– MEDITE SMARTPLY launches Beyond the Board, a new expert-led video series exploring the challenges shaping the future of construction
With hotter summers, high energy costs and the Future Homes Standard (FHS) on the horizon in England and Wales, the way homes are designed to balance energy efficiency, resilience and occupant wellbeing is coming under increasing scrutiny.
In the first episode of its new Beyond the Board podcast series, MEDITE SMARTPLY brings together industry experts to examine one of the most fundamental elements of building design: the building envelope, and asks: “Is the secret to healthier, ultra-efficient homes hidden in the building envelope?” The discussion comes as the construction industry prepares for the Future Homes Standard, which will come into force from 24 March 2027 for non-higher-risk-building dwellings.
James Roberts MBE, architectural technologist, certified Passive House designer and Technical Adviser at Lowfield Timber Frames, and Simon Jones, founder and host of the Air Quality Matters podcast, agree that improving fabric performance is not simply a question of adding more insulation or making homes more airtight.
James explains: “The building envelope is not the entire answer, but I think it’s a good foundation where everything else is built upon.”
The challenge, therefore, is to consider the home as a complete system.
Simon highlights just how much of our lives are spent within the built environment: “If you live to 80 years of age, you’ll spend 70 years of your life indoors… You’ll spend 55 years of that in your own home.”
This makes the quality of the indoor environment, and the building envelope separating it from the outside world, an important consideration for long-term health and wellbeing.
Hosted by Roly Ward, Head of Business Development, and David Murray, Head of Technical Affairs & Ireland Sales, MEDITE SMARTPLY, the series will bring together technical specialists and professionals from across construction to explore the practical challenges shaping the future of the industry.
Watch and listen to the first episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adXZuLl4dBs
About MEDITE SMARTPLY
MEDITE SMARTPLY is part of the Coillte Group, an innovative, sustainably certified Irish forestry and forest products manufacturer. Based in Clonmel and Waterford, Ireland, MEDITE SMARTPLY produces a versatile range of Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) and Oriented Strand Board (OSB) products for construction and interior applications across the UK and Europe. For further information, visit www.mdfosb.com