Cork housing development balances airtightness with variable vapour control
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May 2, 2018
A new housing development in County Cork Ireland is to maximise airtightness and energy-efficiency of the homes whilst ensuring the protection of the building fabric with the introduction of a high-performance variable permeability vapour control layer from the A. Proctor Group.
Designed by architects Doyle McDonagh Nash, the Fionn Laoi development at Ballincollig in Cork will comprise of 80 homes for one of Ireland’s longest established developers, O’Callaghan Properties.
Timber frame specialists, Cygnum Timber Frame, required a high-quality membrane that combines effective airtightness and vapour control. Karl Maloney from Cygnum, said: “Having worked extensively with the A. Proctor Group on previous developments we were looking for a high-performance membrane which would give us the best in terms of airtightness and yet not compromise the vapour control. Procheck Adapt is the ideal choice as it effectively manages both.”
Procheck Adapt has reportedly been specifically designed to protect the building fabric from the potential risks of condensation, whilst serving as a highly effective airtight barrier. Thanks to its unique design the membrane offers variable permeability which adapts to changes in humidity levels and allows the structure to dry out in the summer and while protecting it from moisture overload in the winter. This is possible because the membrane adapts its vapour-resistance to the environment i.e. vapour-tight in the winter and vapour-open in the summer.
