VST passive house

VST permanent formwork system components suitable for passive houses

The term "passive house" refers to a construction standard achievable with different designs, shapes and materials. It is an advancement of the low energy house (LEH) standard. The term "passive house" refers to a building which guarantees a comfortable indoor climate in summer and winter without the need for a conventional heating system. As a key prerequisite for this, the annual heating requirement should not exceed 15 kWh/(m²a). Any additional requirement for heat energy is fulfilled by heating the intake air via the existent ventilation system.

Passive houses need about 80% less heating energy than new buildings according to the German Thermal Insulation Ordinance from 1995. The name "passive house" indicates a "passive" use of heat obtained from sunlight through the windows and the heat generated by appliances and occupants, sufficing to maintain the building's indoor temperature at a pleasant level during the heating period. Other energy needs, especially in terms of electricity for household appliances, must simultaneously be minimized In a passive house by means of efficient technology.

After about a year of development time, the VST system underwent a certification process in 2008.

The following certification centre was selected:

Passivhaus Institut
Dr. Wolfgang Feist
Rheinstr. 44/46
D-64283 Darmstadt

As part of the certification process, a number of key details are prepared at the request of PHI and tested for the desired qualifications. The results are then made available to a closed group of authorized persons in a detailed database.

The whole approval procedure is rounded off by an air-tightness concept, general documents and certificates regarding the VST system, as well as the calculations underlying the details. The outcome is certification of a permanent formwork system for a VST passive house.