The testing experts at the British Board of Agrément have certified the Qbot marking the first time it has certified a construction service delivered by a robot.
What make you get up in the morning? What motivates you? For me it’s looking at the world around me and knowing that I can make it a better placeMathew Holloway, Qbot invertor
Might you have already seen the Q-Bot in our Born to Engineer film in 2016? The compact remote-controlled robotic vehicles can crawl around floor voids applying polyurethane foam insulation to the underside of timber or suspended concrete ground floors.
BBA experts tested the Q-Bot at their laboratories in Watford, Hertfordshire, and on-site to confirm the system’s fitness for purpose.
Alongside this, the team behind Q-Bot worked with the BBA to create a detailed training programme and fully accountable quality management system.
Mathew Holloway explained that “the award of the BBA Agrément Certificate demonstrates that Q-Bot’s process of insulating the floor is robust, meets all the requirements of the Building Regulations and can be consistently and reliably applied across millions of homes. The service will have a fantastic impact on local communities, generating employment as well as reducing fuel poverty and CO2 emissions. The BBA Certificate enables us to deliver these impacts at scale across the UK and overseas.”
How the Q-Bot Works
The Q-Bot works by survey a site to create a 3D map. Once created the team can assess and plan the installation and then use the remote-controlled SprayBot to apply polyurethane foam insulant to a depth of 100 to 150mm under the floor.
The insulation installation is then recorded and measured so that coverage is applied to a uniform depth.
According to QBot Victorian-era properties have experienced a 78% heat loss through their floors and 40% reduction in cold air after installation – a massive 24% increase in a houses overall energy efficiency.
