What I’m seeing over the last few years is that even if the client doesn’t go the ‘whole enchilada’ with a certified Passivhaus (I would however highly recommend designing, building and certifying to the Passivhaus standard incidentally); many of the Passivhaus features are becoming incorporated and ‘trickling down’ to the ‘Standard’ project. Namely:

1. High levels of insulation.

200mm cavity with low conductivity wall tie

With the ‘optimal’ cavity width for Passivhaus certification using concrete blocks at 300mm (pumped with platinum multi-bead insulation); we’re frequently adopting cavities on our ‘Standard’ projects of 200mm and 250mm.

2. Minimal Thermal bridges

As you can see in the image above, we are using low conductivity wall ties instead of steel versions.

The photo below also shows the low-conductivity blocks we use in strategic locations to reduce thermal bridging:

Low conductivity blocks

3. Triple Glazing

The price for triple glazing in Ireland has reduced…

As an avid reader of Passivhaus books (actually any books on a variety of subjects); below are two I would heartily recommend to get you started on Passivhaus theory and onto more advance topics.

1. The Passivhaus Handbook by Janet Cotterell and Adam Dadeby

A great primer in everything Passivhaus. Chapters include:

Part One: The how and why of Passivhaus
• What is Passivhaus
• The economics of Passivhaus
• Passivhaus Certification
• Challenges of meeting the Passivhaus standard
• Natural materials,zero carbon and resilience
• Setting up a Passivhaus project

Part Two: Passivhaus projects: a practical guide
• Using PHPP
• Thermal bridges
• Airtightness and sequencing
• Moisture
• Windows
• Ventilation
• Living in a Passivhaus
• Policy change in the UK

The book is extensively Appendixed with a great glossary of terms/units plus notes and resources.

I used this book as part of my revision before…