Browse Forums Building A New House Re: New house build - Passive House 36Jun 23, 2023 2:56 pm With the dual interior + exterior membrane solution, the interior membrane is the air-tight layer, so a puncture would be a leakage - if I understand you correctly. Regarding slab insulation requirements, it all depends on the climate. The modelling will indicate whether it is required or not, and whether it needs to be slab edge only or also under slab. For Sydney, it is possible to satisfy the modelling without any slab insulation, it all depends on the design. From memory, the Passivhaus at Asquith has no slab insulation and takes advantage of the thermal mass of the ground. In colder locations, slab edge insulation will almost certainly be needed. Re: New house build - Passive House 38Jun 23, 2023 3:35 pm OSB available in Australia is generally not air-tight. Air will also escape through top plates and any penetrations in the external membrane (assuming it has not been taped and sealed for air-tightness). But if the external surface is air-tight, surely that would also reduce the problem of air flow through any puncture in the internal membrane? That would be like trying to blow into a bottle. Re: New house build - Passive House 40Jun 23, 2023 9:01 pm ![]() I am interested in the external door situation. How they would seal and/or thermal bridging. Buying a door jamb with seals all round is problematic. Hinged doors for Passivhaus use same solution for top and sides as for windows: multiple seals and locking points. Bottom of door can be butted up against a low threshold using a couple of seals. For zero threshold there's a solution involving magnetic strips that rise up from the floor into the door when it is closed to seal the gap: https://siegware.com.au/alumat-barrier- ... c-profile/ 0 5525 Thank you so much everyone. This all makes a lot of sense. I guess when you talk to a builder who butters up everything to look very polished, you get to start believing… 7 21920 Yes, I was happy with the work, bar a few small things. Overall, communication could have been better though. However, I found them reliable and did good work at a… 4 63743 |