MEDITE SMARTPLY launches Beyond the Board, a new expert-led video series exploring the challenges shaping the future of construction

With hotter summers, high energy costs and the Future Homes Standard (FHS) on the horizon, the way homes are designed to balance energy efficiency, resilience and occupant wellbeing is coming under increasing scrutiny. MEDITE SMARTPLY launches Beyond the Board, a new expert-led video series exploring the challenges shaping the future of construction.

In the first episode of its new Beyond the Board podcast series, MEDITE SMARTPLY brings together industry experts to examine one of the most fundamental elements of building design: the building envelope, and asks: “Is the secret to healthier, ultra-efficient homes hidden in the building envelope?” The discussion comes as the construction industry prepares for the Future Homes Standard, which will come into force from 24th March 2027 for non-higher-risk-building dwellings.

James Roberts MBE, architectural technologist, certified Passive House designer and Technical Adviser at Lowfield Timber Frames, and Simon Jones, founder and host of the Air Quality Matters podcast, agree that improving fabric performance is not simply a question of adding more insulation or making homes more airtight. As homes become more airtight in pursuit of better energy performance, getting that relationship right becomes increasingly important. A well-designed envelope can help reduce heat loss, manage moisture and support good indoor air quality. Moisture management is another fundamental part of the equation. The challenge, therefore, is to consider the home as a complete system.

The implications extend beyond energy performance. The conversation also examines one of the construction industry’s persistent challenges: the gap between designed performance and actual performance once a building is completed. Looking further ahead, data-driven analytics and sensors could transform how homes are monitored throughout their lifetimes, measuring factors such as energy performance, humidity and indoor environmental quality.

Signed, Sealed, Developed: Engineering the Building Envelope for Healthy Homes is the first episode of Beyond the Board, a new podcast-style video series powered by SMARTPLY. Hosted by Roly Ward, Head of Business Development, and David Murray, Head of Technical Affairs & Ireland Sales, MEDITE SMARTPLY, the series will bring together technical specialists and professionals from across construction to explore the practical challenges shaping the future of the industry, from building performance and healthy homes to the skills gap. Full episodes will be available via YouTube and Spotify.

Watch and listen to the first episode on YouTube.

MEDITE SMARTPLY is part of the Coillte Group, an innovative, sustainably certified Irish forestry and forest products manufacturer. Based in Clonmel and Waterford, Ireland, MEDITE SMARTPLY produces a versatile range of Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) and Oriented Strand Board (OSB) products for construction and interior applications across the UK and Europe. For further information, visit www.mdfosb.com.

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