BSRIA helps B&Q get airtight

BSRIA is providing air-tightness services for B&Q’s building-development programme over the next three years. The work involves the successful warehouse and mini-warehouse formats. A 12-month study of the operational energy costs of two identically specified stores in similar geographical and environmental locations revealed significantly lower heating costs for the tighter building. One had an air permeability of 8 m3/h/m2, with 3 m3/h/m2 for the other. The reduction in heating costs was 35%.