R4.0 'Pink Batts' fibreglass wool  insulation is placed between the roof framing throughout the house, with straps stapled to the timber framing to secure the blankets in place.strapped into position. Once this layer of insulation is installed, a layer of 'Intello' is fixed and taped to ensure airtightness.  Another layer of r2.2 Fibreglass Batts is installed to compensate for the steel structure to ensure there is no thermal bridging. Once the insulation is installed the proclima 'Intello' membrane is continued and t ..read more

Double-glazed windows are being installed.  A presentation was made to a group in which the technology of the window was demonstrated.  More on the fabrication of the windows will be added shortly.  The following photographs show the 'ProtectoWrap' applied to the window openings prior to the installation of the window frames.  Once the window frames have been installed, the opening sashes are fitted. Note that these sashes  opening inwards - not common for New Zealand (historically).   Airtightness around the window frames is managed ..read more

The exterior of the rear section of the house has Ecoply® Barrier applied, with the joints between the sheets taped for airtightness. Ecoply® Barrier provides a weather tight rigid air barrier for drained and vented cavity systems outside the building frame to effectively replace the traditionally used building wrap in the cavity. Compared to traditional building wrap, Ecoply Barrier provides a higher level of protection from moisture entering into the building envelope as it forms a rigid sheathing around the building, with the cavity and cladding then placed over it.  Additional ad ..read more

As well as timber-framed walls being installed,  block-layers are building reinforced Firth  concrete-block walls on top of the concrete floor slab.  (The concrete block walls are for structural intent rather than a PH consideration in this situation.)   The concrete block masonry walls are reinforced with Eurobar steel reinforcing bars, and then solid filled with concrete.  The interior of the concrete block walls have timber battens applied for the fixing of linings. The shape of the living space is formed, and the block wall a ..read more

The first section of roof has been laid to the rear section of the PH.  HI RIB trough-section roofing by Steel and Tube has been used, laid over building paper.   Structural steel frames are installed for the roof structure of the front section of the PH.   Attention has been paid to the management of the pro clima 'Intello' membranes, as can be seen in its placement in details around the building envelope.  This can be seen in the way it has been placed around the steel lintel-beam, and roof cross bracing connections. While the roof is being built, con ..read more

The Owners have now moved into the house.  Landscaping is underway, and finishing touches within the house continue.  Joinery fitments, electrical and sanitary fitments have been installed.  The blog will continue, but with less frequent entries.  A professional photographer will provide final photos of the finished Passive House.   There are some items in this house that are not essential to Passive House requirement, and are of the house owners personal choice e.g. the fireplace, photovoltaic energy generation and concrete-block wal ..read more

Rainwater is collected from the roof, via spouting / guttering which discharges into vertical downpipes that are run to storage tanks supplied by 'Marley'.  'Marley' diverters to prevent the ingress of debris that may be collected along the way, are fixed to outlets in the downpipe prior to the water reaching its destination - the green storage tanks ..read more

Hot water is supplied to the house from an external heat pump, which is strapped to the structure for stability, to meet NZ seismic requirements.   The STIEBEL ELTRON WWK 300A Heat Pump works through utilising the ambient air temperature (thermal energy) and converting this to usable energy to create hot water. A heat pump essentially works in a similar way to a refrigerator, only in reverse. The only primary energy used in this process to heat water, is to run the compressor and fan. The advantages of this technology is in the benefit of ..read more

Now that the scaffolding has been removed, machinery can be introduced to the site to dig trenches for service drains around the house. Connections will be made to the local sewer drain, electrical and water provider, and the storm-water will be drained to a collection tank for use on-site. The drain trenches are machine dug where possible, and once the pipework is laid, scoria is placed into the trench around the pipes. Storm-water cesspit base    The hole at the rear of the house for a storm-water collection tank ..read more

The basement walls are ‘EcoBlocks’ filled with concrete, and as the  house is evolves further out of the ground the majority of the wall structure will be constructed of ‘Laserframe’ timber. Steel reinforcing rods forming a forest of bars that protrude from within the polystyrene wall formwork for the concrete walls. Conduit to facilitate the required services is tied into the structure for its future casting into the poured concrete - which is expected to arrive later in the week.  In the distance, towards the center of the first picture, can be seen a stacked pile of grey, open-c ..read more