Low or zero carbon technologies

8.2.9Building integration

Foundations and anchor points for stand-alone LZC technologies should be designed by an engineer in accordance with Technical Requirement R5 to withstand the structural forces acting upon them.

The structure to which the LZC technology is attached should be assessed according to its ability to accept the loadings and prevent detrimental effects arising from movement or vibration. The design of the structure should take account of:

Notching, drilling or chasing of structural components to accommodate service pipes or cables should either comply with Chapter 8.1 ‘Internal services’, or be designed by an engineer in accordance with Technical Requirement R5.

Fixings, supports, bracketry and mounting frames should:

Where two metals are to be joined, they should either be compatible or isolated, to prevent bimetallic corrosion.
Aluminium and aluminium alloys should not come into contact with cementitious material.

All interfaces between the LZC technology and the building should ensure adequate weather resistance, sealed to limit air leakage and prevent moisture from reaching the interior or any part of the structure that could be adversely affected by its presence. The envelope should be weatherproofed using appropriate flashings and fixings. Weatherproofing details that rely solely on sealant are not acceptable. Flashings should be formed from the materials listed in Table 1.

Table 1: Materials for flashings

To avoid potential surface or interstitial condensation, the design should take account of thermal bridging, particularly where any part of the system, including fixings, penetrates the thermal envelope.