The Intelligent Blog
Get tips and advices on the latest technologies for sustainable construction. Learn how we inspire customers, employees and other companies.
Passive Purple and the Considerate Constructors Scheme: Building Airtight, Building Responsibly
Passive Purple is recognised within the Considerate Constructors Scheme best-practice library. Discover how a VOC-free, liquid-applied ai...
My Builder Forgot the Vapour Control Layer? Don’t Panic - Here’s How to Fix It
Forgot the vapour control layer? Don’t panic. Because our membranes are liquid-applied, it’s almost always fixable without demolition. he...
Why Customers Trust Passive Purple: Real Reviews on Trustpilot
Rated 4.4 / 5 ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot. From self-builders to main contractors, see why architects and installers trust Passive Purple —...
Passive Purple BIM Objects: Download Airtight Membrane Data for Your Next Specification
Specify with confidence. Passive Purple airtight and vapour control membranes are available as free, ready-to-use BIM objects on BIMobjec...
Applying Passive Purple by Roller: Creating a Continuous Airtight Vapour Control Layer
Passive Purple can be applied using a roller, providing a practical and effective method for creating a continuous airtight vapour contro...
Why Intelligent Membranes Invests in NBS
Intelligent Membranes continues to invest in NBS (National Building Specification), one of the construction industry's leading specificat...
The Airtightness Challenge Facing Modern Construction: Why Blockwork Alone Is No Longer Enough
The 2022 updates to Part L Building Regulations introduced stricter energy efficiency requirements, driving changes in wall construction,...
Step Inside the Project: Exploring Construction Through 360° Tours
360° construction tours provide a more immersive way to explore building projects beyond traditional photography. By allowing viewers to ...
Insights from the Marketing Passivhaus Podcast with Adam White
Adam White, CEO of Intelligent Membranes, joins the Marketing Passivhaus podcast to share insights from his journey from tradesperson to ...
What Is a Vapour Control Layer? | VCL Explained
A vapour control layer (VCL) is used in modern construction to help manage how moisture moves through a building. Installed on the warm s...
What Causes Condensation in Buildings?
Condensation occurs when warm, moisture-laden air comes into contact with colder surfaces, often forming within walls and building struct...
What Is Radon? How It Enters Buildings and How to Manage It.
Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible gas that can enter buildings from the ground and accumulate indoors if not properly managed. Wh...
What Does an ETA Mean? The GOAT Roofing Membrane Explained
A European Technical Assessment (ETA) provides independent verification that a construction product has been tested and meets recognised ...
How Airtightness and Vapour Control Layers Support Net Zero Buildings
The UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard is changing how buildings are designed, with greater focus on reducing operational energy and i...
Ferndale Rise Retrofit: Transforming a 1930s Home with Passive Purple
The Ferndale Rise retrofit demonstrates how a traditional 1930s semi-detached home can be transformed into a high-performance, energy-eff...
Intelligent Membranes Joins the Radon Council: Raising the Standard for Radon Safety in the UK
We’re proud to announce our membership with the Radon Council, reinforcing our commitment to best practice in radon measurement, mitigati...
Why We Trust Graco and Spray Plant UK
Achieving Passivhaus-level airtightness doesn’t have to mean weeks of taping. By combining Passive Purple with Graco airless sprayers and...
Introducing the world's most airtight bar - located in Cambridgeshire
The world’s first airtight pub has opened in Cambridgeshire, built to Passivhaus standards and powered by the warmth of its customers. Di...
Why Passivhaus Sets The Standard
Passive Purple plays a vital role in achieving Passivhaus standards by creating a seamless, liquid-applied airtight membrane that reduces...
Adam White Extends Charity Support To Blue Ribbon Foundation
Intelligent Membranes has joined forces with the Blue Ribbon Foundation to promote men’s mental and physical health, tackling the constru...
Our MD Adam White is to Join Offsite Dirt
Adam White joins Offsite Dirt Network and modular construction expert Audree M Grubesic to support innovation, collaboration and industry...
Intelligent Membranes Commits to Habbin Stand Sponsorship Renewal
Intelligent Membranes has confirmed a one-year extension of its sponsorship of the Habbin Stand at Abbey Stadium, marking a continued com...
