BEWI Supports Cutting-Edge ICF Project

BEWI Thermomur^® Insulating Concrete Formwork (ICF) Building System and BEWI Jackodur^® ATLAS Foundation System have made possible the construction of a new cutting-edge energy-efficient building in Berkshire. The development of Swallowbrook involved the stunning transformation of a 1960s bungalow into a superb and unique family home of 418m2 internal area.

BEWI Thermomur^® 350 Super ensures an outstanding thermal performance (with a U-value of 0.15W/m²K) and also enabled a fast and efficient build. The BEWI Jackodur^® Atlas Foundation System features an innovative interlocking design which eliminates thermal bridging, and ensures superior insulation, combined with stability for the foundation slab.

Both the contractor and the homeowner, Charles Vickery, particularly liked the strength of the block, both in terms of the ease of construction and also the minimal bracing of the blocks required prior to each concrete pour. The BEWI high density cavity closure product was also used on all four sides of every external door or window opening. The result is a building with a total construction cost of just under £1m, which has an outstanding thermal and acoustic performance and highly insulated structural walls and floors. The building has a SAP rating of 93A – where 100 represents zero energy usage.

The house is solely electric and benefits from an extensive array of PV solar panels which create around 9,000 kWh of electricity each year. Despite the large size of the property, this generating capacity gives the homeowner the potential to be self-sufficient with regard to energy needs for at least six months of the year. By way of further energy and resource efficiency, the property benefits from a 10,000-litre rainwater harvesting tank to provide water for the substantial garden areas, as well as a Halcyan water conditioner as an environmentally friendly alternative to a salt water softener.

It is noteworthy that, despite being at the leading edge of modern sustainable construction, Swallowbrook sits next to a Grade 2 listed Georgian farmhouse and it was an important planning consideration that the new house should complement its historical surroundings with Georgian symmetry and a rural feel. The landscaping of the property has included a large amount of brickwork to the front, using carefully selected bricks, to help link it in with the adjacent heritage buildings. The success of this shows what can be achieved using the BEWI ICF building system.

Mr Vickery commented: “Using ICF made sense to me from the beginning of the research part of the project as it is a simple form of construction to understand, enables design flexibility and ultimately creates a beautiful solid home. A senior director of a national estate agency commented that it was the most intelligently built house that he had been in.”

In recognition of its superb energy efficiency and sustainability credentials, Swallowbrook was recently shortlisted in the prestigious annual BuildIt Awards as one of the top ICF projects in the country. This was richly deserved, as the home owner collaborated closely throughout the build with skilled contractors to select premium materials, such as BEWI Thermomur^® ICF blocks and the triple-glazed windows. This meticulous approach throughout all aspects of the build has facilitated the construction of a family home with outstanding thermal efficiency and sustainability.