10th anniversary of the launch of our very own test house
In 2014, we developed DC-Thermo panels, which are the panels that make up the shell of our test house. The house is therefore built without the use of traditional lightweight elements such as steel or wood. A well-executed house, located next to DC-Systems’ head office in Aars.
Back to where it all started…
If we rewind to 2013, that was the year DC-System entered into a meaningful collaboration with Kuben Management. This collaboration consisted of the construction of 6 small apartments for vulnerable citizens in Aalborg. The apartments were built in our standard sandwich panels, which are panels consisting of two steel plates with insulation in between.
This project initiated speculation among DC-Systems’ CEO, Allan Andersen, regarding whether DC panels could be used in house building as well? The speculation resulted in new thinking about how DC-System could develop panels that would benefit the construction industry.
Development of lightweight load-bearing panels
It’s not far from thought to action and in 2014 DC-System received a grant for the development of lightweight load-bearing panels, which are the panels that make up the test house. This grant was received through the EUDP funding program, for which DC-System partnered with Kuben Management, Grontmij, Arkitektfirmaet Krogh Madsen and, not least, Aalborg University to develop these panels.
An important note here is that there is a clause in an EUDP grant. The clause states that eligible companies must build a demonstration project to showcase the result – which in our case was the test house – which is what we at DC-System are now celebrating 10 years later.
“Without the test house, it would have been very difficult to convince new potential customers of the excellence of the new product, as customers want to see or test new products before buying them” – CEO, Allan Andersen
The actual 115 m2 test house was built in 2014, where the installation of the test house took place at the same time as the development of the new building system. The idea behind this was that the product should always be tested 1:1 to ensure an accurate representation of the concept in practice. This is essential as it not only allows a realistic assessment of the functionality and efficiency of the building system, but also enables careful quality assurance throughout the process. Building the house 1:1 allows any challenges or improvements to be identified and resolved early in the development phase. This is essential to deliver a high-quality, sustainable and reliable product. However, this constant testing resulted in a longer construction time than if the house were to be built today, where the shell can be built in 2-4 days.
Energy efficiency and sustainability
The benefits of this innovative construction method are many. In addition to the impressive time savings, it’s also worth highlighting the extra square meters that this building construction creates. The extra square meters are due to the fact that DC-Thermo panels are 46% thinner than traditional cavity wall exterior walls. This results in 17.2 extra m2, which is more or less equivalent to a child’s room. In addition, the house’s stability has been proven by certified structural engineers and, not least, 10 years of use. Through the 10 years, the raw cement-bonded particleboard has been freely exposed to wind and weather.
The house also has a very low energy consumption of 2000 kW for heating per year, which emphasizes the energy efficiency and sustainable character of the house. To summarize the characteristics of the test house, this building construction represents the fusion of practical functionality, added value in the form of extra square meters and environmentally friendly features. Together, this contributes to an outstanding performance in today’s residential construction.
Sound proofing, load capacity and mold prevention
DC-System is built on long-standing values where ensuring quality is paramount, no matter what product is sold.
These values harmonize with the EUDP program’s principle of building a demonstration project. The test house is tested under different influences to ensure quality and functionality.
The DC-Thermo panels are approved as lightweights panel walls and have received fire approval (REI30) and B-s1, d0 from the Danish Institute of Fire Technology. The panels have also been tested by DELTA, an accredited testing and consulting company. This demonstrated an indoor sound attenuation of 36-38 dB. Therefore, the test house can be considered to have a moderate to high degree of insulation. Therefore, the house is well protected against external noise to create a subdued and comfortable indoor climate.
Approved Thermo panels
DC-Thermo panels are approved and awarded the Danish Indoor Climate Label by the Danish Indoor Climate Label. This is after a test that complies with the Danish Indoor Climate Label’s criteria for ceiling and wall systems. In addition, there is no risk of mold in DC-Thermo panels. The reason for this is that the panels consist of inorganic material, which means that mold cannot grow.
All tests and approvals are carried out in Denmark by certified testing institutes. In addition, all tests are supported by Aalborg University to achieve the best possible quality assurance of the indoor climate.
In addition to the beautiful test house in Aars, DC-Thermo panels have since been delivered to around 500 residential buildings. Including Jutland, Zealand and Bornholm, not to mention Greenland. We have therefore not only left our mark on the Danish mainland, but also on Greenland. Here, DC-Thermo panels are the ideal choice to withstand the harsh challenges of the Arctic climate and create durable and energy-efficient homes.
Are you interested in learning more about our DC-Thermo panels and the requirements they meet? Don’t hesitate to contact us on +45 98 62 42 00 or info@dc-system.dk.
