Hemsec Insulated Panels

Macbeath Architects and Thermopassive housesResidential projectLocation:The Black Isle, Scottish HighlandsHemsec product used:Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs)Awards:Shortlisted for Best SIPS House in the Build it Awards 2021The ProjectThe architect, Iain Macbeath and the specialist construction contractor Thermopassive, are sister companies, known for their shared commitment to low-energy design and construction. They have designed and built using SIPs as the main building fabric since the early 2000’s.The team promotes the use of SIPs as the easiest and most effective way of building highly insulated homes. Macbeath Architects and Thermopassive houses can achieve air changes as low as circa 0.3, which far exceeds Scottish Building regulations, and is better than Passivhaus standards.Increased attention to thermal efficiency in Building Regulations across the UK means reliance on using very high-quality building fabric, such as SIPs. RIBA supports, and the government backs, a ‘Fabric First Approach’ to building design to maximise the performance of the components and materials that make up the building fabric itself.Key information:The house is 186m2 internally and is a one and three-quarter storey traditional format gable-to-gable four-bedroom dwelling.It was designed using commercial grade Polyurethane SIPs with PEFC accredited 15mm OSB/3 skins and 200mm core for the full roof and external walls.As SIPs were used, there was no need for roof trusses.The fabric is extremely thermally efficient with a U-value of 0.14 and has full thermal bridging insulation. This creates a highly insulated and airtight structural shell.The SAP rating on completion is 92A; EPC ‘A-Rated’ Environmental 95A, Co2 emissions t/year 1.30.The house captures and stores enough energy to heat the building and water, in addition to charging the family’s electric vehicle.The Results:Iain Macbeath, of Macbeath Architects, says: “The cost per square metre was £1,947, and when all construction costs for more traditional building methods are taken into consideration, including the time spent on site and wastage of materials, this house is not more expensive than building in more standard methods, whether timber frame or cavity blockwork.This house was shortlisted for Best SIPs House in the Build It Awards, 2021. I designed it using BBA-certified SIPs, which we sincerely believe to be the best on the market, thanks to the rigid thermoset polyurethane insulation core from BASF, the very tight joins, PEFC accredited high-quality OSB/3 timber and versatile range of sizes.”The client is delighted, commenting: “We have a particular interest in thermal efficiency, and we consider ourselves to be SIPs ambassadors now. Most people don’t really think about the walls and roof of their house because they are accustomed to draughty, traditionally built properties…they have also given us the large roof span, big interior space, and light-filled rooms that we love.”

The first major cheese production investment in the UK for 40 years has led to the construction of a new £6 million facility for South Caernarfon Creameries Ltd. The cheese production unit at SCC’s Chwilog site near Pwllheli, was officially opened by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall in 2016.

Community Hub in Newcastle, UKCommercial ProjectLocation:Newcastle upon Tyne, UKHemsec product used:Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs)Quantities used:2200m2 of 175mm SIPsThe ProjectA new community Hub in Newcastle has used Hemsec’s SIPs as its construction material. The two-storey building includes a six-lane swimming pool, a learner pool, a fitness suite, sports hall, dance studio, soft play area, library, learning centre and cafe, as well as meeting rooms and a customer service centre.Key information: 2200m2 of 175mm SIPs with a 0.175 U-value.Externally clad with Cor-Ten steel panels where the colour will change from a bluish-grey through to a deep reddish-brown to reflect the area’s engineering and shipbuilding heritage.Gross internal floor area of 5200m2.Predicted air tightness levels of 2.0m3 (h.m2) at 50 Pa.Estimated build cost of £12.8 million.

Oakley Food Projects for Joe & Seph’s Gourmet Popcorn Food manufacturingLocation: London, UKHemsec product used:Metal Faced Control 30 Insulated PanelsSize of job:25,000 sq ft unitThe ProjectProject Value: £500,000 – £2,000,000.Timescale: 12 weeksJoe & Seph’s is a family business who launched in 2010 with a mission to produce the best tasting popcorn in the world.With significant growth over the past few years, Joe & Seph’s needed to transition from 2 serviced units into a new 25,000 sq ft unit. Due to busy day-to-day operations, they needed support from a reliable installer who could provide management and expertise to deliver this project seamlessly. A short timescale was critical to this client to minimise production downtime. Oakley Food Projects chose to work with Hemsec, leading insulated panel manufacturer, due to the high-quality product and finish, matching the client’s premium brand positioning.Hemsec flexed the manufacturing schedules as Oakley needed short lead times to meet the tight project timescales.Additionally, there were space constraints on site, so Hemsec phased the panel deliveries over a number of days and met specific timed delivery slots.Key information: Hemsec Control 30 fire rated panels, 100mm thick.Tata Advantica L Control, which is ideal for hygiene and temperature-controlled environments.A short timescale was critical to minimise downtime.

McVeigh Projects Ltd supplied and expertly installed large quantities of Hemsec high-performance Control insulated panels for a state-of-the-art cheese production facility in Gwynedd - the UK’s first major development of its kind in over 40 years.Read the full case study to find out how Hemsec Metal Insulated Panels supported the creamery's increase of annual capacity from 9,500 to 12,000 tonnes.