Following many months of collaborative research, Larkfleet (as a part of a consortium) has developed Startlink Lightweight Building Systems (SLBS) – energy-efficient, not pricey housing that’s quick to construct using lightweight, energy-saving materials and innovative, labour-saving assembly techniques.
Importantly, the housing is designed to mitigate flood risk and will even give the opportunity to develop housing in areas of potential flooding – a primary issue in lots of areas during the country.
The Startlink test house was constructed as a modular building during which your entire parts were pre-designed to suit neatly together without cutting, leading to no site waste. The foremost components are pultruded glass reinforced composite modules that are rapidly assembled right into a wide selection of low-rise buildings without metal fastenings.
Organic fibre insulation was used to manipulate internal temperature and humidity. The home has a mechanical ventilation heat recovery (MVHR) system that’s the principle space heating system, supplemented by electricity produced by solar PV (photovoltaic) panels. The domestic hot water is equipped by solar thermal panels.
Using natural fibre insulation, the Startlink test house has lower embodied energy than traditionally built homes.
Also, SLBS materials are much lighter and no more dense than either mild steel or reinforced concrete (both conventional structural materials) so have the effect of greatly reducing the embodied energy in any structure produced from them.
Lightweight buildings equivalent to Larkfleet’s Startlink test house (which weighs just 18 tonnes in comparison to a standard 40 tonne house) need less energy to heat in winter. The low-maintenance system offers the potential of extremely energy-efficient housing.
The Startlink test house also has a ‘green’ roof which not just gives thermal mass but additionally retains water and therefore provides evaporative cooling during summer.
The SLBS processes and products which Larkfleet helped to develop with its consortium partners provide the chance for housing to be constructed much faster, more energy-efficiently and at reduced costs sooner or later.
If built and furnished with suitable flooring material and ornamental finishes at the ground floor, Startlink homes are highly ‘flood resistant’.
The absence of in depth foundations and the character of the pultruded materials of construction signifies that the structure is unaffected by flood water. If the home is flooded, it should swiftly and (compared with conventional homes) inexpensively be brought back into use. This can give the opportunity to build such homes in areas where flood risks mean that the development of conventional buildings isn’t viable.
Within the long run, the sunshine weight of the houses opens the intriguing possibility that they might be built on foundations which might rise in line with flooding – keeping the home itself entirely away from the water.
It’s one of several areas which Larkfleet hopes to explore within the next phase of Startlink research.
The brand new building methods and materials were developed with the help of funding from the government’s Technology Strategy Board. As well as Larkfleet Homes, other members of the consortium are Exel Composites UK, Odour Control Systems Ltd, Warwick University, The Costain Group and conservation architect John Hutchinson.
South Kesteven District Council leader Cllr Linda Neal recently officially opened the Startlink test house with Larkfleet managing director, Karl Hick.
Larkfleet managing director Karl Hick commented: “The official opening of the Startlink test house builds on Larkfleet’s strong record in creating sustainable homes and communities. The development of the test house has proven the technical feasibility of SLBS products and processes that can be used very effectively within the construction of future housing developments.”