THE MP for Frome and East Somerset visited a local building company to learn about the importance of retrofitting energy saving measures into domestic buildings.

MP Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrats) was invited to Foundations Up Construction Ltd operating out of Coleford, who trade as Loft Boarding South West (LBSW), alongside National Warm Homes Council (NWHC).

During the visit, which took place on Friday June 6, she learned about how to help cut energy bills, reduce carbon emissions and highlight what is required to deliver this.

Ms Sabine also met with Director Charles Dowson, along with other members of the workforce who are putting retrofit insulation into action, alongside Dave Ravel, director of the NWHC.

Anna also had a chance to try out a LoftZone raised loft boarding system, StoreFloor, and fit some boards herself.

Traditional boarding was fixed directly to the joist in the loft, but now with the increased amounts of insulation required this is not possible without compressing the insulation and reducing its effectiveness.

In new build properties this will also invalidate the warranty as compressing the insulation contravenes the Building Regulations which determines the depth of insulation required.

LBSW has been an authorised installer of LoftZone raised boarding since 2017.

Charles Dowson, said “Small and medium building companies in Britain are key to promoting affordable and accessible energy-efficient measures to support the rollout of the Warm Homes Plan”.

LoftZone and Loft Boarding South West’s along with NWHC, aim to highlight the importance of loft insulation, and loft insulation protection, as affordable and accessible energy-efficient measures to help cut bills and tackle carbon emissions.

They asked Ms Sabine to help to raise the profile and importance of loft insulation protection for households.

Dave Ravel emphasised the NWHC’s commitment to holding the government accountable for improving the UK’s poor housing stock. He appreciated the opportunity to highlight to Anna the importance of ‘protecting’ loft insulation, especially given the Liberal Democrats’ advocacy for an urgent home insulation plan and other energy-saving measures to future-proof homes and ensure warmer homes throughout the UK.

He said “Improving the performance of insulation and retrofit measures is critical to achieving national energy targets.

“The UK’s housing stock is along the least energy-efficient in Western Europe, contributing to high fuel poverty and 20% of national carbon emissions”.

Loft Boarding South West say that the majority of the 25 million lofts in the UK lack insulation protection. They also say that while 80 percent of households use their their roof space for access and storage, 25 percent of a home’s heat is lost through an uninsulated roof, and that there is a 50 percent reduction in thermal resistance from loft insulation as a result of compression.

They also claim that one percent of UK lofts currently have insulation protection installed.

Charles Dowson also took the opportunity to raise with Anna his concerns about how the increase in minimum wage and NI contributions is squeezing out trainee, junior and apprentice level applicants, when recruiting for the building trade in SME building companies.