Interseasonal Heat Transfer

Sustainable heating systems powered by solar energy.

Interseasonal Heat Transfer is a new form of on-site renewable energy that can capture and store either surplus heat from summer sunshine or coolth on winter nights. That heat or coolth can be subsequently released, even months later, by a sophisticated control system. A building’s heating requirements may be met from season to season without burning any fossil fuels and at a fraction of the cost of using air conditioning.

It sounds incredible, yet it works by taking advantage of a number of basic natural phenomena.

Firstly, the sun provides our planet with more energy each hour than human civilization uses over a whole year. The challenge is how to make use of this vast supply of incoming radiation to provide solar space heating. IHT works by capturing heat energy from the sun via Solardec, our intelligent, active roofing technology.

Secondly, it is a characteristic of earth that heat moves through it only very gradually – as slowly as one metre a month. The IHT system exploits this thermal inertia by stockpiling the captured solar energy in a ThermalBank, an identified bank of earth below ground level. The ThermalBank is able to retain warm temperatures for a period of months, as distinct from a standard heat store which can hold a high temperature for a short time in an insulated tank.

Either warm or cold temperatures may be held in reserve, ready to supply a building’s heating or cooling demands at a later date.

Forward Thinking

Together, Rock and ICAX can help you comply with the latest Government initiatives.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), established in October 2008, is encouraging renewable heat as part of the Government’s commitment to aim for 15% renewables by 2020 and plans to introduce the Renewable Heat Incentive by April 2011.

According to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), a ministerial department created in June 2009, almost half of the final energy consumed in the UK is in the form of heat. Its generation accounts for 47% of UK CO2 emissions, while renewable heat satisfies less than 1% of heat demand.

With Interseasonal Heat Transfer, buildings can be heated or cooled using natural, renewable resources instead of consuming fossil fuels.

It can save over 50% of carbon emissions compared to using a gas boiler for heating, and over 80% of carbon emissions compared to using standard air conditioning and chillers for cooling.

In addition, the Merton Rule requires new developments to demonstrate at least 10% of on-site renewable energy before planning permission is granted. The combination of the unique technologies of Rock and ICAX can now be used to generate over 40% of on-site renewable energy, a result supported in a report conducted by BSRIA.

Together, Solardec and IHT allow buildings to remain abreast of Government legislature, promote more responsible stewardship of the environment, and make large savings in annual running costs for both heating and cooling.

Solar Collection

Solardec is a new product from Rock – the company that enables buildings to be more intelligent by design.

An Interseasonal Heat Transfer system includes an asphalt solar collector, a ThermalBank to store heat energy, a heat pump and a specially developed ICAX electronic control system. Rock, the market leaders in waterproof technology, in collaboration with ICAX, the innovators of IHT technology, have developed the watertight solar collector Solardec.

This represents a breakthrough in using roofing as a very significant contributor to intelligent buildings, from a company that has consistently promoted greater environmental responsibility throughout our industry.

Our consultancy services have offered architects, specifiers, contractors and developers ways to make their buildings more sustainable through systems such as water management, brown water recycling and our cutting-edge Green Roof package.

Rock was the first in our industry to be declared carbon neutral and to achieve Achilles accreditation for both manufacturing and installation. We remain the only organisation in our field to hold environmental ISO14001 accreditation for both activities. For over 40 years Rock has played an important role in the construction of many of the UK’s most celebrated and progressive buildings.

Solardec is an advanced method for capturing energy from the sun to heat buildings. The product plays a central role in the IHT system developed by ICAX, who share our ambition to help create zero carbon buildings. Solardec is based on existing Rock technology and enhances our BBA certification. It is suitable for new build projects or can be retrofitted to existing structures.

Solar Heat Transferred

Greater Benefits

Solardec is a new product from Rock – the company that enables buildings to be more intelligent by design.

The chief asset of Solardec is that it is based on a unique formula of mastic asphalt with a heavily loaded mineral content. So while it provides excellent solar absorption and heat retention, it also enhances the waterproof integrity of the building. Mastic asphalt is recognized for having the most reliable and robust waterproofing properties in the industry. Thousands of iconic buildings and structures continue to testify to its enduring qualities.

Solardec comprises two elements – a waterproof layer and collection layer. The waterproof layer is a fully certified waterproofing system carrying warranties of up to 35 years. The collection layer has an array of pipes embedded in an additional layer of polymer modified mastic asphalt and warranted for 25 years. Liquid passes through the pipe array and acts as the heat transfer mechanism.

As part of an Interseasonal Heat Transfer system, Solardec is set to revolutionise the way in which buildings are heated and cooled throughout the year.

Intelligent Roofing

With Solardec, the evolution of roofing technology takes a major step forward.

Solardec can be installed almost anywhere, from roofs and car park decks to driveways and playground areas. Rock’s mastic asphalt has always delivered superior waterproofing. With Solardec it offers even greater value with the additional function of heat collection. The marginal extra cost this involves for a planned area of mastic asphalt is less than the cost of buying dedicated solar thermal panels and has far less visual impact.

Solardec is installed by a highly qualified team. All elements of the system are electronically and pressure tested for leakage during commissioning. Technical specifications can be expressly tailored for each application by our in-house design team. Working in conjunction with the Interseasonal Heat Transfer system all technical services, support and installation are jointly backed by Rock and ICAX, with the complete system warranted under a single agreement to give you total peace of mind.

Achieving Zero Carbon Buildings

The Carbon Trust recognises the excellent solar collection properties of Asphalt.

Rock is an Achilles accredited company and our Solardec installations conform to all requirements of our rigorously approved working methods. We also have the accreditation of ISO 9001 Quality Assurance, ISO 14001 Environmental Assurance and OHSAS 18001 Safety Assurance.

The Carbon Trust recognises the excellent solar energy collection properties of asphalt and gave ICAX a major Carbon Trust Award to enable IHT to be installed at Howe Dell School, Hatfield. In this scheme it was the asphalt playground that operated as a solar collector to help heat the school building and its hot water supply, supporting the Carbon Trust’s mission to “accelerate the move to a low carbon economy now and develop commercial low carbon technologies for the future.”

We have all the consultancy expertise, industry knowledge and proven experience to help you contribute to achieving zero carbon buildings. Talk to us, and discover how intelligent, active roofing technology from Rock can make a very real difference to the cost efficiency and environmental sustainability of any future project.