BEP Banbeck Engineering Partnership
109 Pembroke Road
Haverford West
Haverfordwest
SA61 1LY
01437 765347
07974565432
Probably the most energy efficient barn
conversion in Wales (or the UK). Just
completed.
The layout is ideal for multi generation
family use.
Situated in rural North Pembrokeshire
just south of the popular village of
Mathry, between the stunning cathedral
city of St Davids and the ferry port of
Fishguard. 10 miles from the Coun-ty
Town of Haverfordwest with excellent
shopping and amenities. Close to the outstanding Pembrokeshire
Coast National Park
and the famous Coastal Path with easy access to many sandy beaches and coves. There is an
excellent golf course 1.5 miles away.
The barns were constructed between the wars using cast insitu reinforced concrete. The walls
are 150mm thick with columns cast in at approximately 2.5m centres to support the “A” frame
timber roof trusses.
The timber trusses and purlins were replaced with new structural timber and the roof recon-
structed using Euromac 2 structural elements, which consist of galvanized “Z” purlins en-cased in
235mm insulation. These panels are tongue and grooved to form an airtight struc-ture with no
cold bridging and replace traditional rafters.
The roof covering is natural 7mm thick slate fixed using Nu-lok galvanized steel battens and
stainless steel clips. This system has the advantage of allowing any slate to be replaced with-out
damage to adjacent slates, and is designed to allow the slates to be replaced with solar PV cells
at any time.
The walls were clad externally with
Marmorit external wall insulation 140mm
thick and then rendered with Marmorit
render which contains lime and fibres and is
reinforced with a fibre glass reinforcing
mesh and protected with a textured silicon
render to ensure low mainte-nance.
The external render is taken up over the
ends of the roofing elements to ensure
there is no air leakage at the eaves (tested
air permeability 2.77 m³/(h.m²) without
using any tape etc.
The ground floor consists of reclaimed
1930’s hardwood blocks over 100mm thick
dense self-leveling concrete, containing the
under floor heating pipes, over 200mm thick
insulation except in the sunroom area where
the floor is 300mm thick over 200mm insulation.
This construction has formed a very large and dense thermal store inside the externally insu-
lated building, which results in very even internal temperatures and prevents any sudden
temperature changes.
Two whole house ventilation and heat recovery units by Ventaxia have been fitted to provide
fresh air. There 11 roof windows, four of which are remotely operated.
A plant room has been provided to take the air source heat pump and the large thermal store for
the heating and domestic hot water. The heating can be controlled remotely by any mo-bile
device or computer. Ground mounted Solar Thermal panels have also been provided to heat the
domestic hot water. Any excess heat generated by the panels is wasted to one of the two water
wells at the property. These water stores also provide water for wc flushing and all other non-
potable uses such as car washing and garden watering.
The electrical lighting wiring has been designed and installed to ensure that it will use 100% LED
low energy lighting, with multiple circuits to achieve variable lighting levels in each room.
Fully fitted burglar alarms are fitted to the Barn and the out building.
The doors and windows are all composite timber units allowing low maintenance exteriors while
retaining natural wood interiors. The glazing is all high performance low-e and argon filled and
has “self cleaning” coating.
The south facing sunroom has been designed to capture solar gain during the winter and re-strict
it in summer.
There are 5 bathrooms (3 en suite) are provided and the layout is flexible to allow many dif-
ferent uses.
All internal partitions and ceilings are constructed using Fermacell gypsum fibreboard, which is
far superior to plasterboard, it is impact resistant, fire resistant, and can take load bearing
fixings.
There is an additional modern timber building of 100m² which has been divided into 2 rooms and
Mabws Uchaf Barns