FAKRO Thermo roof windows for Rocking Horse Nursery
BMJ Architects’ ground-breaking design of the University of Aberdeen’s £2million Rocking Horse Nursery has set standards from a number of perspectives. In terms of Passivhaus credentials, it was Scotland’s first fully certified commercial building and the first building in Scotland to achieve a combination of Passivhaus accreditation and a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating.
As part of demanding thermal insulation requirements, 18 electrically operated, quadruple-glazed FAKRO FTT U8 Thermo roof windows with insulated flashings were installed in B6/1 combination. FAKRO manufactured a bespoke 94 x 180cm size in order to meet a requirement to maximise use of natural daylight during winter months. The FTT U8 has Passivhaus product certification and a U-value of 0.58W/m2K which remains unequalled. Such low thermal transmittance has been achieved through use of shrink-resistant thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) seals and a quadruple glazing unit set in a sash frame specially designed to minimise thermal bridging.
A spokesperson of BMJ Architects commented, “Sustainability is always an important element of any design but Passivhaus takes it to another level, during design, construction and for the long-term life of a building. This project highlights our innovative sustainable design ethos.”
The building caters for 78 children whose parents study and work at the university with more than 20 different nationalities on campus. It showcases a commitment to providing a family-friendly community, while at the same time demonstrating leadership in sustainable and environmentally-friendly new infrastructure.
The Passivhaus principle is the fastest growing energy performance standard in the world and designed to provide the highest-level of comfort while minimising energy used for heating and cooling. As a standard for low energy buildings, it employs the simple dynamic approach of superinsulation, airtightness and maximum use of controlled solar gain to harness energy within a building.
Professor Sir Ian Diamond, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen welcomed the ground-breaking new facility, saying: “We are extremely proud to offer our students and staff this wonderful new nursery for the youngest members of our community. The building and its facilities demonstrate in very practical terms three key underpinning values of this University: first and foremost, that our people are at the heart of our mission, whether student or staff. Second, our dedication to environmental sustainability and to demonstrating this in our campus and the way we run our business. And third, our commitment to innovation and to being at the forefront of putting new ideas into practice for the benefit of our community.”
The FAKRO FTT U8 Thermo is another example of innovation by the company which remains unmatched in a standard product by any other roof window manufacturer. Managing Director Noel Shanahan concluded, “Quality is at the heart of FAKRO roof window design, so much so that we are happy to encourage any specifier or installer to compare our products with those of any other manufacturer. With such a noticeable increase in Passivhaus designs, products like the FTT U8 will make a tangible contribution to thermal efficiency”.
