SME – Holbrook
SME – Holbrook
Overview
Holbrook Timber Frame was nominated for the SME Award by United Welsh Housing Association for its work on the Larch House Passivhaus project in Ebbw Vale. The company, a family-run business based in Bridgend, acted as a specialist subcontractor on the project, which won the CEW Innovation Award for its highly successful application of Passivhaus design principles.
Although the Passivhaus is German concept, one of the aims of the Larch House project was to introduce Passivhaus concepts to UK companies. Holbrook Timber Frame was asked to produce a building fabric capable of delivering the stringent Passivhaus standard of insulation and airtightness. Its success is evident in the outstanding airtightness and energy efficiency achieved by the completed structure.
Holbrook’s commitment to innovation and pushing the boundaries of construction hugely impressed the judges. But they also cited the company’s willingness to work collaboratively with the architects and BRE Wales, and its passion to deliver the highest-quality results by adhering to best practice.
Process
Holbrook Timber Frame, which has 47 employees, is a family-run business based in Bridgend, South Wales, specialising in the production of timber frame for housing construction. Timber frame is widely regarded as a cost-effective, energy-efficient method of house production which also helps speed the construction process. In 2008, the company’s directors made two field trips to Austria and Germany to learn about Passivhaus concepts. The Larch House project provided the ideal opportunity to apply their learning in the UK.
Holbrook was challenged by United Welsh and Bere Architects to design, manufacture and produce a building fabric capable of delivering the standard of insulation and airtightness to comply with the very demanding standards of Passivhaus. The company realised this would mean making huge improvements to its existing standards and processes in terms of insulation, thermal bridge elimination, airtightness and panel structure. For example, it would have to introduce a new manufacturing technique to produce closed panels. In Holbrook’s own words, the company had to achieve a qualitative jump akin to a car manufacturer moving from an 80s-built Toyota Corolla to a Toyota Prius Hybrid – in just one year.
Holbrook’s team liaised closely with Bere Architects and BRE Wales, applying best practice in collaborative working from the pre-manufacture phase right the way through the project. The team also demonstrated the highest health and safety standards.
Results
The Larch House was built between March and July 2010 on the site of the disused former steelworks at Ebbw Vale. It is a south-facing building with highly insulated closed-panel timber framing and draught-free construction. It met and exceeded its targets for energy efficiency and eco-excellence, achieving the code 6 (zero carbon) of the code for Sustainable Homes and was certified as the UK’s first zero carbon Passivhaus.
Holbrook’s willingness to innovate and push the boundaries in the design and construction of the timber frame was a significant factor. For example, in an air test on the Larch House, on decompression at 50 pascals, the result was 0.17 air changes per hour (average 0.197) – one of the best results so far for a UK pressurised air test for an above-ground detached house.
Its work on the project has already led to further contracts. The firm has since delivered two more houses to the Passivhaus standard in Bridgend, and is due to start a larger scheme in Cornwall. The Cornish contract was secured largely on the basis of the work on the Larch House.
Holbrook is a vindication of the move to introduce Passivhaus concepts to UK companies. The judges commented that the UK construction industry has a huge amount to learn from Passivhaus. Holbrook’s involvement in the Larch House project has shown that with the right attitude and approach, small specialist firms are well able to embrace the changes needed. Its success, built on commitment to innovative design, high-quality manufacture, and collaborative working, sets an example to other SMEs that can only benefit the construction industry as a whole.
Supporting Quotes
Neil Smith, Holbrook Timber Frame
“United Welsh and the partners that delivered Larch House could not have achieved the fantastic outputs of this landmark project without the collaborative culture and can do attitude demonstrated by Holbrook Timber Frame.”