‘IT IS TIME FOR ACTION’

IN THE SOLID WALL SECTOR

JOHN MASONHEAD OF POLICY & COMMUNICATIONS

Content

• Size of the problem

• Benefits of tackling solid wall homes

• Technical Solutions

• Delivery Options

• What is needed now?

Size of the problem

• The EHCS is a national survey of dwellings and their occupants (managed by DCLC) undertaken annually with ~8,000 sample size

• Solid wall properties include traditional 9” masonry, single leaf masonry, > 9” walls, concrete walls, metal panelled walls and timber panelled walls

• It is estimated that there are between 6 and 8 million solid wall properties

• This represents nearly 75% of the whole hard to treat sector

Benefits of tackling SW homes

• Well over 50% of fuel poor households are in hard to treat homes

• The propensity to be fuel poor is far higher in hard to treat properties

• Solid walls allow more carbon and heat to escape through the walls than an unfilled cavity (45% compared to 33%)

• Therefore massive potential for carbon saving by tackling these properties

Technical Solutions

Main types of solid wall insulation:

Internal Solutions

Typically consists of either dry lining in the form of flexible thermal linings available in 1 metre by 12.5 metre rolls, laminated insulating plasterboard (known as thermal board), or built-up systems using fibrous insulation such as mineral wood held in place using a studwork frame.

External Solutions

Comprise of an insulation layer fixed to the existing wall, such as a protective render or decorative cladding. Dry cladding offers a wide range of finish materials that can be used – timber panels, stone or clay tiles, brick slips or aluminium panels.

However with a scaling up of delivery then further innovative solutions will be developed – however we need a market to be developed!

Delivery Options • Have spent enough time on researching the problem

• What is now needed is action and Government support for solid wall insulation

• SWI compares very favourably with renewable options yet has not had the same support as is not viewed as sexy!

• ISG seeking support from EEPfH to carry our research looking in detail at the solid wall market, the solutions that are available and the ability of the market to increase capacity

• However for capacity to be increased and new innovative solutions developed Government must clearly indicate their support through action

• CERT offers an excellent opportunity via specific uplifts for SWI and to encourage it’s adoption through the PG Flexibility Option

• Need to build up capacity and experience of delivery NOW so that can be a major measure under the forthcoming Supplier Obligation

What is needed now?

• EEPfH approval/funding for proposed research into the SWI market

• Specific uplift under CERT for SWI

• A doubling of the PG FO from 5% to 10% and constituted in a way that will make SWI attractive to suppliers

• Adoption of SW solutions under Warm Front and devolved equivalents and other fuel poverty schemes

• Government to clearly indicate to manufacturers and those that develop SW solutions its commitment to creating a market

The insulation industry has always delivered for Government and we now need a clear message

that Government will support the industry!