Potton Homes UK’s first Code Level 4 home

The UK’s first Code Level 4 Self Build Show Home - built by leading self-build specialists, Kingspan Potton - has been fitted with lighting and wiring accessory products
from the Scolmore Group.

The brand new “Wickhambrook” Show Barn at Kingspan Potton’s Self Build Show Centre near St Neots in Cambridgeshire is a 2,780 sq ft ultra energy-efficient, low carbon home, designed as a contemporary barn. Completed in May this year, it exceeds the requirements for Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes - the national standard for the sustainable design and construction of new homes launched by the government in 2006 - which requires an energy efficiency level of 44%.

With its unrivalled range of low energy lighting options, Scolmore was the first choice by contractors, EBS Ltd, to supply the lighting solutions throughout the Show Barn, which offers contemporary-styled, open plan accommodation over two floors. Scolmore’s Flameguard LED downlights have been installed in all areas of the property which includes a hall, lounge, kitchen/dining room, study, TV room, utility and WC on the ground floor and four bedrooms on the first floor (two with ensuite) plus a family bathroom.

The FlameGuard system in Click Scolmore’s downlighters is designed to effectively restore the fire integrity of ceilings, and at the same time provide an acoustic barrier. Once installed all FlameGuard protected downlighters offer guaranteed, long-term ‘fix and forget’ protection. There is no need for secondary inspection to ensure that the seal is in place. It is an integral part of the downlighter and requires no further action once it has been installed.

Switches and sockets have been selected from across Scolmore’s wiring accessories collections and have been installed throughout the home. Each room features a different range - demonstrating the breadth of product choice that Scolmore can offer. For example the smooth, modern lines of the white Mode range has been used in one of the children’s bedrooms, while the contemporary, flat-plate screwless Definity range features in the lounge.

A striking effect is created in the kitchen with the use of three aluminium pendant fittings from the OVIA lighting collection which hang low over the central island.

For the exterior of the building, a total of 12 Fumagalli LED bulkheads have been installed to provide a modern, low energy lighting solution in keeping with the barn styled home.

The Maddi and Lucia bulkheads are part of a comprehensive collection of Fumagalli lighting products exclusively distributed by Scolmore International. They consume just 11 watts of low energy power and have an IP66 weatherproof rating. They are designed to last and have a lifetime guarantee against corrosion. With little if any maintenance to be carried out on these lamps coupled with the energy-saving properties that they offer, it all adds up
to a very cost-efficient solution.

The contractor responsible for specifying and installing the products - John Waters of EBS Ltd - had this to say: “Of all the electrical suppliers out there Scolmore was able to supply us with the widest range of lighting and wiring accessory products and in many cases we were able to opt for matching ranges. The fact that they offer an unrivalled collection of low energy LED lighting was the icing on the cake. Services levels were excellent and since the completion of this particular project I have recommended Scolmore products for a range of other installations. They have supplied me with sample boards for both their wiring accessories and lighting ranges, which has proved valuable in demonstrating the breadth of their product offer and helping to the products specified.”

What makes the Potton Show Barn project unique is that it offered interested parties the opportunity to follow the building of the show barn over a period of eight months. Normally it would take 12 weeks to complete the build, but it was slowed down to cater for a series of open days. During this time visitors to the centre or the website were able to watch the build take place and see the design features and materials required to make it 44% more energy efficient than
a standard built home.

Terry Mahoney of Kingspan Potton commented: “You don’t normally get to see the process behind the building of a showhome, you just see the finished property. Over the course of the eight months, we have run a series of open days which provided unique sessions to over 500 visitors who were able to see the installation of the latest products and material used to meet Code Level 4 rating. Scolmore’s LED lighting products have enabled us to meet our energy efficiency targets with stylish, quality products that are in keeping with the ultra modern feel of this unique build.”

For further information, contact Scolmore on 01827 63454, or visit www.scolmore.com.