Proctor Promotes Good Practice: What to Look for In Manufacturer Technical Support

As part of a round table discussion published by Architecture Today in December 2025, a panel of construction industry experts explored the topic of early engagement with project manufacturers.

Some of the architects taking part expressed reservations, understandably, about being tied to particular products from the initial design stages. Others noted how often they have received specifications from other project team members which are unsuited to the project in question.

Early engagement is certainly an important element of a manufacturer’s technical support offering. Arguably, the ability to carry support through the design stages and on to site is even more valuable. Longer-term, comprehensive support makes it more likely that design intent is realised in the finished, occupied building.

Many manufacturers, including Proctor Group, offer heat loss and condensation risk calculation services. These are usually based around the combined method for calculating thermal transmittance (as per BS EN ISO 6946), accompanied by simplified Glaser method condensation calculations (as per BS EN ISO 13788).

Condensation risk is linked to the complex topic of moisture movement in buildings. The way that moisture moves and behaves changes with the time of year, occupant behaviour, and how the building is constructed.

More complex numerical simulation (as per BS EN 15026) analyses heat, vapour and moisture transfer through a building element. It gives an accurate measure of temperature, relative humidity and water content within the element. The most well-known form of numerical simulation is WUFI® calculations.

While the Glaser method provides a simple pass/fail result, numerical simulation requires results to be analysed and understood. That can be a time-consuming process. However, it’s vital to undertake deeper analysis in certain situations – especially traditional/historic building fabric with solid wall constructions. That is why we offer WUFI calculations as an additional service, alongside U-value calculations and Glaser method analysis.

Simplified methods of assessing condensation risk are not appropriate in all scenarios, but that doesn’t stop some from issuing calculations anyway due to a lack of competence or awareness. It’s essential to work with a manufacturer who can properly guide you to, and provide, appropriate calculations.

Tightening regulations make it increasingly difficult to ignore the impact of thermal bridging heat losses (psi values). Nevertheless, people might still try to ignore thermal bridge detailing because they perceive sourcing calculations to be complicated and time consuming.

Working with a manufacturer who can analyse heat loss and surface temperatures in hard-to-treat areas of building fabric has the potential to make a significant positive difference to project specifications.

Thin aerogel insulation is ideally suited to details where conventional insulation thicknesses are impractical, and we offer a psi value calculation with our Spacetherm® products. In this way, we support project teams to improve overall energy efficiency, deliver better occupant comfort, and close the performance gap between as-designed and as-built.

It’s impossible for contractors to be aware of, and familiar with, every single product on the market. As such, on-site support from manufacturers is essential to ensure contractors can get the best out of what they are installing. At Proctor Group, our support for contractors is two-pronged.

First, we offer toolbox talks to help contractors understand the fundamentals of products they might not be familiar with.

In recent years we have seen our Wraptite® membrane used on a host of new Passivhaus school and community campus projects across Scotland. Despite Wraptite being fifteen years old, many contractors have only used it for the first time to help achieve Passivhaus airtightness. Toolbox talks have played a vital role in making sure they get the benefits from Wraptite at the first time of asking.

Second, site observation reports give contractors ongoing confidence that an installation is proceeding as necessary. The value of these site visits and reports is such that one contractor actually had it written into a contract that we had to be granted site access for the purposes of observing an installation.

Together, these two forms of site support back up the support provided through our calculation services. They also mean contractors tend to use our products again, because they know they can get the same support on every project.

Find out more: https://proctorgroup.com/support-and-services