EXCERPT
FROM
TIMBERTRADER
NEWS
20TH
BIRTHDAY
LANDMARK
EDITION,
OCTOBER,
2005
ARE
FOIL
BATTS
THE
ANSWER?
L
ate
last
year
TimberTrader
News
covered
the
subject
of
the
Five
Star
Energy
Rating
system
being
introduced
for
new
Victorian
housing
.
This
program
has
the
potential
to
cost
the
timber
industry
millions
of
dollars
in
lost
sales
as
builders
move
to
what
they
regards
as
‘simpler’
construction
methods
in
order
to
achieve
Five
Star
Energy
Rating
.
This
program,
introduced
in
July
2004,
became
effective
in
July
this
year,
and
incorporates
a
number
of
initiatives
which
the
Victorian
government
says
will
lead
to
energy
and
cost
savings
.
July
2005
compliance
requires:
•
Five
Star
energy
rating
for
building
fabric
PLUS
water
conservation
measures
AND
rain
water
tank
OR
solar
hot
water
service
.
However,
in
May
2005,
due
to
intense
lobbying
by
the
timber
industry,
an
extension
was
granted
for
the
use
of
the
earlier
Five
Star
introductory
transition
period
for
homes
utilising
suspended
timber
sub
-
floors
until
April
30,
2006
.
Various
industry
sectors
have
been
lobbying
the
Government
on
having
the
program
changed
to
better
suit
the
use
of
timber
in
construction,
particularly
in
sub
-
floor
systems
.
Tim
Renouf
from
Wren
Industries
in
Cheltenham
(Vic),
says
the
Five
Star
rating
is
flexible
and
can
be
achieved
using
a
range
of
energy
efficient
design
features
.
“Building,
design
and
construction
professionals
can
advise
builders
on
how
to
meet
the
Five
Star
standard
.
An
accredited
house
energy
rater
can
also
help
achieve
Five
Stars
.
He
stated,
“The
FIRST
RATE
computer
program,
used
to
determine
the
Star
Rating,
is
a
point
score
system
which
operates
with
all
parts
of
the
building
contributing
to
thermal
performance
.
“However,
FIRST
RATE
has
a
severe
built
-
in
bias
favoring
concrete
slab
-
on
-
ground
compared
to
insulated
timber
floors,
without
any
comparative
physical
testing
data
as
proof
.
“This
regulation
has
caused
massive
commercial
damage
to
the
timber
industry
and
is
not
quarantined
to
Victoria,
as
FIRST
RATE
is
a
current
BCA
compliance
option
for
SA,
WA
and
Tasmania
.
”
He
added
that
it
is
understood
Five
Star
homes
are
more
affordable
and
save
their
owners
around
$210
per
year
on
energy
bills
.
“It
is
often
said
that
even
without
using
any
heating
or
cooling,
Five
Star
homes
are
up
to
five
degrees
warmer
in
winter
and
up
to
10
degrees
cooler
in
summer
than
the
average
(Two
Star)
new
home
.
“But
it
is
also
important
which
type
of
insulation
is
chosen
which
best
suits
differing
climates
.
”
He
said
that
the
news
late
last
year
that
a
comparative
floor
insulation
testing
project
based
on
full
scale
heated
houses
to
be
constructed
in
Hobart
(Tas)
and
tested
in
Winter
2006
is
most
welcome
.
“Historically,
insulating
timber
floors
has
been
ignored
as
being
very
difficult,
compounded
by
the
misbelief
that
timber
floors
do
not
lose
winter
heat
.
“With
Five
Star,
insulating
timber
floors
is
essential
.
“In
1992
Concertina
FOIL
BATTS
were
invented
and
are
proving
to
be
the
most
cost
effective
method
and
easiest
DIY
insulation
for
new
or
existing
timber
floors
.
“Other
insulation
methods
are
much
harder
to
install,
more
expensive
and
restrict
the
breathing
of
timbers
.
”
Tim
added
that
Perforated
Concertina
FOIL
BATTS
are
currently
the
only
under
floor
insulation
product
with
a
written
endorsement
for
use
by
the
Timber
Promotion
Council
(Vic)
1993,
which
states:
“Due
to
our
independence
the
Timber
Promotion
Council
cannot
normally
recommend
one
product
over
another
but
if
under
floor
insulation
is
desired
then
the
most
suitable
system
is
Concertina
FOIL
BATTS
.
“We
regard
the
FOIL
BATTS
n
Tim
Renouf
of
Wren
industries
says
Concertina
FOIL
BATTS
can
provide
the
answer
in
insulating
timber
subfloors
.
to
be
the
best
form
of
under
floor
insulation
.
This
product
will
fit
between
the
floor
joists
allowing
the
floor
to
breathe,
whilst
the
perforations
will
prevent
any
condensation
buildup
that
may
form
.
”
Continued
on
next
page
n
FOIL
BATTS
installed,
the
timber
flooring
is
installed
in
the
almost
completed
house
.
Click here for Page 2 of article
