Natural Building Technologies’ (NBT) Diffutherm and Pavatherm Plus wood fibre insulation boards have been used to insulate the external walls of a timber frame home development in Dundee

Specified by architect Wellwood Leslie, for Abertay Housing Association, the Diffutherm and Pavatherm Plus insulation boards were selected for their ability to deliver high levels of thermal performance combined with sustainability credentials and inherent breathability, which helps to protect both the building fabric and the internal living environment.

All of the timber-frame homes are finished externally with a combination of NBT render and larch timber cladding. The timber clad sections of the walls are externally insulated with

60mm-thick Pavatherm Plus woodfibre boards, with additional insulation installed between the 140mm timber studs, delivering a U-value of 0.18W/m2K. The areas where render is applied directly to the 100mm thick Diffutherm boards deliver a U-value of 0.15W/m2K.

These systems also have minimal thermal bridging, with Y-values of 0.03W/m2K, claims the company. The simple construction also ensures high levels of airtightness.

Both Diffutherm and Pavatherm Plus are manufactured from over 95% recycled timber and are inherently breathable, ensuring that any moisture that gets into the wall structure does not condense within the insulation.

Natural Building Technologies
www.natural-building.co.uk