Ferdinand

Guess why I feel provoked?

Thanks for that. Currently out to consultation. For the record, the list of changes is: 2. LIST OF CHANGES 1. CO2 emission factors, primary energy factors and fuel prices, have been updated using the latest data available. The method to derive them is unchanged from SAP 2012 except for the fuel price attributed to electricity exported to the grid, which has been reduced to the electricity wholesale price. 2. The assumed heating pattern has been changed to a consistent daily pattern for all days of the week – previously a different pattern was used at the weekend. 3. Additional design flow (heat emitter) temperature options have been provided for heat pumps and condensing boilers, which affect their efficiencies. 4. Default heat pump efficiencies have been updated. 5. Default distribution loss factors associated with heat networks have been increased. 6. The calculation of lighting energy has been updated to allow recognition of new lighting types with higher efficacy. 7. The options for entering heat losses from thermal bridges have been revised. 8. An additional thermal bridge type has been added for junctions in roof-rooms which don’t fit any of the existing categories. 9. The calculation of hot water consumption has been adjusted to account for shower flow rate. 10. The treatment of mechanical ventilation system heat recovery and aerodynamic performance has been revised. 11. The default efficiencies of some solid fuel heating appliances have been updated. 12. The air flow rates associated with chimneys and flues have been revised. 13. SAP 2012 used a fixed assumption for the proportion of electrical energy generated by Photovoltaic (PV) systems which is consumed within the dwelling. This has been replaced by a formula which also includes recognition of the presence of battery storage. 14. The impact of PV diverters2 is now taken into account. 15. An option to allow the overshading factor used for the PV calculation to be taken from Microgeneration Certification Scheme data has been added. 16. The assessment of summer internal temperatures has been refined and the blind/curtain use factor has been revised. 17. The air-conditioning efficiency (‘SEER’) table has been updated. 18. The treatment of heat losses from heat interface units (used with heat networks) has been adjusted.

Inspired by *this* piece in a newspaper by Rupert Jones, I am compiling a Checklist of Items for testing the dodginess of an article. 1 - Is the author a specialist in the area being reported? 2 - Does the feature image actually relate to the content of the article? Is it giving a false impression? 3 - Does the Title represent the article accurately? Is it sensationalist? (The title is the snippet that will make Twitter). 4 - Does the "hook" (probably first sentence of paragraph) ask a relevant question? Or is it misleading? 5 - Is the killer fact to set the agenda credible? Is it anecdotal? Is it evidenced? 6 - Are relevant facts or information missed out when a point is made? Why? 7 - Are claims supported by linked evidence? 8 - Is anything simply wrong? 9 - Does the newspaper show any evidence of subeditting or fact-checking? This is a checklist and a work in progress rather than a scorecard; yet the article linked above scores about 12 out of 9.

A final query, @A_L . This is SAP 2012 - are we not on SAP 2018 now? (Admit that I am not familiar with the detail here. But I thought it changed.). Cheers Ferdinand

Flat earthers ?

What do you guys think of these two? From a photo library and a newspaper that used it. Caption: "Infrared thermovision image showing lack of thermal insulation on Residential building" Walls at 35C - that's one hell of a central heating system. Ambient sunlight? Ferdinand

It is. I am stuck in a south facing room with the blinds closed, trying to find the spec for shades of car paint. Patience is a little lacking. I used to have associations with a local special school, and Matthew Corbett used to come nearly every year with S&S, and they always brought the water pistol, and always shot the Headmaster. Great fun. F

What you pay for with a formal valuation is that other people will listen to it.

Since it is Friday... 1 - Confiscate water pistol. 2 - Shoot Sooty for leaving deposit. 3 - Use water pistol to remove stains. 4 - Return water pistol to Sweep.

Why are these dimensions not written in Gothic script and Roman Numerals? Shameful cutting of corners.

Have observed Chelsea, I am going to build a canal and lock in my garden.

