It is now 20 years since the first development of the Panelvent brand and product.
The original brief was to find a product that combined a water vapour open structure, whilst retaining racking strength and durability on site.
Demand for this type of solution had its origins in the concerns for interstitial condensation risks in timber frame, caused by poor on site detailing and resulting in a World in Action programme highlighting the deleterious effects on site in the 1980s.
Over time with the development of vapour control layers and breather papers, as well as improved detailing and software modelling for dew point analysis, these risks were addressed and have become part of standard detailing for timber frame.
At the same time as these developments in the early 1990’s, innovative natural insulations such as Warmcel cellulose fibre insulation were developed. Maximising use of recycled paper forming the cellulose base material, formulations addressed fire and thermal performance as well as air tightness.
These performance benefits were combined with a hygroscopic insulation that was able to regulate its own moisture content during changes in relative humidity between summer and winter conditions.
This became known as “breathing” insulation which to some extent was a misnomer and many people confused this as being linked to air tightness, not than water vapour transmission.
Panelvent Development
To compliment this and form a wall system build, Panel Agency Ltd developed a medium board that, due to its fibre composition remained, water vapour open.
The benefit of this “breathable” board branded as Panelvent was that it was able to withstand exposure on construction sites during construction whilst maintaining dimensional stability, impact resistance and had similar cutting characteristics as other sheathing boards. The green coloured board began to be specified in self-builds and high profile eco projects, schools and housing.
At the same time Building Regulations were tightening to seek improved thermal performance and air tightness and there was a move back towards timber frame and offsite manufacture.
Twenty years later and following a brutal recession, there has been a move away by the government from improving the thermal performance of housing stock and abandonment of the Code for Sustainable Homes.
But reports suggest timber frame will account for 27% of new housing by 2017. Open panel construction still dominates the majority of timber frame units, while innovation is being led by green specifiers and self-builders rather than national housebuilders.
Panelvent is still often specified with Warmcel insulation and by those looking for added security beyond the use of breather papers and vapour checks.
In the 20 years Panelvent has also adapted to changing market conditions and demands and is now a 13mm board in 1200 x 2400mm format.
German Production
The Board is now manufactured under the Panelvent brand for Panel Agency by Egger Wismar and, in addition, is also available as a 15mm T&G option for roofing and wall applications.
The partnership between Egger UK and Panel Agency has operated for the last 15 months and sales are continuing to rise. The manufacture of the board falls within the scope of Egger’s Building Products division and is part of Egger’s drive to offer a wider range of value added products into the market.
Scottish merchant Rembrand Timber, which has 20 branches, has taken on the product. With timber frame making up 76.5% of new housing in Scotland, Panel Agency felt it was important to offer landed stock and a distribution partner in the country.
Rembrand has supplied Panelvent to the £8.9m Engine Shed project in Stirling which aims to encourage people to explore their built heritage and engage them with Scotland’s historic environment.
Panelvent is distributed via a number of national merchants as well as the specialist sustainable builders merchant business Ecomerchant.
