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AUGUST 07 - ACCESS TO ‘DECENT HOMES’

Effort and money spent upgrading social housing to “Decent Homes” standard could be maximized by simply changing the loft hatch, claims Glidevale Ltd.

The Standard requires homes have effective insulation and efficient heating, requiring, in many cases, the replacement of old central heating systems and removal of therefore unnecessary header tanks in the loft. Often, the existing loft trap is too small to maneouvre the old tank through, necessitating replacement.

Simultaneously, figures from the Building Research Establishment show that 50% of vapour transfer by air from the warm home into the cold loftspace occurs around the loft hatch cover, especially if the hatch is a conventional unsealed loft hatch. Approved Document L sets minimum air leakage values and a maximum U value for parts of roofs—including the loft hatch- of 0.35W/m2K.

Nick Beswick, Glidevale Sales Director, comments, “It is illogical to increase loft insulation yet leave an unsealed trap in situ. The air gaps round the trap create air movement through to the loftspace taking with it heat and water vapour, and ample opportunity for condensation in the roofspace leading to rot and damp. If a home is being upgraded, especially to ensure compliance with the ‘Decent Homes’ standard, it is sensible to change the loft trap to a sealed, insulated version to optimize the thermal efficiency in compliance with Building Regulations Part C and L. There is the added benefit that it simultaneously gives the landlord and occupier practical access to insert or remove objects in the loft!”

Glidevale’s range of LA loft access traps provide a minimum opening of at least 530mm x 530mm, giving crucial additional room for maneouvre and at least meeting NHBC standards.

The range now features an enhanced classic design incorporating a twin latch mechanism to optimize air tightness performance and fully meet the air leakage requirements of BS5250:2002 Amendment 1. All variations in the range feature integral closed cell seals, reducing water vapour migration into the loftspace and exceeding the airtightness requirements of Approved Document L. The LA1, LA2, LA5 and LA6, when specified with rigid insulation, all achieve a U value of 0.35W/m2K, the best available on the market.

Sunderland Housing is one of several social housing providers that has already trialled the loft traps as part of a pilot scheme, where existing stock has old unsealed loft traps not big enough to remove the old header tank and where insulation is being increased.

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