The Challenge
One solution to combat the housing shortage, is ‘off-site’ or modular construction.
This is where, rather than
build houses often in a muddy field, houses are manufactured in clean, dry and well lit factories,
effecttively
on a production line. This has the advantage that the laborforce is located in one place, quality can be
carefully monitored and controlled and assembly can potentially take place around the clock, at all the year.
They are then sent to site on the back of an HGV as ‘modules’ which are then craned and
assembled together to form a 2, 3, 4 bed house, or even a block of apartments. As a result a practically
finished house can be assembled in a matter of days rather than weeks, espcecially if brick-slip
cladding or
other finishes are used.
Just like a car assembly line, each module starts off as a shell, and is assembled into a finished item
as parts and components are fitted into it. And just like a car assembly line speed of assembly and ‘right 1st
time’ is imperative to keep the line flowing.
In addtion, modular units are limited to a maximum size to enable ease of transportation on a standard
vehicle and so internal useable space becomes critical. Coupled with the fact that modular or off-site
construction is very much a 21st century technology, somehow panel radiators just didn’t seem to be ‘on
message’.
The Solution
Tom Foster from Studio RHE was instrumental in the creation of N House, and was
committed to make best use of the light and space that modular manufacturing can offer.
Tom explains
“We were clear that we didn’t feel radiators would be appropriate, both from an aesthetic
perspective, but also from a practical point of view; they consume valuable wall space and limit window
and furniture positions. We just accepted that underfloor heating would be the recommended heating solution
and designed the N House to make the most of the available space. We hadn’t heard of skirting heating”.
The envelope design was then sent to Atelier 10 in London, who specialise in the
mechanical and electrical design and specification and have a long association with modular and offsite construction. Jonathan
Ward, Technical Director at Atelier Ten, goes on
“We’ve successfully specified ThermaSkirt skirting heating for
several modular providers, so we were comfortable putting it forward to N House. Underfloor heating
doesn’t really lend itself to modular construction, as the modules often break up the floorplan, making
installation and control problematic. N House was an all-electric design, and so we recommended the
ThermaSkirt e”.
ThermaSkirt e is the electric version of the successful ThermaSkirt H2O and combines the heating
radiators into a stylish pre-painted skirting board profile – in this instance a simple pencil round ‘Deco’
profile.
Combining the 2 elements in one reduces capital cost, but more importantly simplifies and speeds up
assembly of the modules. By distributing the heating all around the room at low level and ‘above ground’
ThermaSkirt creates an environment practically indistinguishable from underfloor heating, but usually
faster and more responsive and with any floor construction and covering.