saveasteading

Partly seriously.....when we had a gang of Polish workers, they cooked their own superb meals on site, mostly a rich stew. We put a drainage digester in early, saving on sucklift removal, but I'd swear that the system was primed and running better than ever before or since.

How would we know whether we were buying a good or bad capacitor for a replacement.

That's the issue. These multi-layer products have foil on the outside, bouncing rays back into a room, but also in the middle where they bounce it onto the thin foam sitting next to it, from where it can conduct . also their explanations of why it can't have a U value but that doesn't matter. were unconvincing. They were basically saying that the approved test methods aren't fair. That was 4 years ago, say maybe there is progress.

I got permission for a soakaway at 4m. There wasn't any alternative, the original architect had messed it up, and the bco agreed it was OK in the circumstances. There's nothing magic happens at these distances but it may depend on site circumstances.

Yes. Changing the state of water from liquid to vapour absorbs a lot of energy, then you vent the damp air out of the building. And repeat and repeat for many days. Then suddenly you've got rid of the water and the fabric can warm. Natural ventilation ( big draughts) can be as quick and no heating, but weather dependant.

I'd use them in my garden shed t garage but that's all. I went to a lecture by them, oddly supported by the bco department. ( free sandwiches from the company?) They were very poor at answering questions.

So that's your forecast.

Want to forecast? Too late for any checking, but i think 20mm for acoustics is a pragmatic choice to compromise between thermal and acoustic properties snd to suit window frames. Ie a bigger gap works better for sound but is rubbish for heat, so choose something inbetween.

There is a gap width at which air starts to circulate in the space warm air rising on one side. Hence double glazing has a narrow gap for thermal effect and a wider gap for acoustics. The skylights used in commercial roofs can be simple double skin boxes, but can be treble, but work better with an infill resembling....the best I can think of is wine box separators. That contains the air in pockets. For this reason, the service void we've put on our walls will help insulation but perhaps not as much as the spreadsheet says. Great work @SteamyTea. comment to @saveasteading about this experiment, but can't remember in what context. Neither can I.

I'm a fan of it but.... One heavy lorry braking or turning hard can wreck it. The edges chip off over time. I'd repair with more planings. It is an engineered blend of stone plus a little bit of sticky stuff, as long as it isn't fine, footpath material. Clean and prime the potholes. Put the new material in in stages, bashing it with a rammer.

But management can pass the responsibility on to the king, as it is a royal decree. I think this was introduced about 10 years ago during a recession or fuel shortage along with reducing speed limits. The speed limits reverted but temperatures not, and no fuss as far as I'm aware.

Agreed. You've got one chance to build to a high spec, and on a small building the cost difference will soon get repaid in heating bills. The Scottish rules require the design to be by an approved designer. Annoyingly as I'm not on thd register. Once you've got a project, ask around for one who is both reasonably priced and designs economically. I've just seen a video of the weather in Thurso a few days ago. It would blow a caravan over. But you may choose a sheltered Glen. Re caravan v proper house costs. I worked with a guy who built a cabin for his development site. He made it look like a hired cabin so that it didn't trouble the planners, and he said it cost half of a commercial cabin, but was properly insulated and sturdier. Then he forgot to remove it for a few years. Timber building is standard in the Highlands and 'stick build' is usually much cheaper than a kit.

What size is it ?

This is displayed in a Spanish bank and applies to all offices and retail buildings. Very sensible say I and it must save huge amounts of energy. It is an Act of Parliament. Corporates won't be running the cooling at shirt sleeve temperatures in winter, just because they can. Staff won't be arguing that the temperature is too high and too low at the same time. 19 isn't high enough that people open windows. Jumper industy benefits too. To summarise. Heating can only be used below 19C. Cooling can only be used sbove 27C. Doors must be closed. Electric signs are turned off at night. Would we have to change the numbers for UK use?

@Jenkiis the small unit expert. A new build is better value than a mobile. For small timber buildings there is a particular design guide for non-experts but it still requires high numeracy. Going out, more to follow.

If the roof and walls are gone, it isn't a building. Many planning permissions have been lost on this basis, even if genuinely accidental. Then the foundations can not be deemed ok just because they have performed for many years. How many walls must remain? I've no idea. I'd recommend don't play games but get it clarified.

Who is doing the drain? Don't assume groundworkers control the slope properly. They often just guess, at your expense. Diy? Use a long spirit level and tape packing under one end. 1:60 requires 6mm of packing under a 1m level. Can I persuade you to install a treatment package? You'll save a lot of money on the drainage field to justify the package extra. If your percolation is that good, I'd suggest rainwater goes into perforated pipes to dissipate it, instead of rubble soakaways

You mean access Chambers? NB they lose height, about 60mm. You have two fixed references, the bath outlet at the top of the run, and the tank if it is already in. 1. Tank not in? Slope your drain from the top at 1:60, installing access Chambers according to the regulations. All side entries are installed to fit, all being steeper than 1:60. It may need some bends. Tank installed to suit the end level. 2. Tank already in? Either lay as above and adjust the final length to suit, or average out the fall. Check the levels before starting. Do you mean septic? That would imply it is an existing, rather old, tank.

It's not logical. The Scottish rules are far too conservative.

Absolutely this. They used to say you could drink what came out. That was wrong but it was getting close and isn't going to create a filthy mess. I've looked at what comes out. The sampling chamber makes that easy. It just seems like slightly tainted water and doesn't smell. But it could go wrong temporarily if the input changes. Wee, poo, water in different concentrations causes a hiccup. Somebody putting bleach down the drain can slow the process. So don't drink it, but a soakaway is OK if it is a modern treatment tank.

Is it a particularly small external area? You could send a courtesy letter to planning, showing your proposal and asking if the clause applies.

Yes it's 2 boards separated by honeycomb like a mattress., so mostly air.

Ahhhh. But cutting into a hillside may require clayboard under a groundbearing slab. That was the issue with the problem i witnessed. If it is suspended that won't apply. All the more reason to get your drawings.

Yes the BC designs are not published for commercial reasons....as above...People might dabble and make big mistakes. Plus there can be very clever ideas that the designer doesn’t want to leak to the competition. But for a simple and traditional building, a designer might put construction level info on the planning drawings, and so it gets published in the planning register.