The “thermal qualities” of building materials used to be just a matter of personal taste and comfort, but no more. Many Local Government bodies will be moving to introduce “energy standards” with which new homes must comply. As these new standards are enforced, homebuilders will be required to use increasingly efficient building materials. is amongst the most energy efficient wall building materials available in New Zealand today ! A standard 200mm wide Timbercrete block boasts an insulation value of approximately R1+, but also has an effective thermal mass. These two qualities are normally mutually exclusive, but due to the unique blend of materials in Timbercrete, both qualities are combined to achieve an energy performance that is unavailable in most alternatives. In simple terms, Timbercrete has a low density (similar to many timbers at 909 K/M3) which means low conductivity of heat/cold, resulting in its insulation characteristics. At the same time Timbercrete also has sufficient thermal mass to store energy. This means that when your home reaches its desired temperature, Timbercrete will help it stay at that temperature, reducing your energy (airconditioning/heating) bills. In practical terms, this means that you may avoid the cost of (say) double glazing your windows in order to achieve your new home’s required energy rating.
It also means that when your home reaches its desired temperature, Timbercrete will help it stay at that temperature, reducing your energy bills for air-conditioning & heating. Perhaps the most convincing arguments in favour of the thermal qualities of a Timbercrete home come from people who have lived in them. Here’s what Annette Bryant of Berambing NSW had to say after her first winter in her Timbercrete home: “We found in winter that the sun gradually warmed the house during daylight hours, and then the house retained that heat after dark. In fact on many evenings when it became cold and chilly outside, we were still wearing T shirts inside, even without heating. And once we did stoke up the fire, the house retained that heat quite effectively. The home performs far better than our last full-brick home - I have been very impressed by the energy performance of our Timbercrete home.” ‘R’ Rating Comparison Data Most of these comparative figures have been obtained recently from a document published by SEDA (Sustainable Energy Development Authority). Data on Timbercrete ® has only recently come to light and therefore not yet published by SEDA. All the tests to date have been carried out by the CSIRO. The below figures are an approximation and may vary up or down 10%. | Single Skin Brick Structure | 0.15R | | Brick Veneer Wall | 0.46 R | | Double Wall with Cavity | 0.56 R | | 190mm Hollow Core Masonry Block | 0.21 R | | Hollow Care Concrete Panel 200mm | 0.17 R | | Tilt Up Solid Concrete Wall 150mm | 0.26 R | |
| | | Mud Brick: | | | 200mm Thick | 0.16 R | | 250mm Thick | 0.20 R | | 300mm Thick | 0.24 R | | Rammed Earth | | | 200mm Thick | 0.15 R | | 250mm Thick | 0.19 R | | 300mm thick | 0.22 R | | | | | | | 200mm Thick | 0.8 R | When comparing the rating of a 200mm Timbercrete block with other single skin and load bearing materials, some significant differences are revealed:~ The Timbercrete ® insulation value (R rating) is:- 4.3 times greater than a hollow-core masonry block. 5.4 times greater than a 200mm core masonry panel 5.7 times greater than a mud brick of equal thickness 6.0 times greater than rammed earth of equal thickness. has a superior thermal performance to the above mentioned materials, not just because of its greater R value, but also due to its unique blend of high R material and high C (conductivity or mass) material. In summary, represents a NEW THERMAL DYNAMIC in building material technology, in that it successfully combines the qualities of both THERMAL MASS and INSULATION. |