It's not about the fix; the universe of possibilities requires exploring first. The satisfaction is the journey and the learning experience. ? To me the thing this most resembles is a Fishing Peg on a reservoir, even down to the bank profile - one of those platforms anglers sleep on around fishing lakes. More fun for the onlooker if sloping and greased. eg These days you can get everlasting recycled plastic ones, probably supplied and installed for <£1000. Ferdinand

You also get Timmy Mallett style 5-8kg hammers on 1m handles for pushing posts in, but those always looked a bit unpredictable to me, and I felt I might get knocked in before the post did. It is called a "Maul".

If you volunteer for the National Trust or RSPB, you eventually get to find out. Or just phone up and ask them, or the local wildlife trust. It may be that they would come and build one for you in exchange for a donation. There are 27 ways of approaching this and all of them can work with care. I think that the second hand telegraph poles are perhaps a good bet, as is perhaps hiring a fence man for the day and labouring for him, or talking to people who have done it. Though personally I would still build it out of scaff in the first instance.

Pron £100-200 normally I would think. Or less if you just want a steer. If a LL revalues one for a remortgage ,it tends to be about 150-170 to the Bank.

Personally if I had the cash I would snap their hand off in those circs. Just the paperwork for something about which there is an argument in 20 years could cost more than that. I would probably interpret the offer as the Freeholder trying to get out with some salvage before the politicians do a random populist stomp on the whole concept of leasehold in individual houses. They think they know what is coming. Ferdinand

You ask a a local valuer to value it. Usually a member of RICS., perhaps via a local Estate Agent. They will have their standard procedure.

Agree, clean it down and see what you have. If it is just a gym, then consider rubber matting directly onto the concrete. Either the rubbery chopped strand or spongy stuff, or real gym mats, between say 10mm and 20mm. It would be between about £5 and £20 per sqm if you buy carefully. 18mm ply is OK as an insert for free weights. Suspect you may want a less specialised surface, however ? Ferdinand

IMO post hole auger machine means a biggish one, ideally tracked or on wheels or on a digger. Not hand held unless you feel strong and rooted, and have a similar friend, preferably Geoff Capes. The hand held ones are beasts. Ferdinand

Digging is by hand, perhaps using the various tools of the fencing trade such as specialist narrow hole diggers, which are not expensive. Or by a machine. Given that it is next to a watercourse, you need to think carefully about how you will protect it from rot. As ever I would be putting Post savers on any kind of wooden post, maybe all the way down here. To keep them upright you use either bricks in the hole as wedges, or a pair of temporary braces at right angles. Personally I would be concreting in galvanised scaffolding poles with a scaffold foot, using posts with a guarantee, or using concrete fence repair spurs for that situation. This will be easier and more fun with 2 people. I would be putting them in 27-30” deep, but that may be too far in some opinions. Ferdinand

I think my comment would be take expert advice, then follow a course of action recommended by the expert (who may offer you more than one possibility). I am someone who also lost a father to asbestosis - in this case probably from being the supervising architect on a ventilation system incorporating asbestos back in the late 60s ie not even working with it physically. If you encapsulate, then there are regulations that apply - and presumably possible future liability issues. This is imo one of the times not to cut corners. Ferdinand

Buildhub - the site that creates homework. ?

Payment of the whole thing before delivery looks questionable. Can you make that match their cost profile more closely? And I would want a retention until after commissioning and proven correct functioning.

Potentially that type of expert - try looking for past planning apps for similar basement projects to yours, and lift the names of the designers, consultants etc off the reports relevant to your type of project. The scenario where imo such an expert (and one the Council will listen to) becomes important when a BCO or a Planner says you have something wrong. At that point you need someone to hand or on call who can answer such questions if you or your team cannot do so. My point is that in such circs overheads can mount faster in London eg if your site stops for 3 weeks, as it is all so much more controlled. I normally look as far as possible for people with relevant qualifications and local experience on similar projects. It may be that your architect or even the Party Wall person is such an expert. Or you can find other ways to manage risk. I'm too far away to make recommendations in London. F

Interesting. IIRC Thanet Earth were adamant that theirs was the only place in te( country where they could do their particular type of operation, which is I think using LED lights as one part of making it grow. F