Intelligent Membranes Becomes a Supporter of Passive House California
Intelligent Membranes is proud to support Passive House California as part of its continued expansion into the U.S. market. With a shared...
NHBC Standards 2023: Waterproof Membranes as a Tanking System
The July 2023 updates to NHBC Standards 2023 introduce mandatory requirements for liquid-applied waterproofing membranes in bath and show...
Intelligent Membranes Feature on Passive House Accelerator Component Spotlight
We were proud to join the Passive House Accelerator podcast to discuss how Intelligent Membranes is helping drive performance-led constru...
Raising the Standard: Intelligent Membranes Joins the AECB to Drive Sustainable Building
Intelligent Membranes is proud to become an official member of the Association for Environment Conscious Building (AECB), reinfor...
Intelligent Membranes Continues Membership Support for the Passivhaus Trust
Intelligent Membranes is proud to renew our membership with the Passivhaus Trust, reinforcing our commitment to high-performance, low-ene...
Damp Walls? Two Breathable Solutions That Actually Work
Damp walls are more than a surface issue, they are a sign that moisture is penetrating your building fabric and compromising performance....
Spray-On Window Protection: Save Time and Money on Construction Sites
Construction sites are busy environments where new windows can easily be scratched, chipped, or damaged by paint and debris. This blog ex...
Intelligent Membranes at the UK & Ireland Passivhaus Conference 2025
Intelligent Membranes will be attending the 2025 UK & Ireland Passivhaus Conference in Belfast, joining industry leaders to discuss s...
How to Retrofit Vapour Control Without the Mess
This blog explains how vapour control can still be added to a building even after construction or retrofit work has been completed. Using...
Why White GOAT is Solar Reflective Gold Roofing Membrane
White GOAT isn’t just a waterproofing solution, its high solar reflectivity helps reduce surface temperatures, improve energy efficiency,...
The Science Behind Airtight and smoke tight Buildings
Airtightness has become essential in modern construction, delivering lower energy bills, improved indoor air quality, and long-term build...
Reuben College Oxford – Award-Winning Airtight Basement Solution Using Airtight White
The University of Oxford's £45 million redevelopment of Reuben College transformed the Grade II-listed Radcliffe Science Library into a s...
Bedford Academy Expansion – Achieving 0.43 ACH Airtightness with Passive Purple
Bedford Academy's major expansion project required a high-performance airtightness solution capable of supporting ambitious energy-effici...
The Dairy Passivhaus Project Achieves Outstanding Airtightness with Passive Purple
The Dairy Passivhaus project showcases how Passive Purple & Passive Purple External helped create a highly airtight, energy-efficient...
Oxford Brookes University Workshop Building Uses Passive Purple to Support Net Zero Construction Goals
Oxford Brookes University's £60 million Workshop Building uses Passive Purple to create a continuous airtight building envelope, supporti...
Everton Heath Primary School Achieves Outstanding 0.03 ACH Airtightness Result with Passive Purple
Discover how Everton Heath Primary School achieved an exceptional airtightness result of just 0.03 ACH using Passive Purple and Passive P...
Dudley College Animal Studies Centre Retrofit: Achieving 0.91 ACH with Passive Purple
This £7.5 million deep retrofit transformed a redundant 1950s building into Dudley College's modern Animal Studies Centre. Using Passive ...
Ferndale Rise Retrofit: Achieving 0.54 ACH with Passive Purple & Brick Seal
Discover how Koru Construction and Intelligent Membranes transformed a 1930s semi-detached property in Cambridge into a high-performance,...
"High-Performance Airtight Construction"
Products Used on This Project – Passive Purple Airtightness Solutions By Intelligent Membranes To tackle the complex mix of substrates on...
"Oxford Retrofit Case Study – Achieving Exceptional Airtightness with Passive Purple"
Results The achievement of a 0.4 ACH score underlines the potential of modern retrofitting techniques to transform existing buildings int...
Building a Passivhaus Standard School with Outstanding Airtightness Performance
PRODUCTS USED ON THIS PROJECT
Passive Purple Retrofit Installation in London – Airtightness for Energy Efficiency
PRODUCTS USED ON THIS PROJECT Passive Purple External Airtight Fire Rated Façade Waterproofing Membrane (10kg) – Spray / Roller – Intelli...
