Ancon Teplo, a range of innovative basalt-fibre wall ties, virtually eliminates thermal bridging in the highly insulated external masonry walls of the UK’s largest non-residential PassivHaus building.

Originally conceived as a zero-carbon development, the University of Leicester’s £42 million Centre for Medicine was upgraded to the more demanding PassivHaus standard. This widely recognised energy performance standard utilises a fabric-first approach, relying on a very high level of thermal efficiency in the external envelope to minimise energy demands and provides a stable and comfortable internal environment.

One of the largest investments in medical training and applied research by any UK University, the 12,800sq.m centre is four times larger than any previous PassivHaus project in the UK.

Designed to accommodate almost 2,400 students and staff, the building is topped with a series of blocks that vary in heights from 3 to 6 storeys. External walls on the ground and first level are built with traditional brick-and-block with a highly insulated 300mm cavity, with the upper floors clad in lightweight curtain walling.

Ancon’s Teplo wall ties, the most thermally efficient on the market, were chosen for their ultra-low thermal conductivity of just 0.7W/mK, which virtually eliminates cross-cavity thermal transfer, allowing these repeating insulation bridges to be disregarded in EN ISO 6946 thermal calculations.

Manufactured from basalt fibres set within a unique resin matrix, these innovative high strength ties are available to suit cavities up to 450mm wide, making them perfect for the super-insulated cavities typical of PassivHaus buildings.

Over 6,000 Teplo cavity wall ties were installed to join the brick and block leaves and over 4,000 Teplo-L ties which feature a stainless steel upstand to tie masonry to the in-situ structural frame.

As well as being a certified PassivHaus, the Centre for Medicine is also rated BREEAM Excellent.