Students at an Ofsted-outstanding construction college have been learning about thermal bridging, airtightness, U and R values – with help from one of the specification team at insulation specialist Actis.
Budding builders from Barnsley College Construction Centre were also given a chance to test out one of the Actis Hybrid products as part of the session.
Regional specification manager Amaret Chahal was invited to speak to the 17-, 18- and 19-year-olds courtesy of Louise Wagstaff, a former Actis colleague who now works for Howarth Timber in Wakefield – and is keen to spread the message about the merits of reflective insulation.
Actis regional specification manager Amaret Chahal and former colleague Louise Wagstaff, who now works for Howarth Timber, spent a day at Barnsley College Construction Centre talking about thermal bridging and gave students the chance to measure, cut and install Actis Hybris.
Amaret’s role was both academic and hands on, with the students reinforcing their learning about energy efficiency before measuring, cutting and installing Actis honeycomb style insulation Hybris into stud walls in the dedicated timber frame workshop.
Amaret, who before joining Actis taught in schools as part of her English literature and education studies degree, also co-wrote one of the Actis CPD modules.
She explained: “The students already knew about other forms of insulation and wanted to learn about reflective insulation too to broaden their knowledge. The Construction Centre is excellent and one of only a few in the country with an outstanding Ofsted report. “
“We hope to be able to return during ‘Skill Build Week’ to help the students when they create both a mini timber framed building and a full-size one in their workshop, which will see them develop a structure to meet Passivhaus standards.”
The Barnsley College Construction Centre offers T-levels and apprenticeships in various professions including bricklaying, tiling, plumbing, plastering, joinery, decorating, carpentry and surveying as well as HNDs and HNCs in Modern Methods of Construction
