WisteriaMews

Just in case others stumble across this thread with the same question, I've been told by one of the wood fibre technical teams that there is some compliance testing taking place in September 2025.

We've been quoted a very similar price.

Not installed yet, but we're planning to use GSE trays to make the panels more or less flush with the standing seam The solar company have said there is no extra cost of the GSE trays vs clamps and rails to put the panels on top of the standing seam. We haven't finalised the tinsmith yet. We've spoken to one who has said they've worked with the GSE trays before so we know it's all doable. In theory a saving as there will be no standing seam under the panels. The tinsmith will have all of the flashing details to do around the GSE trays though. (I find somehow things are never cheaper!)

@SteamyTea from what I'm learning in the post Grenfell world you can't have a good idea like covering the wood fibre in intumescent paint. It needs to be actually tested and certified to be accepted. The tests cost £30k and there is apparently quite a waiting list, so you're basically dependent on manufacturers certifying their products and it doesn't look like anyone has certied wood fibre insulation yet. @gavztheouch we have bedrooms above the height where you have to start considering the fire regs. I wish we didn't but planning restrictions (we're in a conservation area) have forced us into a certain design.

@Iceverge we're planning a factory built frame by All Timber Frames from near Exeter. Aiming for a u-value of 0.1. Rockwool seem to have a intumescent cavity barrier certified for use with their rainscreen duo rainscreen product. If we can't find an intumescent cavity barrier certified for us with woodfibre then we may need to explore whether switching over will be possible.

@Mike we think it is possibly a UK requirement (post Grenfell) and not required in Europe. This is part of the problem, it becomes a bit niche when it is just the UK so there is no approved details. @ADLIan we're finding BCO won't give advice any more as they cannot act as designers, you need to present them with an option that they'll either approve or reject.

@Redbeard @SimonD Our planned build up is very similar to the one Simon linked to (image below), except we're planning a batten and counter batten before the external cladding. Our architect has taken the lead in trying to find a solution. They've been speaking to cladding suppliers and cavity barrier suppliers so far and drawn a blank. I've contacted Ecological Building Systems who market a timber frame build up similar to the image and they haven't got back to me (despite a few chasers) so I suspect they don't have a solution. We hadn't considered a render scratch coat. (Thanks for the suggestion.) I'll also check if the architects have contacted the wood fibre manufacturer technical departments and if not get in touch.

Are you planning to build the timber frame kit yourself? Or are looking for a company to install the kit for you? I would suggest sending your plans to MBC timber frames. They offer a free quotation service and will include the foundations and windows in the quote. This would give you a realistic benchmark for a watertight shell (without any external wall or roof cladding).

Our planned wall build up is a timber frame, wrapped on the outside with wood fibre insulation and then a ventilated cavity and timber cladding. We'll need horizontal cavity barriers and haven't been able to find any manufacturers who say there product is approved for use with wood fibre. Consequently Building Control won't sign off our plans. Has anyone recently built with a similar build up and found a cavity barrier approved for use with a timber frame covered in wood fibre? Thank you.

Do structural warranty providers require an approved installer to install internal fire doors? Our architects are currently finalising our technical design/ tender pack and a company that provides fire doors told them NHBC require an approved installer. I'm pretty sure that wasn't the case on our first self build, but everything has changed post Grenfell. I have had a look at the NHBC website (aware other warranty providers exist to) and information wasn't easy to find. It did look like they do look at the fire doors during their inspections, but best I could understand they are looking for outcomes not that the work was done by an "approved installer". If anyone has any recent experience I'd love to know your experience!

We purchased a self build warranty (I don't have any experience with professional certificates), so that we could re-mortgage and sell without hassle. There was a page on the UK Finance website (I suspect it is still there) which shows you which warranty is accepted by which mortgage providers so you can check you are buying one with good coverage. A bit like building control, they send out an inspector at various stages of the build to make sure you are doing everything correctly.

If you need finance, but don't have it in place yet, it sounds like your first step should be trying to sort a self build mortgage with the stage payments you think you need. I haven't had to do one for a few years. I went through Buoldstore. I wasn't happy having to pay a broker, but may of the lenders seemed to only want to talk to a broker (not direct to retail customers) at the time. The mortgage will need you to have a warranty most likely. That has to be purchased before you start, so will be another up front cost. You mention drawings for Building Control approve, you'll also need to appoint a Building Control inspector (more costs!). The warranty may offer to package in building control. (The warranty company will send out inspectors at various points, the one inspector can do both the warranty and building control if suitably qualified.) As others have said: - get your utility applications in - discharge your planning conditions - do your CIL forms - if your site doesn't have an official address, get that sorted so that deliveries can find you

Your Lawyer should be able to advise if it is still enforceable, or was a time limited, person specific covenant etc.... I'm guessing it is still enforceable which is why they brought it to your attention. One suggestion - probably high risk - would be to have a pre-app meeting with the council and ask them about it. A lot will have changed in their local plan since 1983 and it may be that they are now supporting small site development etc... (It sounds like they are as they have approved your planning permission.) The risk obviously is that you will have alerted them to the covenant if they still say no. Perhaps your lawyer can advise if these things can even be removed from deeds once they are in there?

We're using Build Collective as the structural engineer for our passive house basement. I'd be interested to connect with anyone else currently using them, or has recently used them, to share experiences. Please drop me a DM if your happy to share your experience.

I hadn't thought of that, put the kiosk somewhere sensible and then don't pay to move it a second time. I'm in the phase of "I want the cheapest option", but it's good to have the designers pushing / challenging you. Meter boxes slapped on outside walls aren't always the most attractive thing.