Building Life Consultancy

We are frequently phoned by homeowners asking can we give them help for an hour or two only. The answer is 'yes, we can!'

We have advised on countless modest energy efficiency projects, such as installing external wall insulation, internal wall insulation (aka drylining), reglazing etc. We also advise on dampness, mould or persistent cold. See the Problem Building Assessment Service for more on the latter category.

Building Life Consultancy provides hygrothermal risk analysis in accordance with two international standards (IS EN ISO 13788 and IS EN 15026). The first is limited to steady state analysis and a limited range of constructions and issues. The second is far more accurate and allows a range of climate conditions, conditions that vary with time, levels of failure/reality, and types of construction.

If you wish to understand or improve the performance of a new building or building component, evaluate the under-performance of an old building, or design a new construction product you need to talk to Building Life Consultancy.

Summer 2016: A book will be published by Dublin City Council titled 'Built to Last - Energy Efficiency in Pre-1945 Historic Dwellings in Dublin City'. Building Life Consultancy with Fergal McGirl Architects, IHER will be the authors. The book arises from the Dublin City Heritage Plan. It will featrure a jumber of firsts including measuring U-values and a-values.

Introduction

Put simply a well-designed, well-built, certified Passive House building, whether new built or retrofit, will have tiny heating bills, will be very bright and often open plan, will have excellent air quality and unusually high levels of thermal comfort.  There are already 30,000 of them in Europe.  As a whole they represent a revolution in building design.

What is a thermal bridge?

A thermal bridge (traditionally known as ‘cold bridge’) is defined as a part of the building envelope where the otherwise uniform heat flow path is locally altered. The most severe cases occur where the insulation is ‘short circuited’ by materials with a great thermal conductivity.

The temperature at internal surfaces is usually colder near a thermal bridge (e.g. window lintel or wall-to-ceiling junction). This can potentially lead to surface condensation or mould growth.

Joseph Little Architects is a unique, science-based practice. The practice has three sides: architectural practice, training and building fabric consultancy 

We have a high regard for aesthetics, light and beauty but believe that the hard-earned money of clients and the Earth's resources are best used if scientific evaluation underpin the design, construction and retrofit of our buildings. We believe there is no conflict in delivering great energy efficiency, low carbon construction and award-winning design: we believe this sets us apart