"High-Performance Airtight Passive House Build in Croydon"
Products Used on This Project 1. Passive Purple External Passive Purple External Airtight Fire Rated Façade Waterproofing Membrane (10kg)...
"Four-Bed Detached Airtightness with Passive Purple"
PRODUCTS USED ON THIS PROJECT 1. Passive Purple External Passive Purple External Airtight Fire Rated Façade Waterproofing Membrane (10kg)...
Airtightness Tape: How to Choose and Install It Correctly
Which airtightness tape do you need for windows, junctions and membranes? A practical guide to choosing, installing and avoiding the mist...
Rising Damp: How to Spot It and Stop It for Good
Tide marks halfway up the wall? Peeling paper and rotting skirting? Here's how to identify rising damp and the modern liquid-applied way ...
Intumescent Paint Explained: How Fire Retardant Coatings Protect Timber and Spray Foam
What intumescent paint actually does in a fire, what the Class A2-S1,D0 rating means, and where fire retardant coatings are required in m...
Radon Barriers Explained: Protecting Buildings from Underground Gases
Radon is the UK's second-biggest cause of lung cancer after smoking — and it seeps into buildings from the ground. Here's how liquid-appl...
How to Make a Building Airtight: The Liquid Membrane System
How to make a building airtight using liquid membrane for large areas plus tape and brush for the details.
How to Waterproof a Wetroom or Bathroom Before Tiling
How to tank a bathroom or wetroom with a liquid membrane before tiling — and stay NHBC-compliant.
Fire Protection for Timber Frame and Spray Foam
How intumescent coatings protect timber frame and spray foam — and how FRED hits Class A2-s1,d0.
How to Stop Penetrating Damp in Brickwork
How a breathable, invisible masonry cream stops penetrating damp in brickwork.
How to Stop Rising Damp with a Liquid DPM
How a roller-applied liquid DPM creates a seamless barrier against rising damp.
Sealing Window and Door Frames Airtight with Fleece Tape
How a fleece-backed airtight tape seals window and door frames and board joints as part of the airtight system.
An Airtight Vapour Control Layer You Can Leave On Show
Airtight White is a white, paintable airtight vapour control membrane that can be left on show in exposed areas.
The Complete Kit for an Airtight, On-Show Wall
The Airtight White bundle covers an exposed, paintable airtight layer in one kit.
Brush-Applied Airtight White for Retrofit Detailing
Brush-applied Airtight White for hand-sealing retrofit details with a paintable, certified finish.
The Airtight White Brush Pack for Small Jobs
A right-sized brush pack of Airtight White for small airtightness jobs, snagging and detailing.
Protecting Steel from Corrosion On Site
How an anti-oxidation spray protects exposed steel and fixings from rust on site.
Anti-Corrosion and Flame-Retardant Protection for Steel
A peelable, spray-applied coating giving steel both anti-corrosion and flame-retardant protection.
Encapsulating Asbestos: A Safer Alternative to Removal
How a spray-applied encapsulation coating safely seals asbestos in place as an alternative to removal.
Sealing Joints in Wet Areas with a Flexible Acrylic Sealant
How a flexible acrylic sealant seals joints in wet areas as part of a watertight tanking system.
Faster, Neater Airtight Taping with a Foil Applicator Gun
How a foil applicator gun makes airtight taping faster, neater and better-bonded.
Protecting Baths, Trays and Worktops During the Build
How a peelable liquid protection film shields baths, trays and worktops from damage during the build.
Sealing Joist Ends: The Hidden Airtightness Weak Point
How a sealant-and-applicator bundle seals around joist ends, a common hidden air-leak path.
Priming Porous and Lime Substrates Before Airtight Coatings
How Lime Prime stabilises porous and lime walls so airtight membranes bond reliably.
Sealing Junctions and Penetrations with Brush-Applied Airtight Paint
How brush-applied Passive Purple seals the junctions and penetrations where air tests are won or lost.
The Airtightness Detailing Pack for Smaller Projects
A right-sized brush pack of Passive Purple for self-builders detailing junctions, penetrations and reveals.
Detailing External Junctions with a Fire-Rated Brush Membrane
How a fibre-reinforced, weatherproof brush membrane seals external junctions, reveals and penetrations by hand.
