Case Study: Achieving World-Class Airtightness with Advanced Membrane Technology at IWM Duxford
The new archive facility at IWM Duxford, designed to meet rigorous Passive House standards for optimal preservation conditions
Here at Water Proofing Cyprus, we champion cutting-edge solutions for creating durable, energy-efficient, and high-performance buildings. A stellar example of what can be achieved with modern techniques and materials is the remarkable archive building recently completed at IWM Duxford in the UK.
The Challenge: Preserving History with Passive House Standards
Imperial War Museums (IWM) required a new archive facility designed not just for space, but for the long-term preservation of invaluable historical documents. This meant adhering to the stringent Passive House standard, demanding exceptional environmental control, stability, and crucially, near-perfect airtightness to protect the sensitive collection.
The Result: Record-Breaking Performance
The project achieved an astonishing final airtightness score of 0.03 air changes per hour (ACH) at 50 Pascals. To put this in perspective, that’s 20 times tighter than the already demanding target for certified Passive House buildings and around 200 times tighter than standard UK requirements for similar buildings. It stands as one of the most airtight buildings ever recorded globally.
How Was This Achieved? The Role of Design and Advanced Membranes
Success hinged on a combination of expert design, meticulous execution, and the strategic use of innovative materials.
Design Simplicity: The design team, led by Architype architects and Passive House consultant Nick Grant, focused on a ‘less is more’ approach, simplifying the building envelope for maximum buildability and performance.
Innovative Airtightness Layer: Instead of traditional wet plaster, the project utilized Blowerproof, a BBA-certified, paint-on liquid airtightness membrane. This choice proved pivotal.
Tested & Proven: Recognizing the critical need to protect the archive contents, the client (IWM) subjected the Blowerproof membrane to rigorous Oddy testing to ensure it wouldn’t off-gas harmful pollutants. The product passed with flying colours, demonstrating its suitability for sensitive environments.
Finish Quality: Available in white, the membrane was left exposed as the final internal finish, showcasing its aesthetic potential alongside its technical performance.
Contractor Collaboration: Main contractors Fabrite, though new to Passive House airtightness levels, fully embraced the challenge. Their commitment to detail, monitoring, and communication was crucial. Site manager Darren Fraser noted, “It was conveyed to me very early, this building hinges on achieving a good airtightness score,” highlighting the focus required.
Meticulous Detailing: Even with advanced products, attention to detail at critical junctions – such as where walls met the precast concrete roof planks and around door frames (which weren’t available to Passive House specification) – was essential, requiring careful sealing and on-site problem-solving.
Lessons for High-Performance Buildings in Cyprus
The IWM Duxford project offers valuable lessons for construction here in Cyprus:
Airtightness = Efficiency & Protection: Achieving high levels of airtightness drastically reduces uncontrolled air leakage, leading to significant energy savings on heating and cooling (vital in our climate) and better protection against dust, pollutants, and moisture ingress.
Liquid Membranes Offer Solutions: Advanced liquid-applied membranes provide a robust, seamless, and adaptable solution for achieving superior airtightness and waterproofing performance, even on complex structures.
Quality Products Matter: Investing in certified, tested, and high-quality building envelope products is key to long-term performance and durability.
Collaboration is Key: Success requires buy-in and careful execution from the entire project team – designers, suppliers, and contractors.
Achieve Superior Building Performance with Water Proofing Cyprus
The IWM Duxford archive demonstrates the incredible potential of modern construction techniques and materials. At Water Proofing Cyprus (Lavraki Imports Exports Ltd), we supply a range of advanced waterproofing and airtightness solutions designed to help you meet the highest standards of building performance, energy efficiency, and durability for your projects in Cyprus.
Whether you’re designing an archive, a high-efficiency home, or a durable commercial building, contact us today at +357 22 044040 or send us an email to discuss how our products and expertise can help you achieve exceptional results.
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