Building fabric refers to the structural materials, surfaces, insulation and fixtures, that separate a building’s interior from its exterior. This includes elements such as walls, flooring, and the roof. 

Building fabric is not simply a stylish extra to a building, but rather plays a critical role in how a building operates. It protects the interior from external weather conditions, provides safety and importantly, helps manage the inside temperature, moisture and humidity. 

Section 6 of the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 is concerned with the conservation of fuel and power, and sets out the minimum standards required for a building’s energy performance. With buildings responsible for 40% of the UK's total carbon emissions, increasing pressure is being placed on the construction industry to limit their environmental impact. Incorporating or upgrading insulation systems is a great method to lower your energy use. 

Though it can be more complex to upgrade existing buildings in comparison to new build installations, refurbishments are very common. Retrofits can target specific elements of a building (such as roof insulation) or can involve a whole-building refurbishment, which can offer significant cost savings in the long run.

It is also worth noting the connection between heating, cooling and ventilation. The impact of any installations or upgrades on HVAC systems in place (such as air source heat pumps) must be considered for optimum performance and to minimise energy costs.

Without sufficient insulation in place, the heat inside a building will escape in the colder months. Alternatively, in warmer weather, buildings can easily overheat. This can lead to high heating and air conditioning bills.

Insulation serves to hinder the process of heat loss in winter or heat gain in summer. With good insulation, buildings are better able to retain heat in colder conditions and remain cool in warm weather. This not only creates a more comfortable environment for a building’s occupants but also lowers a building’s energy usage and associated costs. 

The main sources of heat loss in a building include the roof; walls; the floor; and ventilation. With increasing demand for intelligent buildings, good insulation design is a great way to improve the energy efficiency of a building.

Prioritising a building's fabric is key to improving a building's energy performance, offering a range of benefits including:

1. Reduce Costs

Upgrading a building's fabric is a worthwhile investment and can help reduce heating and cooling costs. Furthermore, incorporating these into new builds can provide additional savings by minimising the number of radiators and air conditioning units required. Initial costs are offset by long-term savings achieved. 

2. Minimise Environmental Impact

Industrial buildings can lose as much as 75% of their heat due to insufficient building fabric. Constantly reheating a building to counterbalance this heat loss can be costly and require large amounts of energy. Good building fabric design facilitates lower energy use and resultantly, reduced carbon emissions. In turn, this can have positive effects on a business’s corporate reputation. 

3. Improved Comfort and Greater Control

Not only must buildings comply with governmental energy efficiency standards, but insulation systems provide occupants with greater temperature control. Individuals are provided with improved thermal comfort levels which can increase employee productivity as a result. 

The benefits to be gained from incorporating or upgrading building fabric are clear. With increasing pressure being placed on the construction industry to lower the carbon emissions from buildings, insulation serves to lower a building’s energy use. Consequently, this reduces heating and cooling costs. Initial costs are offset by the long-term savings achieved.

DARe-me Consulting Engineers are highly experienced in designing building fabric and insulation systems for a range of buildings. Our team can also assist in producing U-value calculations for compliance purposes. Get in touch today to find out more.