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As a RIBA Chartered Architect, Jonathan offers comprehensive Architect services: from conceptual design through to completion on site, and beyond. Based in Devon, Jonathan practices throughout the South West and South East of England.

Jonathan provides full Architect services across all project sectors and types, but his particular passion is for bespoke, ecologically sustainable, residential developments including: housing developments, individual house builds, conversions and high-end extensions for both developer and private clients.

Jonathan has the resources to handle all your requirements whilst his business is small enough to care passionately about every single client.  

As a sole practitioner, Jonathan is able to give every project his full personal care, attention and expertise whilst providing the same level of capability as a larger practice. In a larger practice the day to day carrying out of your project is often handed to a junior/trainee architectural assistant or draughtsman.

Jonathan Braddick is not just a designer, but has a strong focus on carrying projects through from inception to completion on site. Jonathan provides a high level of legislative and technical knowledge as well as specialist expertise in construction procurement and on site contract administration. Jonathan ensures that his designs respond to all relevant planning legislation, will comply with the building regulations, are constructionally cost effective and buildable on site.

As well as being a RIBA Chartered Architect, Jonathan is also a NHER licensed 'On Construction Domestic Energy Assessor' (OCDEA), providing in house sustainability/energy efficient design as a matter of course. Jonathan is able to provide this service in-house without the added delay, complication and expense of having to outsource and coordinate with another consultant. Pre-application and full Code for Sustainable Homes Assessments and advice can be provided and Jonathan is also a licensed SAP and 'On Construction EPC Assessor'. 

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A new publication explains how new homes can comply with the 2010 edition of Part F, which sets out strategies that should, if executed correctly, ensure good ventilation regardless of the level of airtightness. The guide works through the possible solutions on a range of common house and apartment types, explains some of the terminology in Part F and gives a broad understanding of the changes this will entail in practice. It can be downloaded at www.nhbcfoundation.org/partF

This guide is intended to help house builders and designers understand what the October 2010 changes to Approved Document F (Ventilation) (ADF) mean.  The latest ADF has been updated to take account of the recent increase in the as-built airtightness of buildings.  With Approved Document L1A (ADL1A) 2010 of the building regulations pushing for even lower levels of air permeability, it is important that correct provision is made to allow for controlled ventilation of our living spaces.  The changes have also placed a responsibility on the house builder to ensure that mechanical ventilation systems are installed correctly, and where they can be, they are tested and commissioned, and sufficient information on their operation and maintenance is given to occupiers.

As in the previous versions of ADF, its focus is the provision of ventilation for providing fresh air for health and well being, control of odour, airborne pollutants and excess humidity.  It does not cover the additional ventilation which may be required to control overheating in homes, this is addressed in ADL1A of the Building Regulations.

This guide gives examples of some typical homes, outlining a combination of measures needed to comply with ADF 2010.  The intention is to give a broad understanding of the approaches available for complying with the revised regulations and the practical changes this will entail.

The examples used are based on typical homes on typical developments, from information gathered by NHBC about the homes being built today.  The examples are similar to those used in the Part L 2010 - where to start guide with the addition of a single aspect apartment which has its own specific requirements for compliance.

This is only a general guide and there is no obligation to adopt any of the specific solutions detailed. You should always check with the Building Control Body (BCB) that your proposals comply with the requirements of the Building Regulations. You will also need to comply with Domestic Ventilation Compliance Guide (DVCG) 2010, NHBC Standards and planning requirements etc.   

Key changes from ADF 2006 are:

Air flow rates need to be measured on site and submitted to BCB
Higher ventilation rate requirements introduced for dwellings with a
fabric air permeability less than 5 m3/(h.m2) @ 50 Pa
Passive stack diameter increased to 125 mm for all wet rooms
All fixed mechanical systems need to be commissioned
Commissioning notice needs to be given to BCB for each installation addressed
Operation and maintenance manual needs to be provided
Domestic Ventilation Compliance Guide has been produced to support ADF 2010, which includes guidance on design, installation, inspection and testing of natural and mechanical ventilation systems
ADF 2010 also offers additional guidance on the following issues:

Fire and noise control
Requirements for purge ventilation in habitable and wet rooms
Background ventilation requirements for single storey dwellings on lower floors (ground to fourth)
Design criteria for adequate cross-ventilation
Requirements for air transfer between rooms
Minimum efficiencies for mechanical systems as given in DVCG
Routes for obtaining guidance for specific mechanical supply and extract systems
Ventilation is essential for our health and comfort.  We are all aware of the consequences of inadequate ventilation: dampness and mould growth on walls, drowsiness, ill-health and intolerance of allergens for occupiers.  In the past ventilation has been provided by a combination of purpose designed devices such as fans, trickle vents and windows and by the invisible but significant quantities of air infiltrating the dwelling through the building fabric.

In older homes the open chimney, sliding sash windows and gaps between floor boards all contributed to the amount of air entering and leaving the dwelling.  Open able windows and natural cross-ventilation would also help ensure that a high number of air changes could be achieved without any special ventilation devices.  Over time there have been more reasons to introduce specific measures, for instance to avoid condensation or to dilute and remove the combustion gases from heating appliances and boilers.  With increased focus on minimising energy losses from buildings especially due to infiltration, strategies for adequate ventilation need to take into account more airtight construction.

The building regulations identify specific ventilation mechanisms that apply to different requirements. There can be a short-term need to remove fumes and smells, from burning toast or painting and decorating.  This is generally described as ‘purge’ ventilation.  For certain rooms and activities it is desirable to remove the pollutants or water vapour at source - from the bathroom or kitchen for instance, this may be done by either natural or mechanical means.

