Two new low energy schemes built with Amvic ICF

This article was originally published in issue 17 of Passive House Plus magazine. Want immediate access to all back issues and exclusive extra content? Click here to subscribe for as little as €10, or click here to receive the next issue free of charge

The first is a small scheme of five houses in Knocknacarra, Galway, by Sawgrass Developments. The houses are targeting an A2 BER rating with airtightness of less than 2.0 air changes per hour at 50 Pascals — though Amvic’s Pat Martin told Passive House Plus that the company’s ICF system typically delivers less than 1.0 as standard anyway. The 1900 square foot units are now nearing completion, with all of the houses now sold. Meanwhile, Amvic is also working on an A3 rated scheme in Sixemilebridge, Co Clare, for Glencore Construction.

This project marks the second phase of a development that began in 2007. The first phase featured 22 units, while the second will have 30.

Pat Martin told Passive House Plus that the first phase of the scheme, which was also built with Amvic ICF, performed so well that the developer commissioned the company again for phase two.

The 2007-built houses featured Amvic ICF walls with a U-value of 0.25, but reports from some residents suggest they are using just 200 litres of oil a year each at a current cost of €130.

“Amvic ICF is a one-stop solution to meet the requirements of the building regulations for airtightness, thermal bridging, noise transmission and fire compartmentalisation, in a very competitive package. It’s simple and fast to build,” Pat Martin said.

He added that Amvic ICF can also meet the passive house standard easily through the addition of extra insulation internal or external to the basic ICF structure. Amvic manufacturers all of its ICF systems at its factory in Naas, Co Kildare.