External Detailing Kit for Airtight, Weatherproof Facades
The External Brush Pack covers junctions, reveals and penetrations for an airtight, weatherproof facade in one kit.
The Complete External Airtight and Weatherproof Facade Kit
What's in the Passive Purple External Bundle: membrane, detailing and prep to make a facade airtight, weatherproof and fire-rated.
How to Prep a Wall for an Airtight Coating
The membranes, tapes and sealants in the Preparation Pack that get a wall ready so an airtight coating bonds and lasts.
Vapour-Open External Airtightness for Retrofit (Brush)
How brush-applied, vapour-open Passive Purple X seals solid walls against air and weather without trapping moisture, Class B fire-rated.
Sealing Gaps and Penetrations Airtight with a Passivhaus Sealant
How a flexible Passivhaus airtight sealant closes the small gaps at pipes, cables and frames that decide your air test.
Protecting Worktops, Sills and Trays from Site Damage
How a brush-applied peelable coating shields sills, worktops and trays from paint, scratches and knocks, then peels off clean.
Priming Dense Substrates Before Airtight Membranes
How Primer I.M keys dense, smooth walls so airtight membranes bond reliably and last.
Retrofitting Airtightness into an Existing Home (Brush)
How brush-applied, vapour-open Passive Purple Retrofit seals leaky junctions in existing homes without trapping moisture.
Retrofitting Airtightness at Scale (Spray)
How spray-applied, vapour-open Passive Purple Retrofit seals large existing areas fast while letting walls breathe.
How to Find Air Leaks: Smoke Testing a Building
How a smoke stick traces airflow to pinpoint air leaks before and after airtightness work.
Smoke Tank Refills for Air-Leak Detection
A pack of 3 smoke tank refills to keep tracing air leaks before and after sealing work.
Protecting Glazing on Site with Peelable Spray Film
How a spray-applied, peelable film protects glass and glazing from paint, scratches and site damage, then peels off clean.
Getting Plaster and Dot-and-Dab to Stick to Airtight Membranes
How Supergrip Primer keys a smooth airtight membrane so plaster, dot-and-dab and adhesives bond firmly.
The Complete Internal Airtightness Kit
What's in the Passive Purple Internal Bundle: membrane, brush grade, tape and sealant for sealing a building's interior airtight.
Sealing Service Penetrations Airtight and Watertight
How a paint-on liquid grommet forms a custom, flexible airtight and watertight seal around pipes, cables and ducts.
Brush-Applied DPM for Foundations, Reveals and Detailing
How brush-applied Waterproof Blue seals foundations, reveals and junctions against rising and ground moisture.
The Complete Window Protection Kit for Site
How a window protection bundle shields glass, frames and sills from site damage, then peels off clean.
White Intumescent Fire Protection for Timber and Spray Foam
FRED White is a Class A2-s1,d0 intumescent thermal barrier for timber and spray foam with a clean, on-show finish.
Waterproofing Basements and Foundations (Brush or Poured)
How The GOAT's flexible, crack-bridging coating waterproofs basements, foundations and below-ground structures.
Roller-Applied Waterproofing for Roofs, Balconies and Basements
How The GOAT's seamless, roller-applied coating waterproofs roofs, balconies and basements fast, with no laps to fail.
Spray-Applied External Airtightness for Retrofit and Re-Cladding
How spray-applied, vapour-open Passive Purple X seals large external areas against air and weather during re-cladding, Class B fire-rated.
Airtight, Weatherproof, Fire-Rated Facades (Spray or Roller)
How one spray-applied, vapour-open Passive Purple External membrane makes a facade airtight, weatherproof and fire-rated.
Containing Asbestos During Removal with a Peelable Coating
How a peelable, solvent-free coating contains asbestos fibres during removal works, then peels off clean within six months.
Passive Purple: Solar-Reflective Performance in a Coloured Coating (SRI 52)
Passive Purple achieves a certified Solar Reflectance Index of 52 — reflecting nearly half of solar energy in a coloured coating, indepen...
How to Stop Damp on Internal Walls
Damp on an internal wall is frustrating — but fixable, once you identify the type and treat the cause, not just the symptom. A practical ...