FMJ Facilities Management magazine providing industry-specific intelligence to FM and property professionals
In a bid to cut costs, prevent damp and mould and provide healthier homes for armed forces families, Vivo Defence Services is trialling electric heated wallpaper in military housing.
VIVO is carrying out data monitored testing at two homes in Fareham, Hampshire, over the next six months, and if successful, the technology, designed by British company NexGen Heating, could then be rolled out across further homes that VIVO looks after across southeast and southwest England.
The solution uses electric graphene heated paper, which is essentially a toughened white wallpaper that can be attached to walls or ceilings, and in this trial is being attached to the ceilings of the two Fareham homes.
The graphene paper can be painted over, and uses an energy efficient, low voltage system that produces low temperature far infrared waves of directional, radiant heat, replicating the comfortable warmth of sunshine. This allows it to warm up objects and people rapidly – in just a few minutes – rather than only gradually changing the air temperature in a room as conventional radiator and wall heater systems do, meaning families living in the homes will only need to heat the space they are in – helping cut heating bills.
The paper also heats up the fabric of a building as the infrared from the system saturates the entire room, including the ceiling, walls, floors and furniture, building up a regenerative energy source that will keep a space warm for hours.
Previous tests carried out by NexGen Heating show this lowers the moisture saturation in walls that triggers’ damp and mould from 35 per cent to 5 per cent in just five days. It also kills mould spores.
Graphen paper heating is already proven to be very energy efficient, but the Fareham trials are going a stage further and aim to show how it can be fully utilised to reach the MOD’s Net Zero targets. This involves pairing PV Solar, Battery Storage (20 kWh), NexGen’s Infrared Heating and a SunAmp Phase Change Battery for on demand hot water.
James Forrester, Operations Director at VIVO Defence Services, said: “We are constantly looking at innovative ways to improve the lived experience for military families living in the Service Family Accommodation we look after as they deserve a place they can live in happily and be proud to call their home.
“In our trials, we hope to be able to show how using graphene heating paper will help make the homes we look after warmer for the families that live in them, and a good deal cheaper to run – all while reducing carbon emissions.”
Ian Sanderson, CEO at NexGen Carbon Zero Ltd, said: “As a British manufacturer, we are proud to be working with VIVO to trial our technology in military family homes as we believe this could help make them more comfortable, lower their energy bills significantly, and critically make these homes healthier to live in – as well as help the environment.”
VIVO Defence Services provides maintenance services on behalf of the MOD’s Defence Infrastructure Organisation to more than 27,000 military homes in southeast and southwest England.
MRI Software is inviting facilities managers to share their opinions by taking part in its latest survey to uncover industry trends, priorities for the next 12 months, and the role of AI and IoT in shaping the future of FM.
The survey explores Agentic AI for autonomous operations, IoT-driven predictive maintenance, and sustainability as a core FM priority. These innovations are shaping smarter, more resilient workplaces, your input will help define how the industry embraces them.
By participating, you will receive a copy of the survey report outlining insights and best practices from your peers and innovation across the industry.
It only takes a few minutes to share your views. Complete the survey and enter MRI’s prize draw to win a £150 Amazon voucher!
Take the survey here.
