Poor Housing, Fuel poverty and Ineffective Insulation

in Northern Ireland: The Way AheadJohn Ross

21st January 2015

The issues

Cold “hard to heat” homes

Fuel Poverty

Damp and Mould

Health Issues

John Ross SERC 2015

3 Years of Research

John Ross SERC 2015

Agenda:

Initial research SERC, UUJ & Energystore

Research Surveys and Inspections

MountEagles Estate February 2013

Northern Ireland Housing Executive Tender 2014 (206 homes)

Public Health Agency 11 Council Area homes

Results and findings, case studies

Climatic conditions and the effects on thermal performance

Visual & Invasive inspection:-

Whole property Thermal imaging Cavity Wifi Boroscope & Ipad

John Ross SERC 2015

Early Inspection phase with UUJ Staff

13 Brerton Crescent, Belfast

Thermal image of the gable wall

John Ross SERC 2015

13 Brerton Crescent, Belfast

Bricks removed no viable insulation Thermal view after bricks removed

John Ross SERC 2015

MountEagles: The horrible situation for residents

John Ross SERC 2015

MountEagles examples

John Ross SERC 2015

MountEagles (inspection surveys)

A well filled fibre insulated cavity

(found in the cavities)

John Ross SERC 2015

Local Council Area Homes

John Ross SERC 2015

PHA Local Council Homes

John Ross SERC 2015

John Ross SERC 2015

PHA Home: Urea Formaldehyde Foam

Bangor Home Cavity with UFFIHealth Issues?

Power & Telephone cables in cavity?

John Ross SERC 2015

Empty cavity UFe dust only

Extremes

John Ross SERC 2015

John Ross SERC 2015

Other Mould and cavity inspection views

Bangor homes

John Ross SERC 2015

Why do we allow a Child to live in this?

John Ross SERC 2015

Large Private Home, Rathfriland

John Ross SERC 2015

Living room in the house

John Ross SERC 2015

John Ross SERC 2015

Northern Ireland Housing Executive

John Ross SERC 2015

In August 2013 SERC were successful in winning the research tender into the quality of cavity insulation in NIHE homes taken from the 2009 – 2011 Home Condition Survey

The findings were stark and mirrored what we had encountered in other inspections across the country

206 homes across Northern Ireland were surveyed, 9.2% were found appropriate

NIHE home survey facts

John Ross SERC 2015

Health Issues

John Ross SERC 2015

Important pointers

Fact, in 2001 “Mould” was classified as a Category 1 risk by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the same dangerous level as “asbestos”

Urea Formaldehyde Foam (UFFI) classified as a major health risk (dust a unknown dangerous quantity)Dr Derrick Crump IEH / IEHRF, Cranfield University d.crump@cranfield.ac.uk

John Ross SERC 2015

Health and Poor Housing Conditions

John Ross SERC 2015

Poor housing conditions have a detrimental impact on health, costing the NHS at least£600 million per year. (Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology)

The relationship between poor housing and ill health is a complicated one which involves many different factors. Evidence suggests that living in poor housing can lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular and respiratory disease as well as to anxiety and depression. (Chartered Institute of Environmental Health CIEH January 2011)

The highest risks to health in housing are attached to cold, damp and mouldy conditionsPOOR HOUSING AND ILL HEALTH A SUMMARY OF RESEARCH EVIDENCE The Scottish Office

25 per cent of children who persistently lived in accommodation in poor state of repair had a long-standing illness or disability compared to 19 per cent who lived in this type of bad housing on a short-term basis. (National Centre for Social Research (2008) The Dynamics of Bad Housing)

Landlord responsibilities:- http://www.nidirect.gov.uk

To provide a safe, secure and healthy living environment

What is the landlord responsible for?

Repairs to the structure and exterior of the property, heating and hot water

systems, basins, sinks, baths and other sanitaryware

The safety of gas and electrical appliances

The fire safety of furniture and furnishings provided under the tenancy.

