the house (yes, it is the one with a white plastic carbuncle upstairs).

What else might I offset with - can I buy an offset? Insulate the modern semi over the road perhaps?

Simon

 

[biffvernon]

What else might I offset with - can I buy an offset? Simon

Sure. Here are plenty of ideas.

 

[Bitstreams]

Well that was a useful post Biff, as ever.

 

[biffvernon]

You're welcome. That site happens to be the brainchild of a friend of mine

 

[Moo]

Does eliminating some (or all?) of those draughts count as offsetting?

 

[Schoolmarm]

What else might I offset with - can I buy an offset? Simon

Sure. Here are plenty of ideas.

brilliant :lol:

 

[skier-hughes]

How much insulation do you have in your loft?
Why not just add another layer?

 

[Penners]

we only have one 'loft' - it's above the most modern bit of the house which was once a double garage and that's already insulated. We don't have any other lofts.

So do I infer that the other upstairs rooms have ceilings directly under the roof? If so, that shouldn't prevent you from improving their thermal efficiency with insulation. The method would depend on the construction.

 

[Bitstreams]

That's an interesting question. The house has two pitched roofs with a valley between. The ceilings in these rooms are arched rather than straight across, so there must be a small void above them, but there are no access hatches to get in to.
The space above these rooms can only be a couple of feet tall at best. Insulating above would be sensible but I don't fancy having to take the ceilings down.

Simon

 

[Penners]

I've had a mental blank, and can't remember the name of the insulation, made from recycled newspaper, which can be blown into voids. Can anyone help my amnesiac brain, please?

That might be a solution to Bitstreams' problem.

 

[worms]

Warmcell?

 

[Penners]

Thanks, worms. The cold up there obviously sharpens the brain.

Anyway, Bitstreams, you could probably have the vaulted roof voids filled with warmcell, through modest-sized holes. It might be worth checking out.