Seán Sherlock
Question:138. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a grant is available for pre-1940s houses (details supplied). [18992/23]
View answerTuesday, 25 April 2023
Questions (138)
Written answers
My Department funds a number of grant schemes, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. As the retrofit industry transforms to accommodate much higher levels of output in line with our national targets, quality must be maintained at a high level to ensure value for money for the tax-payers and to sustain consumer confidence and demand.
Contractors operating under any scheme supported by an SEAI grant must carry out the works in line with the Domestic Technical Standards and Specifications as well as best practice and technical guidance documents including:
• NSAI S.R. 54:2014 Code of practice for the energy efficient retrofit of dwellings
• Building Regulations Technical Guidance Documents
• The System Supplier/Product Manufacturer Guidelines
• NSAI Agrément certificates
• Irish, British or European Standards Guides
• Codes of Practice for the programmes
Older stone-build buildings (generally those built up until around the 1940s) and constructed in stone, single-leaf masonry or composite wall construction usually fall into the category of traditionally built buildings. However, there are some examples of concrete-built homes dating from the early 20th century.
The SEAI advise that it does not exclude pre-1940 homes from applying to any of its grant supported schemes. However, all of the SEAI approaches are determined by the Building Regulations, incorporating NSAI S.R.54: 2014 Code of practice for the energy efficient retrofit of dwellings. This means that wall insulation is not recommended under any of its residential energy efficiency schemes on dwellings built before 1940 which are constructed in stone, single-leaf masonry or composite wall construction. That being said SEAI will assess applicant homes under the various residential energy efficiency schemes for other measures outside wall insulation which may be possible.
With specific regard to pre-1940s stone-built dwellings, all eligible homes are assessed and where they comprise stone, SEAI will not recommend insulation of the stone walls, but will assess, for example, a post-1940 extension present, which may be deemed appropriate for insulation.
The rationale for this approach is that stone-built (traditional built) structures were designed to be vapour permeable. Therefore, the materials and techniques used in energy efficiency upgrades of such buildings must be suitable for the buildings in question including for use with vapour permeable construction where applicable. For example, a stone wall with lime-based mortar will need a lime-based plaster render to remain vapour permeable. Otherwise vapour becomes trapped leading to problems which can cause harm to the building and its occupants.
SEAI support the insulation of buildings using materials and products which are appropriate and have been determined fit for use in the Irish climate by National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI). SEAI has no role in the certification of products used in Ireland but is aware that very old homes which are constructed using stone and lime-based mortar are more complicated to insulate for the reasons outlined above.
To support the proper upgrade of traditional buildings a new technical Guidance Document - “Energy Efficiency in Traditional Buildings” is being developed by the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage. My Department and the SEAI are participating in the steering group overseeing the project. The objective is to finalise the guidance having regard to submissions received in the public consultation with a view to publishing it this year. Once available this guidance will be an important resource to support contractors in the appropriate energy efficiency upgrade and renovation of older stone-build buildings while ensuring compliance with the appropriate building regulations.