A constant amount of ‘background’ ventilation is also required for each room throughout the day to ensure good air quality and prevent the build up of pollutants and water vapour from everyday activities such as clothes drying and of course human respiration.  In airtight homes this background ventilation has to be controlled: a specific amount of air has to be provided in a secure and draught-free way.  It is very important that the background ventilation is not overridden by the occupier, either in the belief that it is causing draughts and wasting money or because the system itself is perceived as being ineffective or too noisy and is turned off as a result.

Courtesy of BRE.co.uk

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Overall the ‘Green Deal’ is a very exciting and positive scheme that should be supported and encouraged, however there are still some key concerns that need to be addressed if the scheme is to be the success it could be.
The ‘Green Deal’ is a framework to enable private firms to offer consumers energy efficiency improvements for their homes, community spaces and businesses at no upfront cost, and recoup payments through ongoing charges on energy bills.
The financing mechanism allows consumers to pay back through their energy bills. This means consumers will offset the ‘Green Deal’ cost against the savings in energy use and therefore savings on their bill. It also means that if they move out and cease to be the bill-payer at that property, the financial obligation doesn’t move with them but moves to the next bill payer of the property in question. The charge is only paid whilst the benefits are enjoyed.
There are a number of important consumer protections which will be embedded into the Green Deal. The most important of these are:
The expected financial savings must be equal to or greater than the costs attached to the energy bill. This is known as “the golden rule” of the Green Deal.
The measures must be approved and the claimed bill savings must be those accredited through this process.
The measures installed must have been recommended for that property by an accredited, objective adviser who has carried out an assessment.
Whilst the ‘Green Deal’ is arguably the most proactive piece of domestic green legislation to date, there are some key concerns:
Large providers (energy companies and contractors) will provide assessments free of charge or at a low rate such that truly independent specialists cannot compete. Therefore any claims that this new scheme will result in mass new employment and or the opportunity for Surveyors and Architects to diversify should be taken with a large pinch of salt.
With nearly all assessments being completed by representatives of accredited ‘Green Deal’ providers and/or installers (as is predicted), there is a very real concern that this will result in a lack of independent/impartial advice to the consumer. There may be huge pressure for assessors who are employed by accredited ‘Green Deal’ providers to promote products and or measures that will be most profitable for the installer (and/or provider) and not those that are necessarily the best or most cost effective for the consumer.
With companies competing to provide the initial assessments to the consumer as cheaply as possible (or even free of charge) there is a risk that the quality of the assessments may suffer, and a ‘one size fits all’ approach is adopted by many assessors.
There may also be a huge difference between the final performance of an upgraded home and the initial predictions, with many homes not seeing the energy bill savings predicted.
Customers will not sign up if the interest rate is too high or the repayment system too complex.

Richard Lloyd, executive director, ‘Which?’ is quoted as saying:
“Unless people are offered a good deal that they can trust and understand, it’s difficult to imagine them flocking to take up Green Deal measures. They won’t if the interest rate is too high or the predicted energy bill savings don’t materialise. The government’s latest consultation does little to put our minds at rest, as the energy department’s own consumer research found that only a small number of people expressed a strong interest and many felt the annual cost savings were simply too small to make it worth their while... We want assessments that are personalised, accurate and genuinely impartial” 

Jonathan Braddick - RIBA Chartered Architect Devon

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www.jonathanbraddick.co.uk

Building Magazine has reported that the number of planning permissions granted in the three months to September 2011 was 10% down on the previous year. This is according to the latest figures from the Home Builders’ Federation.

The HBF is reported to have said its quarterly housing pipeline report showed that just 32,500 homes were given planning permission in the third quarter, down from 38,500 in the same period last year.

The number of units approved in the first nine months of the year is17% down on the corresponding period in 2010. The number of social housing units was 58% down on the third quarter of 2010.

Stewart Baseley, executive chairman of the HBF, is reported to have said:

“These figures demonstrate clearly why government must stand firm and deliver a robust planning system that provides enough land to meet the nation’s housing needs.

Its recent Housing Strategy contained some very positive measures, but if they are to bear fruit, the planning system must be fit for purpose.”

The above demonstrates that more clearly defined support for sustainability along with the reduction of planning regulation should certainly be welcomed and supported in principle. As with all things though the success, or failure, of the proposed planning reforms will be in the detail.

Hopefully however the reduction in planning approvals being granted during 2011, particularly in regard to housing, should be a welcomed sign that bog standard non sustainable housing is no longer acceptable. Large and small house builders alike will need to adapt and respond; embracing the need to produce well designed sustainable houses that meet minimum space and energy performance standards. This will in turn provide the economic stimulus developers bring to the local, and consequently national economy, whilst at the same time providing much needed good quality sustainable housing.

Jonathan Braddick RIBA Chartered Architect Devon

www.architectdevon.com

www.jonathanbraddick.co.uk

As well as being a RIBA Chartered Architect Jonathan is also a licensed Code for Sustainable Homes Assessor and Licensed On Construction Energy Assessor. As such Jonathan  is able to provide pre-application and full Code for Sustainable Homes Assessments as well as enrgy/SAP assessments.

Planning application code assessments along with initial energy reports/SAP calculations can be extremely useful in demonstrating the sustainable credential of a proposed scheme. For example, Jonathan woks with other Architects to provide a pre-planning code assessments and energy reports to demonstrate projects ability to comply with the Code for Sustainable Homes and or be carbon neutral.

As an Architect Jonathan is able to offer a more comprehensive service than some other code assessors, as being an Architect,Jonathan has a better grasp on construction and design than a non Architect might. Jonathan's selling point is that he is a sole practitioner and as such offer a hands-on personal service. Jonathan is always at the end of a telephone and has a flexible approach to working methods and project solutions.

For more information on how Jonathan may be of service please email or telephone:

jb@riba.co

www.architectdevon.com

01752 786745