“Ensuring that the property is fit for habitation”

Repairing and keeping in working order the room and water heating equipment

The common areas in multi-occupancy dwellings

John Ross SERC 2015

John Ross SERC 2015

Widespread Common factors

More than 600 homes have been identified and treated

206 NIHE surveyed homes only 9% deemed fit for purpose

Public Health Agency 11 homes report complete

UUJ report on MountEagles minimum 30% improvementwith Extraction

2 x Case studies in Dundonald and Bangor

Many more homes across the country found to have issues

Homes in MountEagles Estate, help from Energystore

Reasons for the Defective Thermal Protection

John Ross SERC 2015

Historic Practices

Materials

Methods of install

Climatic conditions

Building defects

Future Improved inspection and survey methods, Materials & TechnologyIndustry training

Climatic ConditionsHeating Burden

John Ross SERC 2014

Climatic ConditionsAnnual Sunshine hours (drying time)

John Ross SERC 2014

Yellow coloured areas average around 450 hours more sunshine annually than the dark Grey areas

Important for drying building fabrics

Climatic Conditions

Annual Rainfall considerations

John Ross SERC 2014

Brown coloured areas can have as much as 900mm -1300mm less rainfall than the dark blue areas

Add local climate conditions and this is a major concern i.e. top of a hill, North facing walls etc

Annual Ground Frost

John Ross SERC 2015

Ground frost days as much as 75 to 80 days difference

Add local climate conditions and this is a major concern

Fibre, Bead, Board & Foam

John Ross SERC 2014

BuildDesk analysis of Fibre materials(Larne as the waypoint, East side of the country)

John Ross SERC 2015

Interstitial condensation analysis showing

seven months moisture retention

“Should never be used in local homes”

What Can Be Done?

Extraction and refill with modern bonded bead insulationJohn Ross SERC 2015

MountEagles Extraction & Refill

John Ross SERC 2015

John Ross SERC 2015

Front before treatment Front “after treatment”

Removal and Preparation during UUJ Heat Test 2013

John Ross MSc SERC

Cavity wall insulation removalMount Eagles fibre cavity insulation after removal (damp)

Fill capacity for the home should have seen around 30 bags of materials installed

Only 7 were removed from the home

UUJ Site Tests Before & After Refill

John Ross MSc SERC

Heat flux sensors and temperature sensors

Fibre Insulating figures

John Ross SERC 2015

Density, kg/m3 Conductivity, W/mK

10 0.042

20 0.035

30 0.033

40 0.032

50 0.031 (best based on materials)

100 0.032

150 0.033

i.e. 30 kg/m3 properly installed would equate to Grey bead value

No correlated “U” Values with defective insulation

John Ross SERC 2015

There is no way to provide a “U” value for homes with defective insulation

Floor Plan 200m² home with 100mm cavity, cavity area 20m³ for fill purposes (ignoring roof gables) U value 0.33 required = 30kg per m³ = 600kgs of insulation materials

Roof areas not calculated for this sample

John Ross SERC 2015

206 NIHE homes only 9% deemed fit for purpose 91%?

Public Health Agency 11 homes in 11 council areas

Case studies in Dundonald and Bangor

Across the country many homes have the exact same issues

600 + Homes in MountEagles Estate virtually all with issues

UUJ report on MountEagles minimum @30% thermal improvement with extraction and refill treatments

Totals treated? Countrywide over 600 extractions and refill’s, one negative issue so far in the last 2 years

Widespread Common factors

Summary

John Ross SERC 2015

Historic Practices: Key to issues, job creation, lack of skills

Materials: Certain materials were never fit for purpose

Methods of install: crude and unregulated, no quality scheme

Climatic conditions: Major concern totally ignored

Building defects: Materials, lack of importance attached practice

Future ProvisionImproved inspection and survey methods, Materials & TechnologyIndustry training, Quality led schemes BBA and CIGA

Summary

John Ross SERC 2015

Ongoing Interventions

The Industry recognises the need for change

Ongoing extractions and refills being carried out by certified staff

Government schemes recognise the need for extraction of defective insulation

Boiler Replacement Scheme:Double Glazing:Real benefits unrealised

“ Energy Interventions are questionable without

consideration of the state of the fabric:

Boilers replacement, windows etc”

Summary

Major chance to address Poor Housing Conditions: Health

issues, Fuel Poverty, High energy costs, reduce fossil fuel

dependency.

There are clear health issues with living in sub-standard

accommodation, 3 x Identifiable pointers to insulation issues:-

1. The home is “Hard to heat”

2. The home cools quickly when the heating system turns off

3. Mould and/or excess condensation on windows, walls etc

John Ross SERC 2015

Thanks for listening

John

jross@serc.ac.uk

John Ross SERC 2015