'Green' pub

[Penners]

Our local pub has recently been building its own micro-brewery, and during the building they've been keeping a kind of photo-diary. They claim to have been using 'green' building techniques, so I though the pictures might be of interest.

http://www.edwardstonewhitehorse.co.uk/brewery.html

I'm interested to know what any of you experts think about the construction of the building. For example, how do you feel about the OSB cladding - is that OK, or does OSB include high levels of formaldehyde?

The pub also has its own 6kW wind turbine.

 

[Gervase]

Looks like Heraklith rather than OSB on the faces of the internal and external walls though. You can get formaldehyde-free OSB bonded with something called PMDI, a sort of polyurethane. What's the beer like?

 

[Penners]

I'd never heard of Heraklith before, Gervase, so I googled it. There's an interesting statement on the manufacturer's website:

Heraklith magnesite bound wood wool panels have universal properties offering outstanding value when it comes to heat insulation, building biology and sound absorption

What does "building biology" mean? Do they mean it has a resistance to infestation?

Beer production hasn't started yet, and even when it does (in August) I shall unfortunately be unqualified to pass an opinion. Nature dealt me a cruel blow when she gave me a dislike for the stuff. The locally-made Castlings Heath organic cider is a drop of good, though.

 

[plumbers mate]

I don't like "beer" but a lot of these microbrewery real ales are something else. 8)

 

[BMcD]

I'd just like to point out, apart from it looking like a splendid place to while away a few hours, the washers shown in the close-up of the wood-wool panels are ideal for repairing some blown/live lath and plaster.

 

[Flyfisher]

What does "building biology" mean?

Yes, an odd phrase. I wonder if they meant "building ecology"?

Beer production hasn't started yet, and even when it does (in August) I shall unfortunately be unqualified to pass an opinion. Nature dealt me a cruel blow when she gave me a dislike for the stuff.

A cruel blow indeed!

I liked the sound of the blues nights; that and a microbrewery might just tempt me across the border one fine summer evening

 

[Penners]

I liked the sound of the blues nights; that and a microbrewery might just tempt me across the border one fine summer evening

Well, you're always welcome, although you might want to wait for the microbrewery to start production. I haven't tried the blues nights, but reports are somewhat less than superlative.

But do let me know if you want to risk it!

 

[Gervase]

Heraklith is groovy stuff. You can get it in 12mm as a substitute for plasterboard, or in thicknesses up two-inch boards, which can be used externally. It's easy to cut with a circular saw or jigsaw, eminently breathable and a delight to plaster onto with lime.
I've found it particularly useful for ceilings, where you want to keep the look of beams but need to fit insulation and hide the electrical and plumbing gubbins. Screw lengths of 2x2 along the beams with Thermofleece between and 12mm Heraklith boards screwed to them and two-coat lime plaster over that makes for a ceiling that is thermally and acoustically insulated and yet which looks right. It's also great on studwork - anywhere where you might be tempted in a rash moment to use plasterboard. The UK distributors are here, although Ty Mawr were about to import an Italian equivalent - which works out slightly cheaper and comes in 2.6 metre lengths rather than 2 metres - when I last spoke to Nigel.

 

[Penners]

I shall definitely keep a note of all that - many thanks, Gervase.

I presume it's a fair bit more costly than insulated plasterboard?